234 Report of the 



as a means of extending the knowledge of Canada and of en- 

 larging its scientific reputation, is much diminished by the re- 

 stricted circulation abroad, necessitated by the narrow pecuniary 

 circumstances of the Society. A vigorous effort should be made 

 to remove this evil in the coming year, and to secure for the 

 Naturalist, now by far the most important representative of the 

 state of Natural Science in Canada, the circulation v^hich its 

 merits demand. 



In thanking the Editing Committee for its services, the Coun- 

 cil regard it as nothing more than an act of justice to make espe- 

 cial mention of the services of Mr. D. Allan Poe, on whom 

 the immediate editorial superintendence of the Naturalist has 

 devolved, and to whose skill and unwearied attention much of the 

 success of the publication is due. 



MUSEUM AND LIBRARY. 



The arrangement and improvement of the Society's collection, 

 have been steadily advancing, and the cabinet-keeper, Mr. Hunter, 

 deserves great credit for the zeal which he has displayed in this, 

 as 'well as in adding to the collection by preparing and setting up 

 numerous specimens of animals presented to the Society. The 

 report of the Curator, Dr. Fenwick, shows that the number of 

 donations has been very large. The most important of the whole 

 is the Ferrier collection of Egyptian antiquities, which is one of 

 the most attractive features of the collection. As at present ar- 

 ranged, the Society's collection of Canadian birds is remarkably 

 complete and available for reference. The collection of Mam- 

 mals, though containing a number of good specimens, is still 

 very defective. It is much to be desired that members interested 

 in these subjects, would bring up to the same degree of perfection 

 with the birds, the collection of Canadian Invertebrate Animals, 

 Plants, Fossils and Minerals. In all of these departments there 

 is a great amount of material of little comparative value in con- 

 sequence of the want of modern scientific arrangement. The 

 aquaria, which we owe to the exertions of Mr. Leeming and Mr. 

 Ferrier, now constitute a portion of our Museum of much inter- 

 est and some scientific value. 



The donations to the Library have been comparatively few, and 

 the state of the Society's funds has not permitted the purchase of 

 books. It is hoped, however, that something may ere long be 

 done in this direction, as the library is now much in want of 



