.. A. Harvey. Wm. Craigie, M.D.)Wm. Craigie, M.D.|W. H. Park....... Chas. Robb. Wm. Craigie, M.D.|Wm. Craigie, M.D.|W. H. Park....... T. MclIlwraith. J. M. Buchan, M.A.|I. B. McQuesten,|W. G. Crawford...|T. Mcllwraith. J.M. Buchan, M.A./I1. CREAR apentee W. G. Crawford...|T. MclIlwraith. Geo. Dickson, M.A. eaacaiaiean M.A. |Richard Bull...... T. Mellwraith. Geo. Dickson, M.A.|/Geo. Dickson, M.A.|Richard Bull...... T. MclIlwraith. Geo. Dickson, M.A,|Geo. Dickson, M.A.|A. Macallum, M.A./T. McIlwraith. R. B. Hare, Ph. D.|Geo. Dickson, M.A.|Richard Bull ..... A. T. Freed. Geo. Dichson, M.A./A. Robinson, M. D.|Richard Bull...... W. 4H. Ballard, Geo. Dickson, M.A.|Wm. Kennedy Hope Richard Bull...... af aE ecliogat Geo. Dickson, M.A.|Wm. Kennedy..... Richard Bull...... toe a Geo. Dickson, M.A.|A. Alexander .... |Richard Bull...... WES aT. Geo. Dickson, M.A.|A. Alexander...... Richard Bull...... A. Gaviller. Geo. Dickson, M.A.|A. Alexander sar Richard Bull...... A. Gaviller. asinine sea MING Ge Cte eee Richard Bull...... A. Gaviller. H. B. Witton, B. A. Nias doo5 |lem@lngwacl IB, 564 A. Gaviller., H. B. Witton, B. A. Riiear des TEAS Richard Bull...... A. Gaviller. H. B. Witton, B. A. ree soooe [euneloarel IBM So ooo A. Gaviller. Thos. Morris, Jr... aR Sein BOA. Richard Bull...... A. Gaviller and G. M. Leslie. Thos. Morris, Jr... |C. R. McCulloch... |Richard Bull...... A. Gaviller and G. M. Leslie. W. McG. Logan,/S. A. Morgan, B.A.|Thos. Morris, Jr...|A. Gaviller and B.A. W. McG. Logan, B. A. Rey. J. H. Long M. A., LL. D. Rey. J. H. Long, M. A., LL. D. Wm. C. Herriman, M. D. S. A. Morgan, B.A. S.A. Morgan, B. A. S. A. Morgan, B.A., B. Paed. S. A. Morgan, B.A., B. Paed. J. M. Burns ee dee W. Chapman. Thos. Morris, Jr. .|A. Gaviller and W. Chapman. A. Gaviller and W. Chapman. A. Gaviller and H. S. Moore. A. Gaviller and H. S. Moore. MEMBERS VEE ICSaNcle, 1857—Judge Lo Freeland. 1858—ludge Logie; C. Freeland; Rey. W. Inglis, D. D.; Adam Brown; C. Robb. SRE oy IOS IRL CRM eS vAtS done oO. oO S 1859—Rev. D. Inglis, D. D.; Adam Brown; Judge Logie; C. Freeland; Richard Bull. 1860—J. B. Burlburt, M. A., LL. D.; C. Freeland; Judge Logie ;.Richard Bull; Wm. Boultbee; Dr. Laing. 1871—Geo. Lowe Reid, C. E.; Rev. W. P. Wright, M. A.; A. Macallum, M.A.; A. Strange, M. D.; Rev. A. B. Simpson. 1872—Judge Proudfoot; Rev. W. P. Wright, M. A.; John Seath, M. A.; H. D. Cameron; A. T. Freed. 1873—Judge Logie; T. Mcllwraith; Rev. W. P. Wright, M. A.; A. Alexander; I. B. McQuesten, M. A. 1874—Judge Logie; T. MclIlwraith; Rev. W P. Wright, M: A.; A. Alexander; I. B. McQuesten, M. A. 1875—Judge Logie; T. MclIlwraith; Rev. W P. Wright, M. A.; A. Alexander; I. B. McQuesten, M. A. 1880—M. Leggat; 1. B. McQuesten, M. A.: A. Alexander ; Rey. A. Burns MAS iD. Deb. 1881—T. Mcllwraith; H. B. Witton; A. T. Freed: Rev. Wiriko Wirnehts Vian AE orbes. reo2——O). Mcliwranthyy i. ds. Witton's) Ac ih reeds erie Horoessivey. C. Ele Mlocksridge iM. AW Dims posa——A. Alexander; A. (Gaviller; A. EF. Horbes; i. Meli- wraith; R. Hinchcliffe. 1884— A. Gaviller; A. F. Forbes; T. MclIlwraith; R. Hinch- cliffe; W. A. Robinson. 1885—W. A. Robinson; S. Briggs; G. M. Barton; J. Al- ston Moffat; A. F. Forbes. 1SS6—]. Alston Moffat; Samuel Slater; Wm. Milne; James Leslie, M. D.; C. S. Chittenden. 1887—]. Alston Moffat; James Leslie, M. D.; P. L. Scriven 5 Wm. Milne; C. S. Chittenden. 18S8—J. Alston Moffat; B. E. Charlton; T.’.W. Reynolds, M. D.; 8. J. Ireland; Wm. Kennedy. 1889—T. W. Reynolds, M. D.; 8. J. Ireland ; William Turn- bull; A. W. Hanham; Lieut.-Col. Grant. 1890—Col. Grant; A. W. Hanham; W. A. Robinson; A. E. Walker; Thomas Morris, Jr. ro9t—Col. Grant; W. A. Robinson; J. F. McLaughlin, B. AWy Ty W. Reynolds, M..D.; Wm. Furnbull. 1S92—T, W. Reynolds, M. D.; W. A. Robinson; P. L. Scriven; Wm. Turnbull; Wm. White. 1S$93—James Ferres; A. E. Walker; P. L. Scriven; Wil- nam VV hite:s Ws El. Elliott, Ph. B. 1894—James Ferres; A. E. Walker; P. L. Scriven; J. H. hone Mina. ue. Bos W.-H. Elliott, By A., Phos. r695—J. E. P. Aldous, B. A.; Thomas Morris, Jr.; W. H. Elliott, BoA. Ph.