Vlll PROCEEDINGS. 



ing with strong nitric acid, a brilliant solution somewhat like that of 

 roseine, but with a purplish tinge, being produced. 



Dr. MacKay, the Superintendent of Education, presented a valuable 

 summary of observations for the season of 1893, of the dates of flowering 

 of plants, and of the appearing of migratory birds. Dr. Somers exhibited 

 and described a sponge obtained by Mr. Andrew Sullivan, one of our 

 fishermen, at the neighbouring fishing village of Herring Cove ; it has 

 not yet been identified with any described species. Mr. H. Piers gave 

 valuable notes on Nova Scotian Zoology. Dr. Henry Ami, of the 

 Dominion Geological Survey, contributed an account of a collection of 

 silurian fossils from Cape George, Antigonish County, with descriptions 

 of three new species. Dr. R. W. Ells gave notes on sedimentary for- 

 mations on the Bay of Fundy coast. Mr. W. H. Prest's Observations on 

 Deep Mining in Nova Scotia concludes our catalogue of papers read during 

 the Session of 1893-94. 



At the thirteenth meeting of the Royal Society of Canada, held in 

 May, 1894, the Institute was represented by our Vice-P resident, Dr. A. 

 H. MacKay, who presented a report of our operations during the year 

 this has been printed in the Royal Society's Minutes of Proceedings for 

 1894, pp. xxvii-xxvm. 



Having thus briefly dealt with the work of the session just closed, I 

 may be permitted as an old member to extend my remarks to the circum- 

 stances under which the Institute originated more than thirty years ago, 

 although the time now available will not admit of more than a mere 

 glance at its early history and progress. 



This Institute was originally organized in the winter of 1862-63, the 

 former being the year of the London International Exhibition. Long 

 before that time the Mechanics' Institute formed a centre of scientific 

 and literary life in the City of Halifax, but it had then ceased to exist, 

 leaving its museum as a memento in the old building of Dalhousie Col- 

 lege. About the time when the proposal to hold the London Exhibition 

 of 1862 was announced, it was felt here that it would be of substantial 

 advantage to the Province to make known its resources and products to 

 the world, and this International Exhibition seemed to offer a fitting 

 opportunity for doing so. It was accordingly determined to collect and 

 forward a suitable contribution of specimens to the exhibition. This was 

 a new kind of work in Nova Scotia ; the task proved an arduous one, 



