LXX.W JII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



VII. — From The Olfnirn Field Naturalists' Club, through 

 Dr. JI. M. Ami, M.A., F.G.S. 



On behalf of the council and members of the Ottawa Field Natur- 

 alists' Club I have the honour to present to the Koyal Society of Canada 

 the following brief summary" of the work done during the past year. 

 The four main lines of work, which my predecessor in office. Prof. E. E. 

 Prince, pointed out to your honourable society a year ago, which the 

 club sought to follow, have been duly kept in mind and pursued with 

 the usual vigour which has characterized this club since its organization 

 in 1879. 



The club is thus entering upon the 21st year of its existence, and 

 has sought by means of excursions into the brofad field of nature, to 

 interest all lovers of science in our district, with lectures and soirées 

 held during the winter months, where papers are read and presented by 

 various jrieml)ers on tlfe different brandies of the work carried on during 

 tlie previous season, together witli the exhibition of specimens and dis- 

 cussions thereon, many ])oints are brought to light and recorded. 

 Another feature of the club's work lies in the pul)lication of the Ottawa 

 Naturalist, which is the offici'al organ of. the club. 



I have the honour to lay upon the table and present to your honour- 

 able society, volume 12 of our Transactions, containing 276 pages of 

 printed matter, made up for the most part of original papers, notes anil 

 records of observations in the various branches of natural history, not 

 only with special reference to the Ottawa District and the Ottawa Valley, 

 in which we are more particularly interested, but also to the various 

 provinces of British Xorth America. It is the largest volume published 

 by our club in any. one year, and contains many original papers of 

 world-wide interest. 



The council of our club is pleased to note the incre^ing interest 

 taken in natural history studies in the capital, by our members, as well 

 as by those in charge of the educational interests of Ottaw'a and many 

 private citizens. 



From the special nature and work carried on by numerous branches 

 and dep'artments of the (Jovernment at Ottawa there have l)een brought 

 together a large -number of persons devoting their time and energies to 

 the promotion and development of exact knowledge or science through 

 the instrumentality of this society, and it is gratifying to see the mem- 

 bership increasing from year to year. It is plc!asing to have to report, 

 further, that the finances of the club are in a satisfactory condition. 



