VIII EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



Eeports from Affiliated Societies. 



The list of Delegates was then read, and the following Eeports were duly presented from the fol- 

 lowing Literary and Scientific Societies in Canada : — 



I. From the Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science, through Mr. Martin Murphy, C.E. : — 



The Nova Scotia Institute of Natural Science was instituted on December 31st, 1862. It may 

 be considered as a result of the effort to represent Nova Scotia at the great London International Ex- 

 hibition of 1862. The Nova Scotian Commission secured the cooperation of a number of naturalists, 

 and other gentlemen who took an interest in Natural Hi8torJ^ The Secretary of the Commission, E. Gr. 

 Haliburton, Esq., barrister-at-law, took active steps in convening these gentlemen, with a view to mutual 

 improvement in the study of Natural Science, as well as for the development of the natural resources of 

 the Pi-ovince. It was agreed " that a society be formed under the name of the Nova Scotian Institute 

 of Natural Science ; That the Institute undertake the publication of lists of the various natural pro- 

 ductions of the Province, with such observations as their respective authors maj' deem necessary ; That, 

 so far as the funds of the Institute will permit, the President's address, the list of native productions, 

 and a selection of the papers read at the meetiugs by members be published, as the ' Transactions of the 

 Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science,' and distributed gratuitously to the members." The Institute 

 has continued in active operation fi'om 1862 to the jji-eseut time. 



The session of 1883-84, just finished, of Proceedings and Transactions, Part I, Volume VI, has 

 been jiist published. These volumes are considered as a highly creditable record of original work 

 done in the various branches of Natural Science. Their distribution has been world-wide. The popu- 

 larity of the Institute abroad is still increasing. The volumes of the Transactions are out of print, so 

 that it is impossible to meet constantly recurring applications for them. The .annual grant from the 

 Provincial Legislature of from one hundred to two hundred dollars, in connection with the fees of 

 members, has enabled the Institute to print and distribute its Transactions, but not to illustrate them 

 with maps and figures. The Institute owes its success largely to the efforts of its secretary, the Eev. 

 D. HonejTnan, D.C.L. As well as being the most active member, he is ever ze.ilous, ever working, in 

 the advancement of its interests and in the cause of science. The following is the list of Papers read 

 during the Session, 1883-84 : — 



1. De Bert Coal Field, by Edwin Gilpin, B.A., Government Inspector of Mines, N. S. 



2. Natural Histoi-y of the Canadian Department of the Great International Fisheries Commission, 

 London, 1883, by Eev. Dr. Honeyman, D.C.L. 



3. On Manganese Ores of Cape Breton, by Edwin Gilpin, B.A. 



4. Notes on Special Auroi-se, by J. G. MacGregor, A.M., D.Sc. 



5. On the Northern Limits of Indigenous Grape Vines, by George Lawson, Ph.D., LL.D. 



6. On Sable Island : its Changed Position, by S.D. McDonald, F.G.S. 



7. On Glacial Action at Eimouski, Canada, and Loch Eck Argylsbire, Scotland, by Eev. D. Honey- 

 man, D.C.L. 



8. Notes on Palariscopic and Microscopic Examination of Crystalline Eocks of Nova Scotia and 

 Cape Breton, by Eev. D. Honeyman, D.C.L. 



9. Some Physical Features of Nova Scotia, with Notes on Glacial Action, by M. Murphy, C.E. 

 Provincial Government Engineer, N.S. 



10. Notes of French Water Sponges, by A. H. McKay, M.A., B.Sc. 



II. From the Geographical Society of Quebec, through Lieut.-Col. Ehodes: — 



I have the honour to report that the Geographical Society of Quebec has done a considerable 

 amount of work during the past year, a portion of which appears in their Bulletin, which is now 

 placed before you. As Geographical enterprise means commercial progress, it is not surprising that 