-B.; P. Lb. Scriven; Major McLaren. [S96——) aah. Aldous) Bb. Aus sDinose WMlorricy lines VV. ed. Elliott, B. A., Ph. B.; George Black; J. M. Burns. POO7—— Wie El Elliott, vBy Aas) Dhos., Morris, Jiri sehiobt. Campbell; J. R. Moodie; Wm. White. REPORT OF COGNCIL. Your council takes pleasure in submitting its report for the season of 1897-98. During the session now closing there have been held four meetings of the council and nine of the general association, six regular and three special. At eight of these meetings papers were read and discussed, as follows: NoveEmMBER 11TH, 1897—* Inaugural Address,’—President A. Alexander, F. S. Sc. FEBRUARY I0TH, 1898— Nerve Cells in Rest and Fatigue, and in Decay,”—Prof. A. B. Macallum. FEBRUARY 247TH, 1898—“ The Scriptures of the Sky,’— John A. Paterson, Esq. Marcu 247TH, 1898—“ Biological Notes,’—Wm. Yates, Esq. x Marcu 247TH, 1898—* The Field of History,”—Rev. H. S. Beavis, D. D. Aprit 7TH, 1898—* Field Notes,’—Wm. Yates, Esq. Aprit 218T, 1898—“ Chemistry in its Application to Trade,” ii, Jp Sidneiles Seas 1D May 5ru, 1898—“ Imagination in Literature,’—J. A. McLellan, IME ASCs IB May 5TH, 1898—“ Field Notes,’—Wm. Yates, Esq. Jury 137TH, 1898—“ Chaucer, His Life, Times and Work,”— EB Watton, (S17. . During the year one honorary and twelve ordinary mem- bers have been elected, one member has resigned and one has been removed by death. T. W. Burgess, M. D., who so ably represented us at the last meeting of the Royal Society of Canada, has kindly con- sented again to act for us at the coming meeting of that society. All of which is respectfully submitted, A, ALEXANDER, Sree MIOIG AUN), President. Secretary. THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 9 WIsUa SCRIP IN URES Ole ANd, SNe Read before the Hamilton Assoctation, February 24th, 1898. BY JOHN A. PATERSON, ESQ. Out of the vast plenitude of worlds that fill space, our attention is more immediately centred in that family of worlds that lie grouped around the sun. These worlds are called planets and the family is called the solar system. Like a fleet of many boats rocked in the ocean of the heavens, the earth and her sisters float in the bosom of space bound to the central sun by that mysterious cable known as the force of gravity. This is the same force which guides the linnet’s feather as it flutters earthward, and at the same time reins in the mighty Sirius as he rushes through the abysmal depths of space. The earth is S000 miles in diameter. Her distance from the sun is, according to the most recent results, 92,790,000 miles. She moves in her orbit at a rate of 18 miles every second of time, and so gently, not a jar to waken the tiny fledgling in the nest that swings upon the twig, and not a tremor to empty the cha- lice of the hare-bell of its beads of dew. The diameter of the solar system, at the present known as far as Neptune faintly shines, is 5,578 million of miles. Across this vast space a beam of light travelling at a rate of nearly 200,000 miles a second would take 8 hours and 19 minutes to pass. But vast as this diameter really is compared with the size of our earth, it dwindles into insignificance when compared with the distance of even the nearest fixed star, from which light takes over 4 years to reach us. ‘The most reliable meas- urements place Alpha Centauri, the nearest of the fixed stars, at a distance of 275,000 times the distance of the earth from the sun. Let us consider for a moment how we should appear or more exactly not appear could we get off our world and scan it 1G@) JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. from without. If distance could thus reduce for us the scale upon which the universe is fashioned to one we could take in, on such a one the earth would be represented by a good sized pea, the moon by a grain of sand, circling around it at a distance of 7 inches, the sun, by a globe 2 feet in diameter, 215 feet away. Mars, a much smaller pea, would circle around the 2 foot globe 325 feet from its surface; Jupiter, an orange, at a distance one-fifth of a mile; Saturn, a small orange, at two- fifths of a mile, and Uranus and Neptune, good sized plums, 34 mile and 14% miles away respectively. On the same scale the nearest star would lie 8,000 miles off, and an average ard magnitude star at about the present distance of our moon. That is, on a scale upon which the moon would be but 7 inches off, the average star would be still as far from us as the moon is now, Or 240,000 miles away. Alpha Centauri is very near us, comparatively most of the stars are at least ten times as far away and many of them thousands