No. 1.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 19 



Many of the polyzoa have also been examined microscopically, 

 and some of the most doubtful species have been sent to the 

 Eev. A. M Norman, who is one of the best European authorities 

 on this group. About twenty of these molluscoids, whose specific 

 relations were doubtful, have been now determined satisfactorily. 

 Some of the St. Lawrence polyzoa have also been sent, by request, 

 to Prof. A. E. Verrill, who is engaged on a new work on the 

 invertebrata of Northern New England. 



The Dominion Government has decided, for the present, to 

 discontinue the dredging explorations, a determination which, 

 it is hoped, will soon be reconsidered. 



Through the zeal of Mr. Richardson and the liberality of the 

 Director of the Geological Survey, the Society has recently 

 received a valuable collection of natural history specimens and 

 ethnological objects, from various parts of British Columbia. 

 Among these are a collection of flowering plants of great 

 interest, a large series of marine animals, some Indian skulls 

 and other miscellaneous objects. The plants have been care- 

 fully determined by Mr. Barnston, end the marine shells by 

 Dr. P. P. Carpenter. The land and fresh-water shells and the 

 Crustacea have also been examined and named, and the alcyona- 

 ria, echinodermata, polyzoa and cephalopoda have also been par- 

 tially studied. As soon as the specific relations of these and the 

 hydroids have been properly ascertained, my intention is to con- 

 tribute an article on these interesting specimens to the Society's 

 Journal. The Society is indebted to Mr. S. I. Smith, of Yale 

 College, for the names of several crustaceans described in Dana's 

 and Brandt's elaborate monographs, works which are entirely 

 inaccessible in Canada. 



By Mr. Selwyn's request, a specimen of the rare Pennatulid 

 from Burrard's Inlet has been presented to the Museum of 

 McGill University, and a second one will be shortly forwarded 

 to the British Museum. 



The Cabinet of Insects belonging to the Society has been 

 partly re-orgunized during the past summer. All the old and 

 dilapidated specimens have been removed and destroyed, and 

 their place filled, as far as possible, with new and better ones. 

 In every order, the insects obtained on the Island of Montreal, 

 have been kept separate. Large collections have made in the 

 field, during the summer, and the specimens obtained have been 

 properly mounted. Special attention has been paid to the cole- 



