450 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. viii. 



few of our members have brought under our notice facts or 

 specimens. Surely no more rational or pleasant way of spending 

 an evening can be found than in listening to new facts on the 

 natural history of our country, and in examining and discussing 

 the interesting and often rare or new specimens by which they 

 are illustrated ; and it should be borne in mind that we do not 

 expect long or elaborate papers, but are quite content to receive 

 the simplest and shortest notes on any natural phenomena that 

 may be observed, or on any natural facts, either of scientific in- 

 terest or of practical utility. Our Sominerville Lectures are 

 largely attended by the public, and it appears to me that many 

 of our monthly meetings have been of quite as great interest 

 even to those not deeply versed in science, and vastly more so to 

 those who are. Scientific societies in a country like this are of 

 slow growth, but surely after an existence of half a century, and 

 after having held up the torch of sci:nce for that long time in 

 this community, this Society should have acquired greater 

 strength. In the present Session it has completed its fiftieth 

 year, and I think that it is time its members should make greater 

 efforts to revive and strengthen it, so that it may be able with 

 some vigour and eclat to celebrate its jubilee. 



The address of the President was followed by the Report of 

 the Chairman of Council, Mr. G. L. Mailer, as follows : 



REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL. 



At the close of another Session your Council beg to submit 

 the following resume of proceedings during the past year. 



There has been little of extraordinary moment to which to 

 call the attention of the members, but it may be stated that the 

 labours of the Society seem to have been better appreciated than 

 in the past, and also that there has been a larger attendance at 

 the Sommerville Lectures and more visitors to the Museum. 



The usual field day was a success in point of numbers, about 

 109 persons having been present. The trip was a very enjoy- 

 able one, as the weather was bright and pleasant. The party 

 went by rail to Lachine, thence by boat up the river St. Law- 

 rence, past He Dorval to He Perrot, where the boat stopped 

 for a couple of hours to enable the excursionists to gather botan- 

 ical specimens. The steamer theu proceeded up through the 

 Lake of Two Mountains to Oka, at which place the stay was 

 too short, there not being sufficient time left for the ascent of 



