452 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Dec. 



2. Feb. 2ii(i, 1871. On Astronomy and Geology. By Dr. T. 

 Sterry Hunt, F.R.S. 



3. Feb. 16tli., 1871. On Applied Science, illustrated in the 

 manufacture of Glass. By Dr. J. B. Edwards, F.C.S. 



4. Feb. 23rd, 1871. On the wonders of the Glacial Period. 

 By Prof. R. Bell, F.S.G. 



5. March 2nd, 1871. On Tides and Currents, especially on 

 the Acadian Coast. By C. Piobb, C.E. 



6. March 16th, 1871. Sketches of Plant life in Canada. 

 By A. T. Drummond, B.A., LL.B. 



7. March 23rd, 1871. On the Thirty Years War. By Prof. 

 Goldtvin Smith. 



Annual Conversazione. 



The 9th Annual Conversazione was held at the Booms on 

 Thursday evening, March 9th, 1871. The Committee had 

 decided to make exhibition of as large a series of specimens 

 illustrative of Canadian and aboriginal antiquities as could be 

 brought together, the special feature of the evening. 



The proceedings commenced with an address by the President, 

 Principal Dawson, LL.D., F.R.S., which we subjoin. 



The President's Address. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — The ordinary work of this Society 

 is of a very unobtrusive character. It seeks to keep alive in the 

 community a taste for the study of nature; to record and illustrate 

 new facts as to the natural history and resources of Canada ; to 

 provide a place of safe keeping for such objects as appear of any 

 value to the progress of science; and to afford in its museum and 

 lectures the means of pleasant and profitable recreation and 

 improvement to all classes of our citizens. Once a year only we 

 open our rooms to this annual conversazione, and it affords me 

 much pleasure on the ninth of these occasions to welcome here so 

 laro-e an assemblage of our friends, who, we hope, will enjoy with 

 us the present improved aspect of our collections, and the special 

 attractions which we have gathered for this evening. 



On the present occasion we have made a special effort to collect 

 as many objects as possible in illustration of the arts and 

 antiquities of the aboriginal tribes of Canada, and I cannot 

 conceive a collection more fitted to interest any thoughtful mind 

 than that now before us. You have here the specimens accumu- 

 lated by the Society; considerable collections from the museum 



