446 Canadian Record of Science. 



valuable books from the Smithsonian Institute of Wash- 

 ington, D.C. 



The building of the Society is in good order — further im- 

 provements having been made during the year to the ven- 

 tilation of the hall by the House Committee. The hall has 

 been again leased to Mr. Baynes's congregation for another 

 year, on the same terms as last. 



The Council regrets to state that the Provincial Govern- 

 ment saw fit last year to reduce the grant from $600 to 

 $400, thus greatly retarding the efforts of the Editing Com- 

 mittee, who, however, are deserving of praise for the man- 

 ner in which they have issued the Eecord, notwithstanding 

 much difficulty. 



In the early part of the present year, the Council appoint- 

 ed a committee to urge upon the Quebec Government the 

 renewal of the original grant of $1000. A petition was 

 drawn up on behalf of the Society, and forwarded to the 

 Hon. James McShane, Minister of Agriculture and Public 

 Works. In answer to the petition, a telegram has been 

 received from the Hon. Minister, stating that $800 would 

 be given to the Society. 



The effort made by the Corresponding Secretary to ob- 

 tain a grant from the Elizabeth Thompson Science Eund, 

 for the purpose of investigating underground tempera- 

 tures, has been successful, and the sum of $200 placed in 

 the hands of the Society for that purpose. The Council has 

 appointed a committee to carry out the work. 



The Annual Field Day, which has always been looked 

 forward to with great interest by the members and friends 

 of the Society, was held at St. Hilaire, on the 5th 

 June last, and the occasion was one of the utmost success 

 and enjoyment. About 140 ladies and gentlemen, under 

 the direction of the Field Day Committee, visited this beau- 

 tiful spot. Upon their arrival at the hotel (as is customary 

 on these occasions) the excursionists dispersed in parties, 

 some for botanical and entomological research, others to 

 enjoy the beauties of the lake and the surrounding woods, 

 and a number, among whom where Dean Carmichael, Dr. 

 Harrington and Dr. J. Baker Edwards, ascended to the 



