lxiv REPORT — 1884. 



further special reference to them ; but the Council have to acknowledge 

 the great liberality of the Associated Cable Companies in granting, under 

 certain restrictions, free ocean telegraphy to the members of the Associa- 

 tion during the meeting. 



The death of Sir "William Siemens has deprived the Association of one 

 of its most earnest supporters and friends. It was during his presidency 

 at Southampton that the invitation to Montreal was accepted, and he was 

 appointed at Southport a Vice-President for this meeting. The Council 

 nominated Sir J. D. Hooker a Vice-President, but he was unfortunately 

 obliged, for domestic reasons, to resign the nomination in the early part 

 of the summer. 



It has been the custom at meetings of the Association to invite the 

 attendance of distinguished men of science from all parts of the world ; 

 but the Council considered that on the present occasion it would be well 

 to offer a special welcome to the American Association (of which also 

 several eminent Canadian men of science are members) ; they have 

 accordingly issued an invitation to the Standing Committee and Fellows 

 of that Association to attend the meeting at Montreal on the footing of 

 Honorary Members. 



The Council were informed some time since that the General Treasurer 

 would be prevented from attending the meeting at Montreal. They 

 decided accordingly on the present occasion (as the usual assistant to the 

 General Treasurer could not be present) to appoint a Deputy Treasurer 

 and a Financial Officer ; the latter to undertake the duties discharged by 

 the assistant, together with some of those which usually fall upon the 

 Treasurer. To the former office they have nominated Admiral Sir 

 Erasmus Ommanney, C.B., F.R.S. ; to the latter, Mr. Harry Brown, 

 Assistant Secretary of University College, London. 



Four resolutions were referred by the General Committee to the 

 Council for consideration, and action if desirable : — 



(1) That the Council be empowered, if they think fit, to form a sepa- 

 rate section of Anthropology, and to give to the section of Biology the 

 title ' Section D. — Biology (Zoology, Botany, and Physiology).' 



The Council, after consideration, resolved to form a separate section 

 of Anthropology, with the title ' Section H. — Anthropology,' but con- 

 sidered that it was better to continue to designate the section of Biology 

 by the simpler title ' Section D. — Biology.' 



(2) That application be made to the Admiralty to institute a Physical 

 and Biological Survey of Milford Haven and the adjacent coast of 

 Pembrokeshire, on the plan followed by the American Fisheries Commission. 



The Council, after appointing a Committee to consider the necessary 

 details, duly made application, and have been informed by the Lords of 

 H.M. Treasury that they regretted to be unable to institute such a survey, 

 as the Admiralty had no vessels available for this service. 



(3) That the Council of the British Association be requested to 

 consider the report of the Committee of Section A respecting the suppres- 

 sion of four of the seven principal observatories of the Meteorological 

 Council, and to forward a copy of the same to the Meteorological CounciL 



The Council, after consideration of the above report, communicated 

 with the Meteorological Council as directed. A reply was duly received, 

 and in view of the statements therein made, and of supplementary 

 information that arrangements had been made whereby three out of the 

 four observatories relinquished by the Meteorological Council would be 



