Natural History Society. 231 



public interest in its proceedings. This last desirable object the 

 'Council think would be best attained by the publication and 

 gratituous distribution of our transactions among the members' 

 Preceding Councils have advised and attempted this, but as yet 

 "without success. With our limited income such a step has hith- 

 erto been quite impossible. It is therefore to be hoped that the 

 prayer of our just and reasonable petition to His Excellency the 

 Governor and to the Legislature will meet with a favorable 

 response. 



LECTURES. 



Your Council have much pleasure in reporting that the series 

 of Lectures, in accordance with the Somerville bequest, have been 

 of much interest this season, and been generally well attended. 

 The gentlemen who have lectured with so much acceptance are all 

 members of your Society, and are entitled to your thanks for their 

 zeal on its behalf. The Council deem that it would be an improve- 

 ment, did your funds permit, to invite some of the distinguish- 

 ed naturalists of Britain, the United States, or Canada West, to 

 take part in these lectures. They would commend this matter to 

 the consideration of their successors, hoping that means may be 

 found to carry it into effect. s 



The subjects of the lectures are as follows :— 



Things to be observed in Canada and especially in Montreal 

 and its vicinity, by Principal Dawson, the President, 

 25th February. 

 Scripture Botany, by the Rev. A. De'Sola, LL.D., 4th March- 

 On the Alkalies, by T. S. Hunt, Esq., 8th March. 

 Marine Alga?, by the Rev. A. F. Kemp, 18th March. 

 The Boracic Acid Springs of Italy, by Mr. Dutton, 25th 

 March. 



MUSEUM. 



The Council have much pleasure in reporting that the Museum 

 has undergone a thorough review and re-arrangement, under the 

 able superintendence of Mr. W. S. M. D'Urban, for some time our 

 sub-curator. The departments of Ornithology and Mammalia 

 have been carefully classified, and many new specimens added. 

 Upon each object the specific name has been placed; and the 

 divisions of genera, family and class, have been noted and labelled. 

 The Ethnological collection has alsD been judiciously arranged 

 and described. The valuable collection of Minerals and Fossils, 



