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with insect foes, or as to tlie value of soil, or the nature of minerals found, or the 

 uses of our native plants — in fact of the causes and effects of all subjects treated 

 of in the natural sciences, I believe, I say, that our opportunities for usefulness 

 will be increased almost without limit. Immediately after their election, your 

 Council commenced operations by sending a circular to every member, the object 

 -of which was to endeavour to get more of the members to tate an active part in 

 studying the natural history of the locality ; in view of this end, and as an 

 assistance to beginners, it was decided to appoint leaders in the different branches 

 of science, and their duties, as expressed in that circular, were as follows : — 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 report to the Council 

 at the end of the season. These reports have been received and show very satis- 

 factory results. In addition to the above, as an incentive to collectors and to induce 

 others to study the natural sciences, it was decided to offer a prize in each branch 

 for the best collection of specimens made during the year. These collections 

 are to be properly named and arranged and submitted for examination by 31st 

 December next, and I sincerely hope there will be a large number of collections 

 sent in. 



The second part of the Transactions of the Club, giving a record of all its 

 proceedings for the year 1880-81 ha's been published. Through the generosity 

 of Mr. Grignard it is embellished with a beautiful plate, of a new species of fossil 

 found by Mr. W. R. Smith, at Belleville, and figured in our Transactions 

 because illustrative of the genus Porocrinus, of which Mr. W. R. Billings found 

 imperfect siiecimens of another species in this locality. It *?ill be remembered 

 that the concluding lecture of our last years winter course was given by Prof. 

 Macoun, of Belleville, on " The capabilities of the North-West Prairie Lands as 

 shown by the Fauna and Flora." This lecture was of great interest, and a resumi 

 of it is given in Transactions, Part II. At the beginning of this year, that is, 

 immediately after the annual meeting in April, the Council received a letter from 

 His Excellency the Governor General stating that he had been unavoidably 

 prevented from attending this lecture, and expressing a wish that it might be 

 repeated. Accordingly on the 7th of April Prof. Macoun came and re-delivered the 

 lecture. He also exhibited specimens of the most important plants mentioned, 

 and the success of the evening was much enhanced through the kindness of Mr. 

 Topley, who showed by means of a magic lantern an admirable collection of 

 photographic views, many of which were of the exact localities mentioned in the 

 lecture. 



During the past summer, in addition to the excursions held by the different 

 branches, and one or two special expeditions to distant localities, too far for 



