Natural History Society of Montreal, 227 



Notes on Chemical Subjects. By Professor S. P. Robbins, Mc- 



Gill Normal School. 

 On the date of the Pweport on the Geology of Wisconsin, noticed 



in this Journal, Vol. VI, p. 465. 

 Many of these papers combine great practical utility, with the 

 scientific knowledge displayed in the manner in which the subjects 

 have been handled. For example : — " Considerations relating to 

 the Quebec Group, and the Upper Copper-bearing rocks of Lake 

 Superior," by Sir W. E. Logan. *' Notes on the History of Pe- 

 troleum or Rock Oil," by Professor Hunt. " On the recent dis- 

 coveries of Gold in Nova Scotia," by Principal Dawson. " On the 

 Primitive Formations in Norway and in Canada, and their Mineral 

 Wealth," by Mr. T. Macfarlane. (A series of exceedingly valuable 

 papers.) " On the failure of the Apple Trees in the neighbour- 

 hood of Montreal," by Mr. John Archbold. — While others were 

 of such a nature as to be of general interest to all Canadians; such 

 as " Additional Notes on Aboriginal Antiquities found at Mont- 

 real," by Principal Dawson. '* On the origin of the name of 

 Canada," by Rev. Dr. Davies; and some others. But whatever 

 may be the estimate formed, by those amongst whom we live, of 

 the labours of this Society, and the proverb too often holds good 

 that " a prophet hath no honour in his own country;" yet the 

 Natural History Society of Montreal, is now a known and hon- 

 oured Institution, not only on this Continent, but in England, in 

 all parts of the Continent of Europe, and elsewhere. Besides its 

 regular circulation, 50 copies of the Canadian Naturalist are 

 distributed, on every issue of the Bi-monthly Numbers, amongst 

 as many of the principal Scientific Societies throughout the world ; 

 and extracts therefrom are constantly being republished by them, 

 in their own Journals and Periodicals, with most honourable men- 

 tion of our contributions to the cause of Natural Science in gen- 

 eral, and the illustration of Canadian Natural History and Geology 

 in particular. I wish, also, to direct attention to our Museum, 

 which, in its Zoological Department, and indeed I believe I may 

 say, as a general collection, is second to none now existing in the 

 Province; and which we are anxious to see made useful, both as 

 a means of assisting the labours of students, and creating a taste 

 for Natural Science in the public at large. There is one depart- 

 ment of which I would make special mention, both on account of 

 its own value, and also because it: is only very recently that it has 

 been placed in a condition to be at all easily accessible by those 



