294 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. viL . 



In consequence of Mr. Ferrier's time being so much preoccu- 

 pied, Mr. E. E. Shelton has kindly acted as Assistant>Treasurer.- 



The Ladies' Educational Association have, as on two previous 

 Sessions, used tie rooms for their lectures, but do not intend 

 to continue doiug so : they complain of insufficient heating and-< 

 defective ventilation. 



The SoiLcrviile Course of Lectures has been duly delivered to 

 good audiei.ces; the titles of the lectures, with the names of" 

 their autliors, Avill be found in the proceedings of the Society. 



No conversazione or field day have been held during the past 

 Session, but your Council is of opinion that it is desirable to 

 hold one or tv. o field meetings before the first of July. 



The following report was then read by Mr. J. F. Whiteaves i. 



REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC CURATOR AND RECORDING 



SECRETARY. 



The work dene during the past session is very similar in char- 

 acter to tl.at of the two previous years. Shortly after the last, 

 annual meeting, as soon as the necessary preparations were 

 made, nine weeks were spent in active dredging operations inther 

 Gulf of St. Lc-wrence. As the Schooner was employed exclu- 

 sively for this particular service during that time, the number of 

 specimens collected was far greater than on any previous 

 occasion. 



These, together vith undetermined specimens remaining over 

 ii'om collections made in former years, have been as carefullj^- 

 studied as tne time at my disposal would permit. 



The Foran:inifera have not been examined much in detail, as- 

 it has been found that on the whole they do not yield a return^ 

 in the sha] e of new discoveries, at all commensurate with the 

 time spent upcn them. Only one form new to the St. Lawrence 

 has been noticed so far. 



Much more attention has been devoted to the Sponges. Of 

 the 40 cr 50 Canadian species represented in Montreal cabinets,, 

 the gene ic and specific names of about 15 have been ascertained 

 with to\ rable certainty. Although this number may seem 

 smal', it may be mentioned that many of those that are undeter- 

 mined are piobably new to Science, and in Principal Dawson's- 

 Handle ok of Geology, published in 1869, only three are enumeri- 



