JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 31 
museums—the British Museum of Natural History, the museum at 
Ottawa and others. He also sent a number of specimens of the 
fenestellata to Prof. W. A. Parks, of Toronto University, who is 
making a special study of that family. ‘The fossil sponges obtained 
in the neighborhood of Hamilton always are in demand, and attract 
special attention among paleontologists. The flinty character of the 
sponges found here render the work of polishing sections very diffi- 
cult. A local firm was induced to try some sections. The work 
proved to be very satisfactory indeed. The structural difference of 
the varieties was brought with clearness. 
The Museum has been kept open on Saturday afternoons during 
the past year, to enable the visitors to derive some benefit from the 
visit. Messrs. Gaviller, Col. Grant and Schuler have collectively or 
separately been present to answer questions and explain the points 
of interest to the inquirer respecting the different specimens of 
natural history in the Museum. 
During the autumn and winter months much time has been 
spent by Mr. Schuler and Col. Grant in re-arranging the specimens. 
Some of the cases are still overcrowded, and will have to be thinned 
out so as to get them properly labelled. We are using the cases 
which held the collection of shells lately moved from the Museum. 
There is good reason for the Section to complain of the appar- 
ent lack of interest by the members of the Association in the work 
carried on under the Sections. ‘Take all Associations of a similar 
character and you will find that the work done in the Sections is 
most important. The new discoveries are proved before being given 
out to the world and receiving the endorsation of the parent body. 
The Section cannot close this report without expressing their 
deep regret at the loss by death of the Chairman of the Section, Mr. 
A. E. Walker, and desire that the following resolution be recorded in 
the Proceedings of the Association: ‘‘The Geological Section of © 
the Hamilton Scientific Association desire to record the great loss 
the Section has sustained by the recent demise of our venerable and 
honored Chairman. Owing to his long and serious illness of late 
years, he was unable to take an active part in our meetings. Few of 
us can forget his addresses on corals, stromatopora and the Niagara 
fossil sponges. He possessed great skill in developing sections of 
