IV PROCEEDINGS. 



With our liljrary thus rapidly growing, the unsatisfactory character of our 

 present quarters lias become more and more apparent. As we are at present 

 situated it is impossible to make our library available for public use, and even our 

 •own members iiave great difficulty in gaining access to it. Accordingly, by resolu- 

 tion of the Institute, a number of its members have co-operated with the Direc- 

 tors of the School of Art and Design and other leading citizens, in an effort to 

 ^secure a building to afford accommodation for the collections of the Provincial 

 Museum, the class-rooms and collections of the Art School and the libraries of 

 the Legislature, the city, and local societies. It is to be hoped that the effort may 

 be successful. For the increased utility of our libraries which would result from 

 their consolidation, the immense benefit which the museum, if properly 

 arranged, would confer upon the public, and the enlarged efficiency which the 

 Art School would derive from suitable class-rooms, all make this efifort one to 

 which all good citizens should lend a helping hand. But whether this scheme be 

 carried out or not, it is cei'tain that our library cannot remain where it is very 

 much longer at its present rate of growth. We inust very soon obtain accommoda- 

 tion for it somewhere else, unless, indeed, the books are to be packed away as they 

 arrive to await a more convenient season for being used. Even if that had to be 

 done it would be well for us to continue in our present course and secure them 

 now when they may be had. But how much better it would be if we could de- 

 posit them on arrival where they would at once be available for the use both of 

 our members and of the public generally. 



In addressing you on a former occasion 1 pointed out the advisability of our 

 organizing some forms of collective scientific work, which would be rendered pos- 

 sible, were we able to extend our membership to a sufficient extent and secure a 

 corps of competent observers scattered over the Province, who would make ob- 

 servations on various matters to which their attention would be drawn by printed 

 circulars, and would transmit their observations to our Secretary, to form the 

 material for reports. It was my intention to address you this evening on the 

 methods by which such forms of work are carried on in other societies, but as 

 the subjects which may be investigated in this way, such as the migration of 

 birds, the geographical distribution of species in the Province, &c.. lie to a large 

 extent outside the only department of science of which I have any knowledge, I 

 concluded that it was wiser not to attempt to discuss any such subject myself. 

 Accordingly I brought the matter to the notice of the Royal Society of Canada at 

 its last meeting and secured the appointment of a Committee of Biologists and 

 Geologists, with instructions to report on the subject, and to draw up schedules 

 of questions to serve as guides in the making of observations of the kind referred 

 to. This course has the manifest advantage that it secures uniformity of action 

 on the part of our local societies throughout Canada. If the scheme is systema- 

 tically carried out it will probably lead to the accumulation of a large mass of 

 valuable information, which, when systematized 'and condensed, may lead to re- 

 sults of scientific importance. While we are waiting for the report of this Com- 

 mittee, we ought to be preparing to carrying out its recommendations by extend- 

 ing our membership so that we may have on our list all persons throughout the 

 Province who are able and willing to make such simple observations as would be 

 required. If our present members would send me the addresses of such persons 



