II ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Section IV.— R. Bell, Eev. C. J. S. Bethune, T. J. W. Burgess, G. 

 M. Dawson, Sir J. W. Dawson, R W. Elis, J. Fletcher, Sir J. A. Grant, 

 ^y. H. Harrington, J. Macoun, T. W. Mills, D. P. Penhallow, W. Saunders, 

 J. F. Whiteaves, E. Eamsa3--Wrigbt. 



The Honorary Secretary then read the following 



EEPOET OF COUNCIL. 



The Council of the Eoyal Societ}' of Canada have the honour to 

 present their fourteenth annual report. 



1. Printing of Transactions. 



The tirst volume of the new series of Transactions, in the octavo 

 form, has been printed, and will be soon in the hands of all the members. 

 It contains upwards of 900 pages and illustrations. Its convenient size 

 will recommend itself to all readers in comparison with the heavy volumes 

 of the old series. A fuller table of contents and other improvements 

 have been made. All the papers of authors, some 32 in number, have 

 been stitched between neat covers, which give very general satisfaction. 

 The volume contains, in a compact compass, as much matter as the 

 largest quarto volume yet issued by the society. The objections raised 

 by some of the scientific writers, that the octavo form would not do the 

 same justice to scientific illustrations, are already shown by the plates in 

 the present volume to be without adequate ground. The cost of the 

 volume will be less than that of the old series, as there will be a saving 

 in paper and cost of transmission, as it will be possible to forward 

 volumes by mail at a less expense. It is proposed to reduce the charges 

 of binding, by following the example of all societies with which we 

 exchange, and send abi'oad only co])ies stitched between strong paper 

 covers, except in a few exceptional cases like the Eoyal Society of 

 England, the Smithsonian Institution, Harvard University, British 

 Museum, the Paris Library, French Academ}' and other institutions of 

 special note. Members of the society and important institutions in 

 Canada will continue to receive bound copies. 



2. Accounts. 



All the printing accounts have been referred, as in previous years, 

 to the accountant of the Printing Department of the Government, to be 

 duly checked and audited by experts. The illustrations have been given 

 at the lowest rates to artists and engravers under the pei'sonal direction 

 of Dr. Dawson, the Queen's Printer. A considerable saving has been 

 effected in this way for the past three years. 



