Obituary Notices 511 



OBITUARY NOTICES. 



During the last two years, the Natural History So- 

 ciety of Montreal has sustained very heavy losses in its 

 membership, as is indicated in the following obituary 

 notices : 



SIR WILLIAM C. VAN HORNE, K.C.M.G. 



The Natural History Society of Montreal, meeting 

 this evening for the first time since the lamented death 

 of Sir William Van Home, on the 11th of September, 

 1915, takes the opportunity of recording its deep sense 

 of loss in his removal, the esteem in which he was held 

 by the members of the Society, and its appreciation of 

 his kindness in recently agreeing to accept the position 

 of its Honorary President. 



The Society was glad to recognize that Sir William 

 added to his many accomplishments that of being an 

 ardent and enthusiastic lover and student of nature. 

 In the midst of an unusually busy life, and while occu- 

 pied with vast projects, he found time to cultivate a 

 taste for art and science. A keen observer of men and 

 things, the glories and wonders of creation, as dis- 

 played in the lofty mountains and rapidly flowing rivers, 

 with which his calling made him familiar, greatly moved 

 him. At the same time, he had an eye for the smallest 

 objects, the perfection of whose curious structure en- 

 gaged his attention. He had a keen perception of what 

 was symmetrical and beautiful in nature and art; and 

 found his chief pleasure and recreation in placing on 

 canvas the impressions which his sensitive and suscep- 

 tible mind had received in his large and varied converse 

 with the works of God. 



Sir William in later years gave special attention to 

 the Fungi of the Dominion, in the knowledge of which 

 he became expert. For many years, while occupying 

 the practical oversight of the Canadian Pacific Railway, 



