6 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. vi. 



"We have not specially cultivated Canadian Geology, because we 

 cannot hope to rival in this department the admirable collection 

 of the Geological Survey ; but we have aimed at and secured a 

 general collection, useful in educating the public taste and for 

 giving aid to learners. Our collections in American Ethnology 

 are not contemptible ; and at our last annual conversazione, by 

 laying our friends under contribution, we were able to exhibit an 

 admirable series of illustrations of the rude and simple arts of the 

 tribes which preceded us in the occupation of this country. 



Of our library I cannot speak in as high praise as of our 

 Museum. It should undoubtedly be one function of a Society 

 like this to collect for the use of naturalists at least those books 

 of reference which they would require to consult, and especisUy 

 all books of value bearing on American Natural History. It is 

 true that the University Library and that of the Gaological Sur- 

 vey to some extent supply this want ; but there is still a large 

 field in this department which we might occupy, and we should 

 at least place the scientific periodicals of the day conveniently 

 within the reach of our members. Nor is there anything more 

 likely to prove attractive to the public than a well-stocked library 

 and reading room, devoted especially to the scientific subjects 

 which we cultivate. This subject is one with reference to which 

 the Society should move vigorously in the coming year, either by 

 soliciting special contributions for this purpose, by increasing the 

 amount of its annual contributions from members, or by allying 

 itself with other societies. It seems to have been an error in the 

 construction of our building not to have provided larger space for 

 accommodating a library and reading room, and if possible some 

 amendment should be eff'ected in this. 



In our proper scientific work a boundless field lies before us. 

 Scarcely any department of the natural history of this country 

 has been satisfactorily worked out, and any active naturalist can 

 find almost anywhere the material for original investigations, the 

 results of which we are at all times ready to o-ive to the public. 

 I have already referred to the subject of Entomology as applied 

 to practical purposes ; and the natural history of our spiders, 

 millepedes, and worms, is almost an untrodden field, while our 

 microscopists have a vast and little explored domain in Canadian 

 waters, with their multitudes of inhabitants of the humbler 

 grades. There is much also yet to be done in Canadian fishes 

 and reptiles. Mr. Whiteaves has made much progress in cata- 



