NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 225 



Society, a commencement has been made for a collection of the 

 eggs of North American birds, and several donations have already 

 been received. Your Council having authorized Mr. Hunter 

 the janitor of the Society, to collect specimens of the fish of this 

 country not in the Museum, a very creditable progress has been 

 made in the work, which it is earnestly hoped will be further pro- 

 moted by the members. In the miscellaneous department various 

 contributions have been received ; and your Council have had 

 the pleasure of welcoming among the donors a new and promising 

 organization — the Numismatic Society of Montreal. Your Coun- 

 cil would offer as a suggestion to their successors the considera- 

 tion of the expediency of uniting the Society's collection of coins 

 with that of the new Society. 



The Library. 



The additions to the library have consisted of donations from 

 members and scientific societies, or exchanges of " the Naturalist," 

 the financial state of the Society still forbidding the purchase of 

 scientific works much wanted. 



Appointment of a Scientific Curator. 



One of the greatest difficulties with which the student of Natu- 

 ral History in Montreal has had to contend, was the impos- 

 sibility of finding a trustworthy classified collection, especially 

 in zoology. It were needless to remind the members, of the 

 chaotic state in which the collection of this Society has been per- 

 mitted to remain. And although a former sub-curator and some 

 members had bestowed much time on the task of classification, 

 still, all must be aware that the work required to be done could 

 not possibly be effected by a few spasmodic efforts of individuals, 

 having but little leisure to spare. Your Council therefore esteem 

 it matter of much congratulation that they have been enabled to 

 secure the valuable and zealous services of one so well and so fa- 

 vourably known as Mr. J. F. Whiteaves. It cannot be expected 

 that all his labours should be specified within the limits of this 

 portion of the Report ; butyour Council would beg leave to refer 

 to the statements already made public, to Mr. Whiteaves' Re- 

 port delivered last month, and finally to the Museum itself, where 

 the members can judge for themselves, as to the expediency and 

 necessity of the appointment. 



Original Papers Read. 



In the past session, twenty-six original papers in the departments 

 of zoology, geology, botany, and ethnology have been read, the 



Can. Nat. 15 Vol. VIII. 



