1864.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 57 



of Survey, and an evidence to the civilized world of the varied 

 labors and scientific capabilities of the surveyors, well meriting the 

 applause and gratitude of the Province, to which they are fully 

 entitled. Shall I say a word on the subject of this Society ? If 

 permitted, it must be but a word, for you are all better acquainted 

 with its formation and operations than I can pretend to be. The 

 Society was formed shortly after that of the L. and H. Society ; at 

 the instance, I believe, of the late Dr.^Holmes and some congenial 

 spirits. In the first few years of its existence its progress was not 

 very rapid, all up-hill work, as the Doctor informed me, the work 

 resting on a few of the members ; but if so, that languor has been 

 sucessfully shaken off; its progress and prosperity have been of the 

 most satisfactory nature. As a contrast to the difficulties for the 

 acquirement of scientific information met with at a remote former 

 period, already alluded to, allow me to state some of the great facili- 

 ties which are now offered to the student of Natural History. In 

 many parts of the Province there have been estabUshed Colleges for 

 the education of youth, in which the Natural Sciences are taught 

 by learned professors, with the advantage of extensive museums. 

 I will only mention some of them, without entering into particulars. 

 Beginning in the lower part of the province and proceeding up- 

 wards,we have Laval, McGill, Lennoxville, Queen's, Toronto, and 

 others. As regards this city, let me mention with commendation 

 McGrill Colh'ge. Here for the professed student every facility 

 exists : regular lectures are delivered on all branches of Natural 

 Science, aided by a very complete museum, with a library of books 

 of reference. To the occasional student, this Society possesses all 

 the advantages required; an extensive and well-arranged museum, 

 regular stated meetings, attended by all the scientific men of the 

 city, a well-conducted magazine, open to contributors generally, a 

 courteous and scientific curator, a large and commodious building 

 fit for all the purposes of the Society ; and if I may judge by the 

 extent of the present goodly assemblage of patrons, there seems 

 great reason to look forward to further satisfactory progress neces- 

 sitating the extension of accommodation, bespeaking the approba- 

 tion of future dwellers in this growing and beautiful city, followed 

 by the respect of the scientific world at large." 



The President then announced that instead of the chemical 

 experiments by Professor Robins following here, as set down on 

 the programme, an address would be given by Prof Miles of 



