226 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



value and importance of which may be estimated by reference to 

 " the Canadian Naturalist," in which they have nearly all been 

 published. Many of them have been noticed in terms of the 

 highest eulogy in the scientific periodicals of Europe and the 

 United States. 



The Publication of the Naturalist. 



This Journal has been continued as heretofore ; and the former 

 liberality of its publishers, Messrs. Dawson Bros., has been ex- 

 ceeded during the past year, they having furnished its columns 

 with an unlimited number of engravings at a considerable pe- 

 cuniary loss. The volume for 1862 (the 7th) has been duly com- 

 pleted. Two numbers for 1863 have been issued, and the third is 

 in progress. It is intended to commence a new series after the 

 present volume is completed, with Scotch paper, expressly made 

 for the Journal, and new type. Its circulation however is still 

 much smaller than it should be, and it is hoped members will use 

 due efforts to extend it. 



Public Lectures. 



The annual Somerville course of public lectures was delivered, 

 as usual, and was well attended. The following is an enumera- 

 tion of the lecturers and subjects discussed : 



12th February, 1863. — First lecture, Dr. Dawson, On some 

 novelties in Natural History. 



19th February. — Second lecture, Mr. Rimmer, On the Fishes 

 of the St. Lawrence. 



26th February.— -Third lecture, Mr. Robb, On the Rocks, 

 Woods, and "Waters of Western Canada. 



5th March. — Fourth lecture, Mr. Gilbert, On the Climate and 

 Products of Australia, and the Customs of the Inhabitants thereof. 



12th March. — Fifth lecture, Professor Small, On the Natural 

 History of the Old World compared with that of the New. 



19th March. — Last lecture, Mr. Leeming, A Glance at Science 

 %s a Recreation. 



Conversazione. 



Oa the evening of the 3rd of February the first Annual Con- 

 versazione of the Society was held. The rooms had been pro- 

 vided with a large collection of works of art, microscopes, &c, by 

 tne nends of the Society, and addresses were delivered by Prin- 

 cipal Dawson, the Rev. A. F. Kemp, and the Rev. Dr. De Sola. 

 The audience was the largest that had ever assembled in the city 

 of Montreal for such a purpose ; and your Council have great 

 pleasure in believing that the experiment proved a decided sue- 



