No. 2.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 101 



are still one thousand dollars due, aud it was recommended that 

 immediate exertions be made to raise this sum in order to free 

 the Society from debt. During the current year an unusual 

 outlay (of $337) has been necessitated for repairs, painting and 

 cleaniiiii-. 



The Report concluded with an expression of thanks to the 

 other office holders. 



The Reports of the Scientific Curator, Recording Secretary 

 and of the Editino- Committee of the 'Canadian Naturalist' 

 were then read by IMr. J. F. ^yhiteaves, ot which a brief and 

 condensed account is submitted. 



A deep sea dredging expedition to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 under the auspices of the Hon. the Minister of Marine and Fish- 

 eries was successfully carried out on behalf of the Society. More 

 than 100 species of marine animals, new to Canada, were col- 

 lected. These have been for the most part studied, identified 

 and labelled, and a report on the general results of the expedi- 

 tion has been prepared for and published by the Department of 

 Marine and Fisheries. Eight new specimens of Canadian birds 

 have been added during the year. Fourteen species of birds and 

 twenty-four of mollusca, collected by Mr. Richardson in British 

 Columbia, have been presented by Mr. A. R. C. Selwyn. These 

 have been mounted, labelled and incorporated into the general 

 collection. Sir J. Duncan Gibb has kindly forwarded a large 

 collection of British and exotic fossils. Mr. Peter Redpath has 

 contributed a series of W. Indian sponges and alcyonoids. No 

 cases being available to exhibit these, they have been carefully 

 stored away, until a proper provision can be made for them. 

 About three hundred species of recent shells have been mounted 

 on tablets and labelled, and about 3 000 more have been roughly 

 grouped in drawers preparatory to mounting. The want of 

 additional cases for the museum was strongly urged, especially of 

 one for the preservation and exhibition of alcoholic preparations. 

 The publishers of the ' Naturalist ' having decided that the first 

 No. of A^ol. 6 should bear date, September 1871, three numbers 

 have been issued, and it was hoped that the fourth would be ready 

 in July. As soon as the volume is finished new arrangements will 

 be entered into between the publishers and the Society. 



The Treasurer, Mr. James Ferrier, jr., then submitted a 

 statement of the financial position of the Society, of which the 

 following is an abstract: , 



