PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 39 
particular meeting only), 74 ladies, and 26 foreign members ; and 
60 members of the American Association who were admitted as 
honorary members for the meeting. The returns for the Steamship 
Companies show, as far as they go, that they carried across some 
747 members. The Montreal meeting under the presidency of 
Right Hon. Lord Rayleigh, was a great success, in spite of the 
distance from its head-quarters at which it was held. 
The Montreal meeting is of rather more interest to residents in 
Australia than usual, since at it was made the announcement by 
cable of the successful results of Mr. Caldwell’s investigation into 
the oviparous nature of the echidna and platypus. 
The Parliament of the Dominion of Canada voted $25,000 
towards the expenses of the meeting. Fifty officers of the Asso- 
ciation had the cost of their return passages defrayed out of this 
sum ; old members received vouchers defraying about one-third 
the cost of return ticket, and in addition, certain of the Steam 
Companies reduced their fares to members of the Association, and 
to three of their near relations who accompanied them. The City 
Council of Montreal supplemented the Government grants by 
$5,000, and the citizens subscribed another $10,000. 
Local Committees, and an influential Citizens’ Committee, under 
the Presidency of the Mayor of Montreal, were appointed to make 
general arrangements for the meeting, and for the reception, 
lodging, and entertainment of the members. The head-quarters 
of the Association were at the beautifully situated M‘Gill College. 
The Presbyterian, Wesleyan, and Congregation Colleges were 
also placed at the disposal of the Association for meetings of the 
Sections, &c. 
All the most prominent and distinguished residents, not only in 
Montreal, but in Canada generally, seemed to have vied with one 
another in extending their hospitality to their visitors, and in 
endeavours to make their stay a pleasant one ; visits and excursions 
were planned for all, some of great length, and welcomes were 
extended from every quarter, extending from the Governor-General 
downwards. About 140 residents in Montreal alone each received 
