PROCEEDINGS. 5 



Ordinary Meeting, Feb. 6, 1865. 



Mr. DuvAR read a paper entitled — -" Contributions to the Game of 

 Nova Scotia." {See Transactions.) 



In the conversation the necessity was recognized that measures should 

 be taken to preserve the Game of the country, all varieties of which were 

 fast decreasing, owing to the wanton destruction of species on the one hand, 

 and the absence of precautionary measures, especially with reference to the 

 river fisheries, on the other. The introduction of foreign species likely to 

 thrive in this climate, was also strongly advocated — of the feathered tribe 

 especially, which would enliven our forests and farm yards with their pre- 

 sence and melody. 



The Secretary read a paper sent by Mr. Belt, " On the Formation of 

 Lake Basins by Ice action." {See Transactions.) 



It was urged in after conversation on the subject, that the conformation 

 of a country, independent of other causes, would be sufficient to account for 

 the formation and direction of lakes and rivers ; but that there was good evi- 

 dence, especially on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, that glacial action 

 must have powerfully assisted their excavation there. The metamorphosed 

 rocks at the bottom and on the shores of many of them, were v/orn smooth 

 and covered with striae, not by the action of the present waters or wintry ice, 

 but by those of perhaps thousands of ages in the past ; and the course of these 

 Atlantic streams was generally in the direction of the glacial drift. Bedford 

 Basin, at the head of Halifax Harbour, was instanced as perhaps partially 

 formed by glacial erosion ; and as probably a lake ere the icy pressure at the 

 Narrows forced the barrier, and opened a communication with the sea. In 

 connection with the subject, and in the course of explanation of lake pheno- 

 mena, a centre of dispersion of erratics, commencing at the heights around 

 Major's Lake, a few miles from Dartmouth, and spreading in a southerly 

 direction towards Cole Harbour, was noticed. 



Ordinary Meeting, March 6, 1865. 



The President acknowledged a donation to the Institute by Lieutenant 

 Webber, R. A., of a Geological Cabinet, containing specimens of minerals 

 and fossils, including those of all formations from the Primary to the Tertiary 

 inclusive. 



The President read a paper sent by Professor How, of King's College, 

 Windsor — " On some of the Brine Springs of Nova Scotia." [Bee Trans- 

 actions. 



In the discussion that ensued, evidence was adduced of the occurrence of 

 other mineral springs in various parts of the Province, and it was stated that 

 the waters were used by the inhabitants in their neighbourhood for the 

 purpose of curing various complaints. A sulphur spring at Cranberry Cove, 

 Cole Harbour, was mentioned as situated near the site of a Kjoekken- 

 moedding. 



The Secretary read a paper " On the Antiquity of Man." {See 

 Transactions.) 



