LVI EOTAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



The season of 1890-91 was opened by a regular public meeting, which was largely attended. Mr. 

 Neil Warner, the well-known elocutionist, read selections from the works of Geo. Murray, Esq., B.A., 

 F.E.S.C, which were warmly received, Mr. Warner lending to the charm of the poet the music of his 

 voice. 



On December 18th another successful public meeting was held, at which W. D. Lighthall, Esq., 

 M. A., B.C.L., read a paper on " Some Canadian Literary Cranks," remarking upon the folly of hyper- 

 criticism as well as of undue praise. 



On the 15th of January E. B. Brownlow, Esq., better known as " Sarepta," read a paper upon 

 the lines of that of Mr. Lighthall, but from a somewhat different standpoint. 



On February 10th another meeting was held, at which Eobert Harris, Esq., E.C.A., delivered an 

 instructive and interesting paper entitled "Notes on Early Canadian Artists." 



The following have been elected honorary members of the society: Wm. Kirby, Esq., Prof C. G-. 

 D. Eoberts, Chas. Sangster, Wm. Kingsford, Mrs. S. F. W. Harrison, Miss A. H. Machar, Chas. Mair, 

 late Hon. P. J. O. Chauveau, Lieut.-Col. J. H. Diivar, Ales. McLachlan, Lord Lome, G. W. Wick- 

 steed, Eev. E. McD. Dawson, Eev. W. H. Withrow, N. F. Davin, M.P., Francis Parkman, Dr. J. G. 

 Bourinot, H. J. Morgan, J. M. LeMoiue, Louis Frechette, Arthur Weir, Col. Sir W. F. Butler. 



XVIL — From The Natural History Society of Montreal, through Very Eev. James Carmichael, 



Dean of Montreal. 



The influence of the society is exercised through the benefits of a museum and library, the pub- 

 licatioa of the ' Canadian Eecord of Science,' the I'eading of papers at monthly meetings containing 

 original observations and investigations, and the delivery of a course of free scientific lectures on 

 scientific subjects, known as the Somerville Course. 



For nearly two years the museum has been undergoing re-arrangement under the direction of 

 Mr. J. Stevenson Brown, the honorary curator. Mr. Horace T. Martin has re-arranged and re-classi- 

 fied the mammalian department, Mr. Caulfield the ornithological, Mr. Winn the entomological; Mr. 

 E. H. Hamilton has re-classified, and indeed almost transformed, the mineral department ; Messrs. J. 

 Stevenson Brown, J. S. Shearer and E. T. Chambers, ably assisted by Mr. Alfred GriflSn, our valued 

 superintendent, have re-arranged the fossils, conchological collection, and the department of Indian 

 Eskimo and Mexican antiquities. It is much to the credit of the society that all this work has been 

 most willingly and efficiently done by its own members. During these alterations the museum was 

 closed for several months, necessarily interfering with the attendance of the public, but since re-open- 

 ing the attendance has been good, especially on the part of city schools and classes, and on the free 

 nights in connection with the Somerville lectures. 



The library, under the management of Mr. T. E. Chambers and containing upwards of 3,000 

 volumes, has undergone careful revision and rearrangement during this year, and a good work has 

 been done in binding a quantity of valuable material and placing the bound volumes on the shelves. 

 This library is ojoen to the members of the society. 



The ' Canadian Eecord of Science,' a valuable quarterly dealing with the proceedings of the 

 society, and edited by an able committee, of which Prof Penhallow has been chairman, not only 

 gives to original papers a wider dissemination than they would otherwise obtain, but keeps the 

 society in touch with the larger world of science as a valuable exchange. This ' Quarterly,' which 

 has replaced the older 'Canadian Naturalist,' reflects much credit on the gentlemen forming the 

 editing committee, and through them on the society itself, of which they have long been prominent 

 and distinguished members. 



Judging by the success of the last annual field day, held in Lachute on the 7th of June, 1890, and 

 joined in by representatives of other Montreal societies and a delegation from Ottawa, it is plain that 