of times farther off. Pol- aris, which we all know as the North Star, is 36 light years, the light by which we see it to-night left it in 1862, and the light which leaves it at this moment will not reach us until babes now born have grown to man’s estate. To describe in miles the scale upon which the universe is built would be useless, the mind would merely feebly struggle with bewildering groups of figures and at the best grope in the gloom of a multiplying and ever multiplying jargon of statistics. Even when we take as our foot-rule the sun’s distance from us of 93,000,000 miles it does not help us when we take as our unit of measurement the distance light travels in a year or a light year as it is called, even then we are bewildered in a whirl of darkness and diffi- culty. Were we to-night, on some viewless courser of the air, to wing our way to any of the bright stars which clip us round about, sweeping away from our own system until earth vanishes and planets melt away, and finally the sun wanes into a mere star and alight upon some new world that circles round the mighty Sirius, that monarch of suns, which measures 7000 of our suns in volume. Let us pause and look out then upon the heavens. We have crossed a gulf of 60 trillions of miles across which a THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. Tete beam of light would take 9 years and 10 months to leap. We have reached a new earth; we would expect to reach a new heaven. We lift up our eyes, and there yet we see the old familiar constellations The Pleiades, “ like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid,” shine down on us yet. Orion blazes there with his gorgeous belt, the pale daughter of Andromeda, still as here displays her trembling jewels. Acturus, still from his sentinel out-look, watches the Great Bear which there, as here, points out our earth’s Polaris. All is unchanged and the abysmal distance we have crossed is only a fraction of the entire diameter of the stellar system and yet the change wrought by this mighty journey in the appearance of the heavens is no greater than would be produced in the relative position of the persons, comparing this audience to a person near its centre who shall change his seat with his immediate neighbor. The leaves of many trees in the vast African forests are preyed upon by minute insects and each of these has its own little retinue of parasites. If one of these monads were destroyed the forest would still flourish as gloriously as ever, its strength would be as unabated, its beauty as undimmed, and its vastness as undiminished—the little monad’s -destruction, important no doubt to itself, would be as nothing in the forest. And this is only a faint, a very faint comparison to what would be the ap- parent result in case the besom of the Almighty’s wrath were to sweep from the universe our earthly dwelling place—it would be naught but the disappearance of a little speck from the field of created things which the hand of His omnipotence has so profusely thrown around Him. Is then space infinite? Is space a circle whose centre is everywhere and whose circum- ference is nowherer And yet God magnified himself in the flesh for the salvation of so paltry a world. And yet the Son of God put on the form of our species and sojourned amongst us and shared in all our infirmities and crowned the whole scene of humiliation by the disgrace and the agonies of a cruel martyr- dom. When I look through a telescope into the depths of space I feel overwhelmed with awe, for I know God has written His word here in these scriptures of the sky, and gazing into that 12 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. abyss is akin to entering into a vast cathedral and reading in some far away crypt a new manuscript traced by God’s own finger in brilliant letters to reveal to the travelling sons of men the methods of His creative power and to exhibit fresh proofs of His most holy and lofty attributes. To an expert mathematician the investigation of astron- omical worlds is a very paradise. To a popular audience a mathematical treatment of this subject would be most forbidding ; but if we consider the subject, not so much in its profound and recondite details as in the results to which it attains, the magni- tude and importance of the subjects it treats of, and the beauty and