APPENDIX. 147 



FIELD MEETING AT ASHBOURNE, JUNE 26, 1866. 



By invitation of the President, a Field Meeting of the Institute was held 

 at his residence at Ashbourne, North West Arm, and vicinity, on Tuesday the 

 26th June. 



The programme contemplated, — 1. a visit to Downs' Zoological collection, 

 head of the North West Arm, and thence to Ashbourne. 2. A visit to the 

 grave of the late Titus Smith, eminent in Nova Scotia as a Naturalist, 

 where the President would read a short sketch of the life of that person ; 

 thence to proceed to Geizer's hill, where a splendid panorama of the sur- 

 rounding country is presented, and where the party could study the botany 

 and geology of the district. 3. An excursion from Geizer's hill to Byers' lake. 

 4. The return to Ashbourne to dine, and afterwards to visit the President's 

 private museum. 



The party assembled at the Province building, where conveyances were in 

 waiting to take them to Downs' cottage. The day was beautifully fine but 

 intensely hot, the thermometer ranging 84° Fah. On arriving they were re- 

 ceived with a hearty welcome from Mr. Downs, who very politely escorted them 

 over his grounds, and showed them all the curiosities. Amongst these the 

 principal and more imposing are a splendid young polar bear, a seal, and 

 several deer and antelopes from southern America. The collection consists 

 otherwise of foreign, British and native animals, birds and beasts, of rare and 

 interesting species, all well worthy the inspection of naturalists, and of stran- 

 gers visiting Halifax. After passing an hour delightfully, the party next pro- 

 ceeded to Ashbourne, the mansion of the President, where they were hospit- 

 ably entertained, and rested for a while previously to entering upon the further 

 business of the day. 



Ashbourne is prettily situated, at an easy distance from the city, and just 

 beyond its taxation, an advantage not to be despised even by men of science. 

 The grounds are tastefully cultivated, and on either side, within a neighbourly 

 distance, are neat suburban residences, and progressive improvements, which 

 at no distant day will make the " Dutch Village," so called, one of the most 

 delightful spots in Nova Scotia. The scenery embraces northward, a view of 

 Bedford basin, bounded by the sombre pine-clad hills ; eastward, the well 

 cultivated fields and farm houses of the peninsula, and beyond, the citadel 

 and the upper portion of the city of Halifax ; southward is the North West 

 Arm, the harbour of Halifax, and a grand ocean distanee. The soil, which is 

 susceptible of the highest cultivation, rests on the metamorphosed slate of the 

 peninsula, and here and there on the surface are scattered granite boulders, 

 large and small, derived from the glacial action of which the district has largely 

 partaken. There can be little doubt that here as elsewhere in the metamorphic 

 coast band, gold is present in the numerous quartz veins that make their ap- 

 pearance wherever the rock is exposed. Westward, and at a short distance, 

 are the chain of lakes which help to furnish the city with a copious supply of 

 water. These, as well as the valley of the Dutch village, have evidently 



