1864.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 229 



In conclusion, allow me to express my regret that the pressure 

 of other occupations has allowed me so little time to discharge ray 

 duties as your president, and to hope that the course of the Society 

 in the coming year may be still more prosperous and successful 

 than in the past. 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



The Council of the Montreal Natural History Society, at their 

 thirty-sixth annual meeting, and in conformity with their prescribed 

 duty and the yearly custom, beg to lay before its members an 

 account of their proceedings during their tenure of office, which 

 this evening brings to a close : and in so doing have much pleasure 

 to congratulate its members on the steady and onward progress 

 which has characterized the proceedings of the past year. 



The Museum, 



The donations to the Museum have been numerous and valuable ; 

 and your Council would more especially acknowledge donations 

 from the University of our sister city, the Laval University ; of 

 some 418 species of insects from Mr. Saunders of London, C.W. 5 

 also donations from our worthy president. Dr. Dawson, consisting 

 of fishes and shells ; several birds, and three cases of insects from 

 Mr. Ferrier, our treasurer; and some valuable donations from Mr. 

 Barnston ; besides several small donations from other parties, 

 which though not so numerous, are not the less valuable A list 

 of these will be found appended to this report. 



Your C'ouncil would beg to make special mention of the Scien- 

 tific Curator, Mr. Whiteaves, who continues to give the most 

 entire satisfaction. His work has been onerous and difficult. An 

 inspection of the Museum will at once convince any one of the 

 labor and care he has bestowed on the classification and labelling 

 of the specimens in each department of Natural History. And 

 your Council would congratulate the Society on this judicious and 

 efficient appointment. 



The Library. 



The donations to the Library have not been vory numerous ; the 

 completion of Silliman's Journal (by purchase), and the usual ex- 

 changes from sister Societies form by far the greatest feature on the 

 list of new books. The Council cannot but express its regret, that, 



