BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 327 



Zoology. Synoptic series of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. 

 Among special collections, the Phillip Carpenter collection of shells is 

 especially noteworthy. 



NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF MONTREAL. 



No information has been received concerning the collections of this 

 society, which are said by Merrill to include a general collection of fos- 

 sils and the C. U. Shepard collection of 4000 minerals. 



NUMISMATIC AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. Museum. 

 (Chateau de Ramezay.) 



Staff. Honorary curator, R. W. M'Lachlan. 



Collections. Indian antiquities, 167 +; Historical portraits, 

 views, maps, etc., 35o±; Historical relics, 2i7±; Coats of arms, 218; 

 Medals 30o±; Documents, 41; Ceramics, 51; Furniture, 75±. Special 

 exhibits include a room restored in the style of Louis XIV, and a Hab- 

 itant room with appropriate furnishings. 



Historical Sketch. The society was founded in 1862 as the 

 Numismatic Society of Montreal; in 1866 the name was changed to 

 the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Montreal; in 1870 the 

 society was incorporated. The museum was organized by the society 

 as a part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding 

 of Montreal. 



Financial Support. An annual grant of $400 from the Quebec 

 legislature, supplemented by members' subscriptions, sale of catalogs, 

 and donations. 



Building. The Chateau de Ramezay was erected in 1705 by 

 Claude de Ramezay, eleventh governor of Montreal; was sold by his 

 family to the Compagnie des Indes in 1745; bought in 1763 by William 

 Grant and sold to the English government for two thousand guineas ; 

 used as the residence of the governors till 1849; after which it served 

 various purposes till 1894 when it was purchased by the city of Mon- 

 treal; in 1895 it was obtained by the Numismatic and Antiquarian 

 Society for the purpose of founding a historical portrait gallery and 

 museum. The building proper is 150 feet in length and the portrait 

 gallery is 50 x 20 feet. 



Attendance. Open free to the public on week-days from 10 to 6. 

 The number of visitors is about 100,000 annually. 



