206 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
naturalist in new species) than in British Columbia. And although 
circumstances have not permitted me to accomplish what, in my 
youthful enthusiasm, I then proposed to myself, I am still of 
the same opinion. On the North Pacific Coast one comes face to face 
with many peculiar problems connected with the distribution of marine 
life, and with the evolution of species which appear to have originated 
in more northern latitudes. We are there in a position to trace the con- 
rection between the Arctic and more temperate faunas, and the evolution 
of circumboreal species which are common to the Atlantic and 
Pacific; or of the terrestrial species which have representative forms on 
the Pacific Coast, the Atlantic coast and in Northern Europe; or again 
of those species, evidently of common origin, occurring on the Pacific 
Coast of Canada and the opposite ‘coasts of Asia. I might mention 
here a very curious instance I have myself lately come across, of three 
species of moths, evidently of common ancestry, one occurring in the 
Pacific province, the second in the Atlantic states, the third in Europe, 
which appear absolutely indistinguishable when examined superficially 
but which differ, in a single important structural character, which throws 
them, according to our present system of classification, into three dif- 
ferent genera. 
On the whole, then, I feel that I am justified in claiming that no 
more attractive spot for a Biological Station could be found. That there 
is no spot in the Dominion of Canada, I feel almost inclined to say in 
the whole world, where so many problems of interest can be so con- 
veniently and so comfortably attacked and solved as on the Pacific coast 
of British Columbia. 
Now as to the work to be done. I believe that the first work should 
always be faunistic investigation. We want to know with as much accur- 
acy as possible the names by which we ought to designate the organisms 
we are investigating. 
The labours of the most skilful anatomist or the most learned 
biologist become comparatively valueless if there is an uncertainty as to 
the exact species he may have had before him when making his obser- 
vations. 
I believe, therefore, that the first work we should undertake should 
be the preparation of faunal lists and the accurate determination of 
the names of our species, so that we may avoid the danger of confusing, 
as may so easily be done, our species with similar but distinct species 
inhabiting other parts of the world. An incorrect name is often the 
cause of endless confusion and error. 
To give one instance; an American moth Hupithecia coagulata was 
confused with a European species, Hupithecia absynthiata. The latter 
