JSatural History Society. 233 



of members who will devote themselves systematically to scientific 

 pursuits ; but I think there is every reason to believe that the 

 efforts of this Society are really advancing the cause of Science, 

 and that its influence is becoming extended, and its labours more 

 and more appreciated by the public. There are several ways in 

 which the Society seeks to advance its work, and bring its influ- 

 ence to bear upon the public mind. First there is the Museum 

 which occupies all the upper part of this building, and has 

 received some very valuable additions recently, which will be 

 noticed more particularly in the Report. Thisoff"ers many objects 

 of great interest in various departments, and has been visited by 

 far larger numbers than in any previous year. Then there is 

 the Somerville course of lectures during the Winter free to the 

 public, and which have attracted such immense crowds this year 

 that great numbers of persons have been unable to gain admit- 

 tance. These Lectures bear in general a popular character ; while 

 at the monthly meetings of \hQ Society there have been a number 

 of very able and scientific papers read on various subjects. And 

 lastly in order to give permanence to its labours, and disseminate 

 its usefulness, the Society superintends a bi-monthly periodical, 

 under the title of " The Canadian Naturalist." As to the Lec- 

 tures delivered during the last year, they were attended by such 

 large audiences, and were so well appreciated at the time, that 

 I will not now delay you by alluding to them in detail. But the 

 monthly meetings of the Society, which are truly the periods of 

 its really scientific work, are not so largely attended, nor I think 

 appreciated, as they deserve. And I should wish to mention some 

 ot the many interesting papers which have been read and dis- 

 cussed by the members on these occasions ; reminding you that 

 these meetings are open to all members of the Society, and to all 

 of their friends, ladies as well as gentlemen, whom they may wish 

 to introduce. 



GEOLOGICAL PAPERS. 



1. Poole, on Coal Field of Pictou. — Giving many valuable new 



facts on a very important Coal district ; a colossal specimen 

 of the produce of which was exhibited in Montreal last sum- 

 mer at the great Industrial Exhibition. 



2. Honeyman, on new Localities of Fossils in Silurian rocks of 



Nova Scotia. — Facts supplementary to, and extending those 

 in Principal Dawson's paper of last year. 



3. Billings, on Fossils from Point Levi. — This paper contained 



the discoveries on which the changes in the view entertained 



