310 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [^Ug. 



minerals belonging to the Society, many of wliicli are still un- 

 packed. Four table-cases, to hold our fossils and minerals, 

 ■would cost us from 100 to 120 dollars, and this is an improve- 

 ment which I think should be our first object when the state of 

 our funds will permit. I think it is no exaggeration to say that 

 we have some 3000 or 4000 specimens of rocks, minerals, and 

 fossils that we have no means of exhibiting. The only proper 

 case we have contains some 1800 specimens. Of these I have 

 carefully classified and labelled a little over 1200. Our collection 

 of fossils I have partially arranged and named, and have placed 

 them temporarily in the drawers under the mineral cabinet. In 

 acknowledgment of the liberality of the Geol. Survey, the council 

 of the N. H. S. have authorized me to pack up and distribute 

 five series of the duplicate shells, sea-urchins, &X3., belonging to the 

 Survey, to the following Societies : Laval University, and the 

 Museum of the Literary and Historical Society, Quebec ; McGill 

 College, Montreal ; Queen's College, Kingston ; and University 

 College, Toronto. I have accordingly selected, named, and for- 

 warded these sets to the afore-mentioned institutions ; and among 

 the results proceeding from this, may be mentioned a valuable 

 donation of books from the Literary and Historical Society of 

 Quebec, and the acquisition of several interesting additions to the 

 Museum from McGill College in this city, and from the Laval Uni- 

 versity of Quebec. Since the date of my first connection with the 

 Society, some 2000 specimens have been added to the Museum, 

 and it is hoped that satisfactory progress has been made during 

 the past year in the work of arrangement and classification. Dr. 

 Smallwood having adverted to the course of lectures I had the 

 pleasure of giving during the past winter, further allusion to them 

 is unnecessary. 



As Recording Secretary to the Society, it has been my duty to 

 issue notice of council meetings, and to prepare and direct 

 circulars calling the usual monthly meetings, to keep the minutes 

 of all ordinary and special meetings, to prepare proper accounts 

 of our monthly proceedings for the press, and for the Naturalist, 

 to return thanks for donations, to issue diplomas and notices 

 .of election, and to transact many little items of general business 

 for the Society. Finally, as an ex-officio member of the editing 

 committee of the Naturalist, I have endeavored to do what I could 

 for the Journal, whether directly or indirectly. 



J. F. Whiteaves, F.G.S., &c., 

 Rec. Secretary and Scientific Curator, N. H. S. 



