Annual Report of the Council. 



To the Members of the Ottawa Field-Naturalisls' Club : 



The Council elected by you on the 15th of March, ISSl, in sub- 

 mitting their report iipon the work performed during the year just 

 closed, can with much satisfaction congratulate you upon the progress 

 which the Club has continued to make in the investigation of the 

 natural history of the locality. Twenty Council meetings were held, 

 at the first of which three standing committees were appointed to have 

 charge respectively of printing, excursions and soirees. Miich work 

 was accomplished by these permanent committees, as well as by tem- 

 porary ones appointed as occasion required. The Council made it their 

 first duty to carefully and earnestly consider what means might be 

 adopted to stimulate the interest of the members in the objects of the 

 Club, and to secure an increase in the work 2Derformed by them. These 

 deliberations resulted in the appointment of leaders in the several 

 branches of natural history and in the offer of prizes. The duties 

 assigned to the leaders were : — To render any assistance in their power 

 to the members engaged in collecting or studying in their respective 

 branches ; to bring together for mutual aid and encouragement the 

 members interested in the same subject ; to organize and direct 

 working parties ; to keep notes of work done and to report to the 

 Council at the close of the season. Valuable reports were received from 

 the several sections, proving the value of the system, and indicating 

 that much work might be accomplished by its continuance. For the 

 best collection of specimens in each branch a prize was offered as an 

 incentive to collectors, and as an inducement to others to study the 



