PROCEEDINGS. 105 



Dr. Reid, Mr. A. James, Mr. Dewar, Mr. Poole, Mr. Mellish and 

 Mr. Silver, also made remarks on the subject. 



Mr. Robert Morrow read a short paper on the Caribou, and referred 

 especially to the peculiarity of its liver and the absence of any gall-bladder. 



Ordinary Meeting, April 10, 1876. 



Dr. Gilpin, President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary read a letter from the Rev. E. H. Ball, stating that he 



(Mr. B.) would be unable to read his paper as announced, on account of 



indisposition, but that he would willingly propose to read it on the 24th inst.,. 



if able, to which the Institute unanimously agreed. 



Professor Lawson read a lengthy paper " On the Flora of Nova Scotia-" 

 (See Transactions.) The subject was beautifully illustrated by specimens ot 

 dried plants. 



April 24, 1876. 



William Gossip, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Rev. E. A. Ball read an interesting paper " On new Species of Nova 

 Scotia Ferns," illustrating his subject with numerous specimens. (See Trans- 

 actions.') Mr. Ball's paper embodied the results of much original research. 



Prof. Lawson spoke at some length on the subject of the lecture. 



Ordinary Meeting, May 8, 1876. 

 J. B. Gilpin, M. D., &c, President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary stated that the Transactions of a number of Natural 

 Science Societies in Europe and America had lately come to hand, and that 

 our Transactions were in great demand from abroad. 



Frederick Allison, M.A., Chief Meteorological Agent, read his Meteor- 

 ological Report for 1875. He made special reference to the semi-daily 

 fluctuation of the barometer. (See Transactions.) 



John T. Mellish, M. A., read " Notes on the Serpents of Prince Edward 

 Island." Besides classifying and noting the peculiarities of the Island serpents, 

 Mr. Mellish pointed out the geological conditions necessary to produce the 

 existing differences between the fauna of the Island and the continent. (See 

 Transactions.) 



Remarks were made by Dr. Gilpin,. Lieut. Hope Edwards and others, 

 on the subjects of the papers. 



In closing the Meetings for the season the President made appropriate 

 reference to the progress of the Institute, and suggested that if possible some 

 Field Meetings be held in the course of the summer. 



[At a subsequent meeting of the Council the Hon. Mr. Greville, 60th 

 Rifles, and Messrs; C. G. Vaux and William Hampton, were elected 

 members of the Institute.}* 



John T. Mellish, 



Sect etary. 



