No. 5. J NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 303 



that wiser counsels may prevail, or that some turn of the politi- 

 cal wheel may suggest other measures or bring in other men. 



The report of the Chairman of Council was next read by Mr. 

 G. L. Marler. 



REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL. 



At the close of another session, your Council beg to submit 

 the following short summary of its proceedings during the year, 

 with an occasional note on other matters connected with the 

 business working of the Society. 



A field-day was held at Belceil Mountain on Saturday, June 

 10th, 1876, which was attended by about eighty persons, and a 

 very enjoyable day was spent. It is to be regretted, however, 

 that the receipts on this occasion were not sufficient to meet the 

 necessary expenditure, a circumstance probably owing to the un- 

 favourable aspect of the weather at starting. 



On the seventh of September last our Scientific Curator and 

 Eec. Secretary, Mr. J. F. Whiteaves, who has held these offices 

 for fourteen consecutive years, tendered his resignation of both, 

 at a special meeting called for that purpose. Resolutions of 

 thanks for his past services, coupled with congratulations on his 

 new appointment and good wishes for his future scientific career, 

 were passed at this meeting. 



In consequence of Mr. Whiteaves' resignation, new arrange- 

 ments were entered into with Mr. Passmore, who agreed to give 

 his whole time to the work of the Society, and to issue circulars 

 for meetings, &c, for which additional services his salary was 

 raised from $200 to $400 per annum. 



A Museum Committee was also appointed, consisting of seven 

 gentlemen, whose duties were understood to be to superintend 

 the classification and labelling of specimens in the departments 

 of mineralogy, botany, conchology, entomology, ornithology, and 

 archaeology, and to report at stated intervals to the Council on 

 the condition of these collections. The Committee has reported 

 twice since its election, but your Council would suggest the de. 

 sirability of the appointment of a competent scientific curator 

 who could devote a definite portion of his time to work urgently 

 needed both in the museum and library. 



