Address of tlie President. 33 



province, and a chronicle of what we can yet rescue of its 

 ancient history. In endeavouring to carry out this, I hope to 

 be able before next year to submit to you a plan, that at a 

 very small expense indeed, this may be accomplished. This 

 year your little trial volume shall be my charge, and my con- 

 tribution to the Society, as I think it one of some importance 

 to give us a standing with other similar associations. 



While at this part of my address, and before alluding to 

 our country excursions, there are two other points I would 

 shortly notice. To carry out the history of our province, we 

 should look to the formation of a local library and collection. 

 I do not mean that we should at once rush into the purchase 

 of books, or that we should stuff or preserve large animals or 

 common things. We have neither funds nor space, but both 

 should be kept in view. Of late years there has been a con- 

 siderable number of papers, published in different periodicals, 

 relating to the geology and zoology of the district. The 

 authors will readUy send us these ; and when the object is 

 known you will find books will accumulate. Eare specimens 

 may occur in the departments of zoology, botany, and geology, 

 or the t}TDical specimens referred to in some paper should be 

 kept to serve as a beginning ; but in both I would admit of 

 nothing that did not come under the denomiaation of strictly 

 local, or connected with local societies. Thiis the papers or 

 transactions of other societies may be admitted when received 

 in exchange for our own, or bearing upon some analogous 

 custom, or of a specimen illustrating the variation or some 

 point in the history of one collected by ourselves. But it 

 should be urged as an absolute rule, that all foreign specimens 

 be rejected, otherwise we shall have the little space we may 

 hereafter possess wasted by insulated specimens that in your 

 possession can illustrate nothing. It is the experience of 

 societies that general collections are encumbrances, and in 

 most instances get destroyed for want of care, or they are 

 dispersed. Within these few years the really fine and valu- 



D 