grandeur of the phenomena it investigates, we shall have to acknowledge that some time or other in the ponderous times of astronomical science there must lie buried embodiments of interest which need no enchantress to arouse them to life, and which, having burst their cerements, became clothed with beauty and glow with life. The science which projects itself through the illimitable fields of space seizes with its wonderful analysis a system of revolving worlds mutually operating on each other, measures their magnitudes, weighs their masses, declares their distances, calculates their motions and tabulates their positions at the close of a thousand revolutions yet to come; the science which grasps the orb by the beam of light which left it ten thousand years ago and traces its movement; the science which with reverent eye gazes into the very counsels of the eternal and with devout finger writes down His creative methods ; such a science cannot fail to interest, to enchant, to arouse. Do we want poetry? It is here written on the sable skirts of the night »” and will in letters that have never faded since “the beginning form an eternal blazon till time shall be no more. Do we want architecture? We have it, but it is the column and the archit- rave bound together with the adamantine grasp of gravitation and crowned with starry clusters. Do we want eloquence? We have it, but it is the heavens that declare the glory of God —day unto day uttereth speech and the resistless sweep of their praise ceaseth not. Do we want music? We have it, but it is the chorus of morning stars that sing together. Do we want THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 13 religion? The orbs around us declare that the government rests upon His mighty shoulders. He sitteth in the circle of the heavens and the reins of the universe are in His hand. The question of the plurality of worlds is one that strangely fascinates the trembling hearts of the sons of men. It is good for man, this spiritual atom inhabiting a material atom, to have penetrated into the mysteries of creation, but if the universe remains only a great material mechanism moved by physical forces, if nature is at the best in his eyes but a gigantic labora- tory, if this matchless, magnificent science of the heavens confines the efforts of the human mind eternally to the geome- try of the orbs around us, if the universe is merely an assem- blage of inert bodies floating in space and only to be investigated by formulae and diagrams, then, indeed, this science will not attain its end. Can we not go farther; can we not stretch forth the hand and feel under dead matter the throb of life? Bishop Warren says “the universe is God writ large.” His empire is one of life and not of death. Are these planets, that with our earth were cradled in the fiery sun and sparkle on the garments of the night, merely splendid sepulchres “cast as rubbish to the void,” while this little earth of ours is the only one that pulsates with the waves of life? And is life to be centred here and death there? The voice of reason says no! Analogy proclaims it as an absurdity. ‘““Who can believe that the Great Architect With all these fires the heavenly arches decked Only for show.” The unaided vision shows this earth of ours to be teeming with life, mountain and plain, river and ocean, yea, even the deserts filled with life, and when we turn the microscope to the invisible world below us we see the leaves of plants become prairies for swarms of living molecules who are giants compared to a yet lower order of creatures who feed like parasites upon the larger living atoms. The network of universal life stretches everywhere in this earth. Life here on this little planet is so thronged that it struggles and pants for even a foothold; life 14 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. is so exuberant that it pours over as from an over-flowing cup and the slop of life is all around us. It is from this double consideration, the insignificance of this earth in creation, and the abundance the crush of life on its surface, that we rise to the first principles on which the proof of the universal habitation of the heavenly bodies must be fixed. The old idea of plurality of life possessing worlds has risen to a philosophic doctrine. Investigation looks for the easiest and the