PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. lll 
erect main stem. He also exhibited a stuffed specimen of Lanius 
borealis, and read notes on its butcher-bird habits, distribution, and 
local occurrence. Both of these subjects elicited information from 
members of observations they had made. The discussion that ensued 
in regard to the juniper-forms led to expression of the view that 
depressed and bush forms of Conifera are to be regarded in general, not 
as incipient trees in process of development or evolution, but rather as 
degenerate or dwarfed forms of species that now exist, or have formerly 
existed, normally as trees. We do not now have the proper forest-tree- 
form of Juniperus communis anywhere, but our native yew bush, Taxus 
Canadensis, while it occurs nowhere on ¢his continent as a tree, is 
believed by many botanists to be conspecific with the English yew, the 
trunk of which attains great size as well as antiquity ; it is the tree that 
furnished wood for bows to the English bowmen. Mr. Guildford R. 
Marshall, Principal of Richmond School, gave an account of the obser- 
vation of earthworms on roofs, etc., as if they had fallen in a shower ; 
the facts narrated suggested several possible explanations of the phe- 
nomenon, in connection with which details of the habits of these 
familiar but despised creatures were brought forward by members. At 
the same meeting, the President offered remarks on some features of the 
Kentucky Flora, pointing ont the prominent differences in the vegeta- 
tion of the Kentucky plains or low-lands from that of Nova Scotia, 
while:the hill or mountain plants were, in certain cases, identical with 
our species, or presented equivalent forms. These remarks were founded 
on, and illustrated by, specimens collected during the season by Mr. 
Kearney, of the Botanical Iepartment of Columbia College, New York 
where much good botanical work is being done. 
At the January meeting (1894), Dr. Gilpin, Deputy Commissioner of 
Mines, gave a geological description of the Nictaux iron-ore-field, which 
has of late years acquired increased economic importance. The reading 
of this paper led 3o an interesting discussion on the general geological 
features of the district, which was familiar to Dr. A. P. Reid and other 
members present. Mr. Doane, our City Engineer, gave an account of the 
operation of the “ Kennedy Scraper,” so-called, and an explanation of 
the cause of a recent failure in its working when introduced into the 
city water pipes. The interesting history of this invention for auto- 
matically freeing water-pipes from rust-incrustation was detailed, the 
apparatus shown, its mode of working described, and its use in our city 
water works fully explained. 
