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•the Canada Atlantic Railway has brought new disti-icts within our 

 limits. All who visited Casselman must have been charmed with it as 

 a favourable locality for all departments of natural history. The vase 

 expanse of primeval forest, too soon to be invaded by the lumberman's 

 axe, aftbrds an opportunity ot studying nature that mnst be seized by 

 our botanists. Late in the season Capt. Goulet, of Aylmer, conveyed 

 the Club in one of his steamers to the " Chats" rapids, affording a most 

 -enjoyable excursion, and the members who took advantage of his kind- 

 ness, have, I am happy to announce, pi-esented him with a valuable 

 binocular glass as a mark of their appreciation. 



In the month of May the meeting of the Royal Society brought 

 many eminent naturalists to our city. It is to be regretted that the 

 Club did not in some way publicly leceive them, so as to enable the 

 members to become acquainted with its savants. Another year 

 it is hoped ste])S will be taken to remedy this oversigiit. As you are 

 aware the Council of that Society, in order to inform themselves upon 

 the condition of science and literature in the country, invited repi'e- 

 sentatives of leading societies to be present at their meeting, and report 

 upon their individual work. The courteous manner in which the 

 representatives ot societies weie I'eceived and the privileges extended to 

 us made the meeting one continuous source of pleasure. When the 

 reports were i"ead I felt proud of the Club I reju-esented, as no other 

 showed such practical work and usefulness as our own, while the 

 many com[»limentary remarks i-eceived afterwards gave evidence that 

 our system had attract<^d attention. The papers read were of no interest 

 tins as a local Club, they dwelt upon, science in genei"al. Several 

 paiiers were read by members of our Club, but as they were also 

 Fellows of the Society wo received no credit for them. Should any 

 ■other members at future meetings wish to present papers, they may do 

 so through their representative, and they will certainly be received with 

 the attention they deserve. 



The removal of the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society to thei^' 

 new ;ukI more suitable quarters was seized ui)on as an opportunity to 

 secure a permanent place of meeting. As that Society had decided to 

 remodel their museum, continuing one of a local character only, and as 

 it was necessary for us to possess a permanent collection of specimens, 



