PRESIDENTS ADDEESS. ]xxxvii 
ical development of the geological exploration of the Province. Dr. 
Ami, who would add still further terms to this changing nomenclature, 
described the fossil tracks of an ‘ Eo-Devonian” fish found in the 
fine-grained silicious sandstones of the Knoydart formation in Anti- 
gonish. Professor Haycock closed up the series of geological papers 
by a picturesque description of the geological history of the Gaspereaux 
Valley, and by the exhibition of fossils—probably Triassic—in glaci- 
ated fragments of rock in the Boulder Clay of King’s County 
Dr. Magee represented the science of chemistry in a graphic sketch 
of the rare earths and their importance in reference to the Perioclic 
Law, a feat which was made easy by his research work in this depart- 
ment for some years. Professor Smith followed the science into its 
industrial applications in the rotation of leguminous crops, and the 
preservation and use of turnip tops. Mr. Bishop led into the field of 
zoology, exhibiting and describing the habits of the star-nosed mole 
and its young, and on another occasion showing his fine collection of 
Nova Scotian birds’ eggs. Mr. Doane led us into the region of meteor- 
ology in his Notes on Rainfall, and I presented, as usual, my annual 
compilation of phenological observations made in the schools of the 
Province. 
PROVINCIAL MUSEUM. 
During the year, the Provincial Museum, which although always 
the ward of the Government has always been considered to be the 
child of the Institute of Science, has been very extensively improved 
by the incessant and intelligent labor of its curator, Mr. Harry Piers. 
While it is being rapidly made more representative of the natural and 
industrial history of the Province by the introduction of new material, 
a great deal has been accomplished by the arrangement, accurate 
determination, and comprehensive but distinct labelling of the old 
material ; so that now it is becoming not only of more value to those 
wishing to gain an idea of the productions of the country, but to the 
scientific student. The curator is not a man who merely attends 
during the hours the Museum is open to the public. He is always 
working, and when the doors are closed he works most. In no 
other way could the vast amount of work done during the past year 
have been accomplished. 
The collections of coins in the Museum, many of which were 
neither specifically determined or generally classified, came under the 