nearest, and so we turn to the moon. But nothing encourages us here. A dead ruined wreck it seems floating like some abandoned hulk in the vast Atlantic of space, a derelict in the universe, a burnt-out cinder, neither air nor water nor cloud (on the side next us at least), and so not capable of animal life—unless, indeed, the men and women on the moon are so constituted that they can live without air or water—but for all this obedient to the laws of her creation. And because she was so obedient a great discovery was made. It was discovered on the occasion of a certain eclipse that the moon’s shadow was no less than 3 seconds behind time in touching the sun’s disk. What connection this last should have with the inhabitability of the moon is not at first apparent, but it clears out of the way all the objections that have ever been started against the capability of the moon supporting animal life at its surface. A gap of 3 seconds between observation and calculation could not rest without explanation. A fast express train on an hour’s run of 4o miles could be granted at least 2 or 3 minutes grace, but not even 3 seconds could be allowed the moon on a 27 days’ run of nearly a million miles. All the astronomers of the world were soon busy seeking the explanation. After an elaborate analysis a German astron- omer, Professor Hansen, found that the moon was not balanced accurately, that the side nearest us and which is always the same side was lighter than the other, the centre of gravity was not the centre of the figure, but 35 miles beyond that and far- ther from us. Now air and water being free fluids will always flow to the lowest level and therefore they would run round to the other side of the moon and there congregate—this farther THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. Ws side is never turned towards us, and therefore it is that the con- ditions of the other side of the moon may be habitable. As to the planets, why we may ask have they received years and seasons and movements and material just like our mother earth? Why do the snows of Mars melt each spring and des- cend to fertilize its continents? Why exist the clouds of Jup- iter which spread freshness and shade over its immense plains? For what purpose is the atmosphere of Venus which spreads like a garment over its valleys and mountains? Dr. Whewell argued that the excessive heat of Mercury and Venus rendered them as unfit for habitation, as the excessive cold would Jupiter and Saturn, and so he drew dismal pictures of icy sterility and giant masses of snow and ice and perpetual fog. But Tyndall has since taught us that heat and cold do not depend so much on distance from the sun as on the atmospheric envelope which folds the planet. Thus the inhabitants of Venus, Mercury and even Neptune may enjoy a climate as kindly as that of our own earth. We know more of Mars than of any of our sister worlds. The conditions of Mars and the earth are analogous. Vapor has been proved to float in Mars’ atmosphere, so water must exist in Mars. Clouds covering extensive regions have been observed to melt away with the progress of the mar- tial day exactly as morning mists fly by the advancing heat of our own summer days. If Mars be uninhabited, then, indeed, it exhibits to us physical relations, fulfilling no purpose that human reason can conceive, lamps lighting nothing, waters quenching nothing, clouds screening nothing, breezes fanning nothing g, and everything, mountain and valley, hill and dale, 5? continent and ocean, all meaning nothing. The Creator wastes nothing. Nature is exuberant, but yet full of economy. These mil- lions of blazing worlds do not roll and shine only for all mortals to gape and wonder at and for a few, a very few, of us to study. God’s Son said, speaking to His disciples: ‘ Other » W here are the other sheep I have which are not of this fold. folds? Do they float in the liquid blue around us, far, far be- yond the lazy-pacing clouds? Is this world the single lost one 16 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. that God sent His Son to save and gather into his bosom? And where are the other ninety and nine who never strayed but remained within the fold? Are all the other worlds that blaze upon the brow of night true not only to those material physical forces of the universe that bind our own