Meteorological Observations. 131 



an average amount of bright sunshine. Auroras were 

 obseiwed on 17 nights, but may have occurred oftener. 

 There was hoar-frost on 15 days, fogs on 19 days, lunar 

 halos on 9 nights, thunderstorms on 13 days, and light- 

 ning without thunder on 3 days. 



The sleighing of the winter closed on April 17th. The 

 first snow of the autumn fell on October 30th. The first 

 sleighing of the winter was on Nov. 25th. Upper river 

 navigation opened on May 5th, and the river was open to 

 ocean ships on May 6th. 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



Natural History Society of Toronto. — This Society has amal- 

 gamated with the Canadian Institute of this city, of which associa- 

 tion it forms the Biological Section. We have received their pro- 

 gramme for the Winter Session which was as follows : — Jan. 18th, 

 Medicinal Plants, by Mr. Hollingworth ; Fauna Canadensis, by Mr. 

 Brodie. Feb. 1st, The Acadian Owl, by Mr. Melville; Flora of 

 Ontario compared with that of England, by Mr. Moore. Feb. 15th, 

 Buds, by Mr. Noble; Destruction of Wild Animals, by Mr. Williams- 

 March 1st, Chlorophyll, by Mr. Pearce ; Blood, by Mr. Pursey. 

 March 15th, Entomological Reports, by Mr. Armstrong ; Fauna 

 Canadensis, by Mr. Brodie. 



Natural History Society op New Brunswick. — At the regular 

 January meeting a preliminary paper on the " Algae of the Bay of 

 Fundy " was read by G. U. Hay. It contained an enumeration 

 and description of the principal species of marine plants found on 

 the northern shore of the Bay of Fundy from collections made at 

 St. John and Frye's Island, Charlotte County, in the summer of 

 1886. The causes of the paucity of our marine flora were alluded 

 to— chiefly, the erosive action of the tides, the influence of Arctic 

 currents, etc. The economic plants, such as Chondrus crispus, Por- 

 phyra vulgaris, Rhodymenia palmata and the Fuci, were described 

 with their uses and characteristics. 



The Annual Meeting of this Society was held on Jan. 26th, at 

 which Dr. Botsford, the President, read his annual address on 

 " Some Thoughts on Social Science." Dr. Botsford was re-elected 

 President. The following officers for the current year were elected : 

 Vice-Presidents, G. F. Matthew, M. A., Edwin Fisher ; Corresponding 

 Secretary, G. IT. Hay; Treasurer, Alf. Seely; Recording Secretary, W. 

 J. Wilson ; Treasurer, Alf. Morrisey. 



