230 Rejjort of the 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE NATURAL 



HISTORY. 



Presented to the Society^ May^ 1860. 



la presenting the customary annual Report, the Council have 

 to congratulate the Society on the marked increase in its useful- 

 ness and prosperity in the past year, consequent, in part, on the 

 present commodious and well-placed Building, and in part on 

 the increased numbers and activity of its members. 



In the past year the internal arrangements, and furniture of 

 the building, have been completed ; large additions have been 

 made to the Museum; many important original investigations 

 have been undertaken by members of the Society, and the results 

 have been published in its proceedings. The annual Somerville 

 course of free lectures has been successfully delivered. These 

 lectures, as well as the ordinary meetings, have been even more 

 largely attended than in former years. 



The publication of the Naturalist has been carried on with its 

 usual success ; and the number of members has steadily increased, 

 while the meetings have been occupied much more fully than 

 formerly, by discussions of a scientific character. These successes 

 have not been attained without much labor and expense ; 

 but we have the satisfaction of announcing that the Government 

 and Legislature have, at length, adequately acknowledged the 

 claims and Provincial utility of the Society, by a grant in aid of 

 its funds. 



Of the points above briefly noticed, some require a more 

 detailed mention, which may be given under the following 

 heads : — 



ORIGINAL PAPERS BEAD. 



Of the different departments in which this Sooiety endeavors 

 to promote the cause of Canadian science this must be regarded 

 as the chief. We do not desire to undervalue the important 

 work of collecting specimens for our Museum ; but it is to be re- 

 garded as, in some respects, merely amassing the material on 

 which f^killed labor must be expended. The popular exposition 

 of scientific principles in our public lectures is also a valuable 

 means of cultivating the love and pursuit of science. The original 



