HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL Read at the Annual Meeting, held 8th May, 1890, The session now closed has been on the whole a successful one. The attendance has been satisfactory, and the papers read have been of a very superior character, while the interest manifested has been at least equal to that of former years. Seven general meetings, and one special meeting have been held during the session, at which the following papers have been read, viz. : 1. The opening address of the President, Mr. B. E. Charlton, who set forth therein, in a very popular and practical manner, the pleasure and profit of scientific study to the business man and others. As the marvels revealed by science far exceeded the wildest flights of fancy portrayed by the novelist, its use as a means of recreation to all was urged. 2. "The Question of the Variation of Species" was treated by Mr. J. Alston Moffat, member of the Council of the Ontario Entomological Society. 3. "Indian Fable Literature," by Mr. H. B. Witton, Sr. 4. "Çolors, Kromatics, and the Permanency of Pigments," by Mr. S. J. Ireland, Principal of the Hamilton Art School. 5. "Historical Botany," by T. J. W. Burgess, M. B., F. R. S. C. 6. "Coinage and Money," by Mr. H. B. Small, of Ottawa, an Honorary member of the Association. 7. "The River Valleys of the Niagara Escarpment," by Mr. D. F. H. Wilkins, B. A., of Beamsville. The lease of our present premises having expired last May, the Council of the Association sought to obtain accomodation for the Natural History specimens, and room for holding our meetings in the new Public Free Library Building. For that purpose a deputation appointed by the Association had an interview with the Trustees of the Library, but failed to come to any arrangement. Since then the Hamilton Art School having secured the upper story of the Library building, the Directors of that institution have made us the offer of a five year's lease of 1200 feet of floor space for the annual rental of $130.co. This offer has been accepted, and it is hoped that the first meeting of our next session, commencing in November, will be held in our new premises. During the year many contributions have been made to the Museum and Library. To all the friends who have added to the value of these branches of the Association work we tender our best thanks. The Council having been asked to consider the question of giving or lending the books of the Association to the Free Library, has concluded to give and lend them, under conditions which are set forth, and may be found in the abstract of the Minutes of the Association meetings. This proposition having been confirmed by the Association, and accepted by the Trustees of the Library, the books have been handed over for the use of the public, though still the property of the Association. The Sections, especially the Biological and Geological Sections, have been in active operation during the year, and the reports of these will be presented and published in the Transactions of the Session. We cannot close this report without expressing our great esteem for Drs. Burgess and Reynolds, and also our regret for the loss of their valuable services to the Association by removal from the neighborhood. Dr. Burgess, during his connection with us, has done much to awaken fresh interest in scientific study, especially in Botany. The Association is indebted to him for the commencement that has been made to form a complete collection of the Flora of Hamilton. Dr. Reynolds was for long the valued Secretary of the Biological Section, and his services in that capacity will be much missed. We desire to express our best wishes for their success and happiness in their new sphere of labor. Your Council hope that the entering upon the possession of our new and better premises will be the means of increasing our membership, and infusing new life into all the departments of our work. All of which is respectfully submitted. B E. CHARLTON, A. ALEXANDER, President. Secretary. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BIOLOGICAL SECTION SESSION 1889-90. During the past season some fifteen meetings have been held in this Museum, and two-in June and July-by the kindness of Mr. Alexander, at his residence, where his beautiful garden proved an attractive resort on a warm summer evening, and some time was agreeably occupied in inspecting the results of his experiment in botany. Few regular papers have been read, the meetings generally being of an informal but none the less enjoyable character, and many interesting subjects were brought up, leading to general discussions, whereby a good deal of valuable information regarding natural history items was elucidated. Some of the earlier meetings were given up to the exhibition of specimens. At the meeting on Nov. 1, Mr. J. Alston Moffat reported for the Entomological division, having added twelve new species of moths to his collection, by no means a poor showing considering the poverty of insect life during the summer, owing no doubt to the peculiar weather experienced, an early spring followed by continued rains and killing frosts as late as the beginning of June. At the meeting on March 7th, in the absence of Dr. Burgess, Mr. Alexander presented the report of the Botanical division, showing an addition of two hundred and nineteen species to the Herbarium, donated by Dr. Burgess and Messrs. Alexander, Walker and Morris, of this number two hundred and four were species new to the collection, and no less than thirty-three new to the Hamilton Flora as recorded by Logie and Buchan. A number of interesting plants collected on an island in the Georgian Bay were shown by Mr. Alexander at one of the meetings. The Conchological report presented on April 18, by Mr. Hanham, showed a total of ninety species of land and fresh water shells taken in this district up to the close of 1889, an increase of fifty per cent. on the list presented for 1888. There still remains much to be done in this line, not so much in the addition of many new species, but in the thorough working of the district-much of which is yet untouched-to learn the distribution, habits, and locality of the different species A careful exploration of Hamilton Bay and Dundas Marsh would without doubt double the number of the Unionidæ observed here, at present numbering only thirteen named species. The following are some of the papers read: Oct. 19. "Notes on Bumble Bees," J. Alston Moffat. Nov. 1. "Botanical Notes, (Man's agency in plant distribution)" Mr. Alexander. Dec. 20. "Arctic forms of life," J. Alston Moffat. Jan. 17. "Notes on formation of Coral Islands," B. E. Charlton. March 17. "Notes on birds wintering in district," Thos. McIlwraith. (Illustrated by many beautiful specimens from his collection.) April 18. "The elasticity of the constitution of plants," Mr. Alexander. Besides these the section stands deeply indebted to Mr. Wm. Yates, of Hatchly, Ont., for many interesting notes on botany, ornithology, entomology, etc., contributed from time to time, and especially for his valuable "Notes on Snakes" being the papers read on February 7th and 21st. Special mention must be made of a visit to this city of Mr. Wm. McIlwraith, of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. On Oct. 19th he favored this section with an address on the Flora and Fauna of Australia, dealing in a most eloquent and instructive manner with the differences in the aspect of Australia as compared with this country. No organized field days were held this summer, an intended trip to Lake Medad on 24th of May falling through owing to the inability to secure suitable conveyances on that day. A week later however, Dr. Burgess and Mr. Hanham tramped it, and were well |