1S67.] 319 [Kiieeland. 



my species from recent specimens, and liad my species figured. The 

 difficulty of preserving good specimens of some of om' most uncom- 

 mon fishes was oftentimes great, and of obtaining specimens of tlie 

 various species greater still. Not unfrequently, fine specimens wouUl 

 be lost, from the impossibility of procuring an artist to di'aw them. 



In 1847, I had completed my work, and it was presented to the 

 Academy. Its publication commenced in 1853, in the fifth volume of 

 its Memoirs. From the fact that others, in many respects more valu- 

 able papers, have been constantly presented for publication by the 

 members, and that the expense of my report has been very great, it 

 has been continued in succeeding volmnes, until it is concluded in the 

 ninth. 



I have felt it my duty thus to speak, that all who may have been, 

 however slightly, interested in the appearance of this work, might 

 know I had not faltei"ed in the' undertaking, but the delay was una- 

 voidable. 



November 20, 1867. 

 The President in the chair. Forty-six members j^resent. 



Dr. J. W. Dawson of Montreal was elected an Honorary 

 Member. 



Dr. Samnel Kneeland read a paper on the relation of the 

 plumage of birds to their modes of nidification. At a recent 

 meeting of the British Association foi* the Advancement of 

 Science, a commmiication on the same subject was offered by 

 Mr. A. R. Wallace. According to him, birds' nests may be 

 divided into two classes : those which are exposed or imper- 

 fectly concealed, and those which are covered, or so placed 

 that the sitting bird is effectually hidden. Birds also may be 

 divided into two groups, according to the difference of col- 

 oration in the sexes. In some species varied and brilliant 

 colors occur in both sexes ; in others, a more numerous class, 

 tne male is brighter than the female. With but few excep- 

 tions, Mr. Wallace finds that birds of conspicuous color 

 build concealed nests, while in species where the female is 