earth in its orbit, but true also to those spiritual forces that reach out from the great white Throne and from which this earth broke loose? To bring it back there came a day when a life was taken that caused all nature to rock with horror and cast a veil over the sun while heaven echoed with angelic hymns. Sir Robert Ball finds time to discuss this question most scientifically in our Fortnightly Review, and we have that brilliant Frenchman, Camille Flammarin, writing a clever conceit under the heading “Can organic life exist in the solar system anywhere but in the planet Mars?” being a letter from a citizen of Mars, found in a meteorite, wherein it is most conclusively proved that only in Mars can there be life; that the most elementary common sense teaches that the other planets are either too near or too far from the sun, and that our own is alone at the golden mean. A voice comes from Westminster Abbey from the now silent but ever eloquent Laureate, of whose words death cannot rob hu- manity : “Venus near her! smiling downward at this earthlier earth of ours, Closer on the sun perhaps a world of never-fading flowers ; Hesper whom the poet call’d the bringer home of all good things, All good things may move in Hesper, perfect people’s perfect kings. Hesper—Venus—were we native to that splendor or in Mars We should see the globe we groan in fairest of their evening stars. Could we dream of wars and carnage, craft and madness, lust and spite, Roaring London, raving Paris in that point of peaceful light ? Might we not in glancing heavenward on a star so silver fair Yearn and clasp the hands and murmur Would to God that we were there? ”’ When the law of relative distances was first formulated neither the asteroids nor Neptune had been discovered; these formed blanks in the series two strings were wanting from the lyre. Astronomers at once bent themselves to the task of THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 7) searching for a planet to fill the blank. They were sure there was one and so they mapped out that part of the heavens that lay between Mars and Jupiter. Soon Piazzi discovered a star behaving like a planet in the constellation of Taurus, and the astronomers gave out that their work was done and the law had been satisfied the blank had been filled, but other planets were soon discovered at about the same distance from the sun and now about 425 are laid down in the star maps and just where Bode’s Law said they ought to be. Some are as small as 20 miles in diameter, the whole together would make a globe about 400 miles in diameter. Once it was thought they were frag- ments of an exploded planet, but that they had been exploded into more pieces than the asteroids. The masses of the planets are very different and therefore the effect of gravity in bodies at their surface is very unequal. Take for instance any of the mimic worlds among the asteroids. Here is a little pellet of a world 60 miles round, the force of gravity here is 400 times more than on Vesta, in other words, what would weigh 400 Ibs. here would weigh only 1 lb. on Vesta. Jf men are consti- tuted there as we are here then twenty tons would be an easy lift; boys could play at marbles with immense boulders ; young ladies could play tennis with rackets as large ag a wall and with balls as large as the dome of the Union Station, Toronto, and in fact it could not be done otherwise for an ordinary tennis ball struck on Vesta with moderate force would send it clear off the planet and send it circling round it asa satellite. As new asteroids are being discovered year by year, it may be that they are creating them up at Pallas or Vesta by playing base ball or tennis. If aman leaps up in the air in this earth he would continue to ascend forever were it not that the attraction of earth pulled him back. At Vesta leaping over a house would be an easy exploit ; staircases might be abolished forever ; a stout old lady could easily jump in a third story window; a summer zephyr would puff her over; a moderate breeze would lift her in its arms and carry her whirling down the street. To counterbalance this and to enable men to have sufficient gravi- tating power to stand and move they would need to be fifty 18 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. times as tall and broad in proportion. They would then have