6 
ing the various machines and modes of working. On Saturday, the 22nd 
August, through the kindness of Dr. Wicksteed, who furnished his steam yacht 
and several boats, the fourth excursion was held to Kettle Island, and the after- 
noon agreeably spent there. Among the guests present was Prof. Webster, 
founder of the old Ottawa Natural History Society. 
Eight soirees were held during the winter, at which valuable papers were 
read and interesting objects of natural history were exhibited. The following is 
the list of papers :—1880—Tuesday, Dec. 7th, Inaugural Address, J. Fletcher, 
President ; Tuesday, Dec. 21st, The Relations between Literature and Science, 
W.D. LeSueur, B.A. ; Herbert Spencer’s Biology, J.G. Whyte. 1881—Tuesday, 
Jan. 11th, On some Fungi found at Ottawa, Rev. A. F. Kemp, M.A., LL.D. ; 
The Chaudiere Gold Fields, R. J. Wicksteed, B.C.L., LL.D. ; Tuesday, Jan. 18th, 
Meteors and Meteorites, H. Beaumont Small; Tuesday, Feb. Ist., Noteson some 
Diatoms found in the Ottawa, Prof. G. Baptie, M.A.; On some Coleoptera 
injurious to our Pines, W. H. Harrington; Friday, Feb. 11th, The Brain—the 
Gymnasium of the Mind, J. A. Grant, M.D., F.R.C.S,. F.G.S. ; Notes on some 
Fossils found at Ottawa, W. R. Billings; Friday, Feb. 25th, Liliacez, Lieut.-Col. 
Wm. White; On the Study of Botany, J. Martin; Friday, March 11th, The 
Fauna and Flora of the North-West Prairies, Prof. John Macoun, F.L.S. 
By request of the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society, the Council 
undertook the management of a conversazione for that society on the evening 
of the 7th January. The programme arranged consisted of music, songs and 
readings, with a brief paper on astronomy by Mr. Dewe, who also, on the con- 
clusion of the meeting, showed to many of those present, through « powerful 
telescope, the Moon and Saturn. Microscopes were also provided, through which 
the circulation of blood in a fish’s tail, specimens of diatoms, etc., were viewed 
during an intermission allowed for that purpose. 
At the opening soiree, as well as on the programmes, it was an- 
nounced that, if a sufficient number of members and their friends desired it, 
elementary lectures upon botany and entomology would be given by the Presi- 
dent and Secretary. Shortly afterwards the Literary and Scientific Society 
determined to organize a course of science classes, and, in order to assist the 
society, the proposed classes in entomology and botany were included in their 
course. It was, however, stipulated by Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Harrington, that 
all members of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club should be admitted free of 
charge to these two classes. The nightly attendance at the classes has been 
encouraging, and it is hoped that some who are not yet members of this Club 
will have aroused in them such an interest in the study of natural history as 
will lead them to become earnest workers, and valuable additions to our 
strength. 
The following donations and exchanges have been received during the 
year :--From the Smithsonian Institute, fourteen “ Bulletins of U.S. National 
