PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. Ill 



erect main stem. He also exhibited a stuffed specimen of Lanius 

 borealis, and read notes on its butcher-bird habits, distribution, and 

 local occurrence. Both of these subjects elicited information from 

 members of observations they had made. The discussion that ensued 

 in regard to the juniper- forms led to expression of the view that 

 depressed and bush forms of Coniferae are to be regarded in general, not 

 as incipient trees in process of development or evolution, but rather as 

 degenerate or dwarfed forms of species that now exist, or have formerly 

 existed, normally as trees. We do not now have the proper 4 forest-tree- 

 form of Juniperus communis anywhere, but our native yew bush, Taxus 

 Canadensis, while it occurs nowhere on this continent as a tree, is 

 believed by many botanists to be conspecific with the English yew, the 

 trunk of which attains great size as well as antiquity ; it is the tree that 

 furnished wood for bows to the English bowmen. Mr. Guildford R. 

 Marshall, Principal of Richmond School, gave an account of the obser- 

 vation of earthworms on roofs, etc., as if they had fallen in a shower ; 

 the facts narrated suggested several possible explanations of the phe- 

 nomenon, in connection with which details of the habits of these 

 familiar but despised creatures were brought forward by members. At 

 the same meeting, the President offered remarks on some features of the 

 Kentucky Flora, pointing out the prominent differences in the vegeta- 

 tion of the Kentucky plains or low-lands from that of Nova Scotia, 

 while the hill or mountain plants were, in certain cases, identical with 

 our species, or presented equivalent forms. These remarks were founded 

 on, and illustrated by, specimens collected during the season by Mr. 

 Kearney, of the Botanical Department of Columbia College, New York 

 where much good botanical work is being done. 



At the January meeting (1894), Dr. Gilpin, Deputy Commissioner of 

 Mines, gave a geological description of the Nictaux iron-ore-field, which 

 has of late years acquired increased economic importance. The reading 

 of this paper led :;o an interesting discussion on the general geological 

 features of the district, which was familiar to Dr. A. P. Reid and other 

 members present. Mr. Doane, our City Engineer, gave an account of the 

 operation of the " Kennedy Scraper," so-called, and an explanation of 

 the cause of a recent failure in its working when introduced into ,the 

 city water pipes. The interesting history of this invention for auto- 

 matically freeing water-pipes from rust-incrustation was detailed, the 

 apparatus shown, its mode of working described, and its use in our city 

 water works fully explained. 



