Things to be observed In Canada. 7 



your minds with the interest of the subject, as it relates to the 

 Indian tribes. Mr. Kane was fortunate in having so able an 

 expositor of his collection as Dr. Wilson ; and I may add that 

 Canada is fortunate in having an ethnologist so well fitted to lead 

 in this department. Surely, some of our members might contri- 

 bute something to this great subject. Specimens relating to it 

 are not often laid before us. We received, however, last year, 

 through the Bishop of Montreal, a curious ancient urn, which 

 excited much interest. I have since been in correspondence with 

 the gentleman who made known the discovery, and hope to obtain 

 further information and specimens. On the return of his Lord- 

 ship, who possesses the original notes on the subject, Itrust this 

 interesting relic will be figured and described in our Journal. 



Plants afford as many local attractions as animals, but I shall 

 occupy less time with the subject of Botany than with that of 

 Zoology. A very large herbarium has been collected by the 

 oldest living member of this Society, Professor Holmes ; and as 

 we now have it arranged by Professor Barnston, in the Cabinet of 

 McGill College, it affords an invaluable means of reference to the 

 student. Dr. Barnston is now engaged in preparing a catalogue 

 of this and his own collections, which will, I trust, be published 

 under the auspices of this Society ; and it will then be for subse- 

 quent collectors to add to this already extensive list such species 

 as may still remain undiscovered. 



The Canadian Botanist should not, however, content himself 

 with the mere determination of plants. I cannot doubt that much 

 remains to be done in investigating the uses of native plants not 

 now applied to practical purposes in the arts or in domestic life ; 

 and that as Canada becomes more populous, and agriculture less 

 rude in its practice, the cultivation of many neglected plants fitted 

 to contribute to minor practical uses, will be undertaken. Nor 

 should our forests and the means for their preservation and resto- 

 ration to such an extent as may be desirable for shelter and for the 

 supply of wood, be neglected by scientific men. Rich gleanings, 

 applicable to Canadian practice, may be made in this direction, 

 from the expedients employed in European countries ; and in a 

 country in which one-third of the soil should probably remain in 

 forest to supply the permanent demand for fuel and other uses, 

 this subject is of great practical importance. 



Another subject less practical, but profoundly interesting, is the 

 geographical distribution of plants, so ably expounded by De 

 Candolle, and on our side of the Atlantic by Professor Gray. 



