XXXII EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



s'accentue dans les rangs du protestantisme français, nous aurons accompli une œuvre, quelque faible 

 qu'elle soit, dont nous aurons raison de nous réjouir. 



X. — From The Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club, through Mr. Frank T. Shutt, M. A. 



I have the honour to make the following report respecting the work and welfare of the Ottawa 

 Field Naturalists' Club. 



During the past session seven general meetings have been held. The large attendance of mem- 

 bers and their friends at these, and the discussions that have been taken part in at the close of the 

 lectures, assure the council that the year 1893-4 has been one of the most successful in the history of 

 the club. 



The lecture course was a particularly interesting one, embracing as it did lecturers of scientific 

 reputation and subjects of importance and fascination in the vtirious branches of natural science. A 

 novel feature, and one that proved exceedingly valuable to our audiences, was the use of the oxy- 

 calciu.m lantern for illusti-ating the lectures. 



The programme, as prepared and carried out, is as follows : — 



1893 — Dec. 12. Inaugural Address : The Extinct Northern Sea Cow and Early Eussian Ex- 

 plorations in the North Pacific, Dr. G. M. Dawson, C.M.Ct., F.E.S. 

 1894— Jan. 9. Following a Planet (With lantern illustrations), A. McGilJ, B.A., B.Sc. 



Jan. 23. Biological Water Analysis (With lantern illustrations), Dr. Wyatt Johnston, 



Montreal. 

 Feb. 6. How Eocks are Studied (With lantern illustrations), Frank Adams, Ph.D., 



(McGill College, Montreal). 

 Feb. 20. The Transmutations of Nitrogen (With chemical experiments), Thos. Mac- 



farlane, F.E.S.C. 

 Mar. 6. Ottawa Butterflies, James Fletcher, F.E.S.C. 



Notes on the Natural History of the Islands of Behring Sea, James H. Macoun. 

 Mar. 20. Annual Meeting. 



The summer excursions have given, as in past years, much enjoyment to the members of the 

 club and their friends, though owing to the unpleasant character of the season for outings several of 

 our field-days were either postponed or their pleasure seriously marred. The talks given by the 

 leaders at the close of these excursions upon the collections of the day, have always contributed largely 

 to the information of our members upon the fauna, flora and geneial natural history of the district 

 visited. 



The " Ottawa Naturalist" for the past year forms a volume of 1*78 pages, and contains, besides 

 the transactions of the club, many original contributions to science. Its circulation now numbers 

 about 400, and its monthly apijearance is looked forward to with much pleasure by our members in 

 Canada, the United States and abroad. By its means the club has been enabled to disseminate much 

 information of a scientific and educational character. In this waj', undoubtedly, our societj' is doing 

 a good work, but one that perhaps has scarcely received the appreciation in the past that it deserved. 



The financial condition of the society is satisfactory, though the council are of the opinion that 

 the usefulness of the "Naturalist" could be greatly extended if a larger sum than now at their com- 

 mand could be appropriated to its publication. Hitherto the club has been self sustaining, but since 

 its influence and work has of late so greatly increased it is lelt that a small annual grant given from 

 the provincial treasurj' could be wisely expended in improving and enlarging our publication. Hold- 

 ing these views the council have formally applied to the provincial legislature for a grant, urging 

 their claim on the ground of an equal right to support with other Canadian societies doing educa- 

 tional work. 



