302 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [^g. 



been accepted as an unquestioned fact by all the leading minds in 

 Geology. 



Before leaving this part of our work, it is proper to state that 

 the utility of our collection to students of Geology and Mineralogy 

 has been much increased by the arrangement and display of our 

 specimens of fossils, rocks and minerals, through the exertions of 

 Mr. Whiteaves, aided by other members of the Society. 



Among the numerous papers received on Zoology, Botany and 

 Physical Geography, I may,without attempting any detailed notices, 

 mention those of Mr. Jones on Ocean Drift, and on the fishes 

 of Nova Scotia, communicated to our Journal by the Natural 

 History Society of New Brunswick m T of Mr. J. G. Bowles on Pleris 

 rapw ; of Dr. Bowerbank on Canadian Sponges ; of Prof. Brunet 

 on the Travels of Michaux ; of Prof. Lawson, Prof. Eaton, and 

 Mr. McCord on Canadian Ferns ; of Mr. Drummond on the 

 Geographical Botany of Canada ; of Hon. Mr. Sheppard on Cana- 

 dian Timber trees ; of Mr. Vennor on the Night Heron ; of Mr. 

 Whiteaves on Canadian Mammals ; of Mr. Ritchie on the struc- 

 ture of Insects; and lists of plants of various localities in Canada 

 contributed by Dr. Thomas, Mr. Drummond, Mr. Macoun, and 

 other botanists. We owe also to the gentlemen of the Entomo- 

 logical club our cordial thanks for the generous donations which 

 have filled our cabinet of insects with one of the most valuable 

 collections of entomological specimens as yet accumulated in this 

 city. 



It is proper, on this occasion, to congratulate the Society on the 

 completion of the first series of its Journal, the Canadian Naturalist, 

 and on the commencement of the second volume of a new and 

 improved series. The inception of the Canadian Naturalist is due 

 to our colleague Mr. Billings, the palaeontologist of the Canadian 

 Survey ; and the first volume was ably sustained by his unaided 

 exertions. Adopted by the Natural History Society in 1857, it 

 has now entered on its tenth year of publication, and contains in 

 the volume already published a mass of information on the Natural 

 History of British America, indispensable to every student of the 

 subject. It has established its reputation wherever science is cul- 

 tivated, and is now a recognized medium of communication between 

 Naturalists in Canada and in foreign countries. It is only to be 

 regretted, both for the sake of the interests of science and of the 

 publishers of the work, who have heretofore issued it without any 

 expense to the Society or any public aid, that it should not be more 



