No. 6.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 379 



men. It is this thought, indeed, that gives a dignity to his 

 scientific labor, and cheers the scientist in researches that are 

 sometimes weary. But this thought too should gain for him the 

 sympathy and support of the public — he is working for them, he 

 is working for his country. And speaking of our country re- 

 minds me of a special and recent relation of our city and our 

 Society with our country's government and our country's capital. 

 You are probably aware that the Federal Government has decided 

 to transfer the Geological Survey of Canada from Montreal to 

 Ottawa. We must express our deep regret that the Government 

 should have thought it necessary or judicious to bring about this 

 chano;e of site ; Montreal is the natural centre and the domicile 

 of such a body, and hence it is that since its foundation the 

 Survey has here made its home. Its removal to Ottawa will cer- 

 tainly injure our city, and will not, we think, in any way benefit 

 the Survey itself. But what we have especially to regret is the 

 loss this removal will inflict on our Society. In consequence of 

 this act of the Federal Government we shall be partially deprived 

 of the presence and assistance of some of our most active and 

 efficient members. I say this privation will be only partial, for 

 I hope and believe that our worthy president Mr. Selwyn, our 

 learned scientific curator Mr. Whiteaves, and our respected 

 members Professor Bell, Dr. G. M. Dawson, and Mr. Ells, who 

 are about to leave us for Ottawa, will not altos-ether sever their 

 connection with the Montreal Natural History Society. They 

 have each and all done good work in the past, they have contrib- 

 uted much to make this Society what it is, and I hope that 

 although their services may now be needed in Ottawa, they will 

 be frequently seen at our meetings in Montreal, that we may 

 again have the pleasure of listening to their learned lectures and 

 papers, and that they may by their presence enliven our scientific 

 discussions. Their occasional visits will be some compensation 

 for the loss we shall sustain in their leaving us. And in appre- 

 ciating their loss we have a further call .upon the members of 

 the Society to more active exertion in sustaining the Society and 

 enlarging its collections. 



On motion of Dr. De Sola, seconded by Dr. Edwards, it was 

 resolved " that the thanks of the Society are due to Major 

 Huguet Latour for his carefully prepared address, and that the 

 bronze medal of the Society be conferred on him for the various 

 important services he has rendered to the Society." 