weight enough to live and move and have their being, but con- sider the results. Such size would bring proportionate strength like Milton’s angels, they could tear up hills from their bases and hurl them at their foes and like Titans of old they could pile mountain on mountain. One of these giants could run around his world in a few minutes. The contrary effects would exist in Jupiter; his mass is equal to 1,400 earths; the force of gravitation there would crush us to death, our feet would be so firmly attracted we could not lift them. Jupiter would there- fore need to be inhabited by a race of pigmies. Strange in- deed it is that the larger the world the smaller its inhabitants must be, that we inhabitants of the earth being men those of Jupiter must be dwarfs and those of the asteroids giants. Jupiter, the gigantic, is a most interesting object in our southern sky. His four moons have been known since Galileo’s day, and in 1892 a fifth moon was discovered. ‘Through a tele- scope Jupiter with his moons forms a beautiful object, a solar system in miniature. Galileo had difficulty with his contem- poraries to persuade them of their existence, many absolutely refused to look through any such diabolical engine as a telescope and so of course they could not be convinced. One of these sceptics, Libri of Pisa, died during the heat of the controversy, and we find Galileo, in a letter to a friend, generously hoping that the way to heaven lay past the planet Jupiter and that Libri might be convinced at last. Saturn, the gloomy Saturn, pursues an immense orbit at a distance of 851,000,000 miles from the sun, turning onits axisin 10% hours, and has a period round the sun of 29% of our years. Unless it is a world ina vaporous condition, in merely a formative process, and if in- habited, its inhabitants must experience some strange conditions. The sun is to them no larger than a star, with a day of 10% hours; the promissory note of a Saturnian inhabitant given say at 30 days will fall due very much sooner than in our com- mercial world—that circumstance itself must help to fix their character as gloomy or Saturnine. They have seven years continuous spring, seven years continuous summer, autumn THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. iG and winter. If there are young people there, they have seven years continuous skating and a lapse of 21 years before the season comes around again. If there are young men there then poets would surely not sing “in the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,” for the springtimes are separated there by periods of 21 years. If there are young ladies there, it will be no compliment to speak in smooth and finished phrases of a maid of 16 summers, for lo! that would mean, in earth, language nearly 480 years, and then most maids are past their bloom and well on to their prime. If we ever dwell in Saturn our poetry will need a revision or perhaps a complete eradication. When I speak of Mars I do it with hesitancy, knowing how easily we turn from the firm ground of scientific investi- gation to the slippery path of romantic story. The Edinburgh Review of October, 1896, tells this story: A lady of the inanely inqusitive kind, having met an eminent astronomer, implored permission to ask him oze question. ‘ Certainly, madam,” he replied, “if itis not about Mars.” It was about Mars. The popular humor delights in philosophy decked with the charm of conjecture. Anything which is conceivable may be interest- ing, but science is founded upon the rock of evidence. Far better is it to have many observations and few theories than to have few observations and many theories. Such extraordinary conclusions have been enunciated that one is apt to treat Mars and his observers too lightly. But I bethink myself that Mars is the warrior of the skies, and if astrology be true he may re- sent any hilarity or even any undue familiarity with his august orb by casting over the life of the speaker or his audience a malefic shadow. And nothwithstanding much has been writ- ten and spoken to gratify the popular humor, I know that most distinguished astronomers have recorded many things about Mars that lie on the very bed rock of truth. The first hint that the world had of the existence of the water channels, or so- called Cavzadl/7z, in Mars was when an Italian astronomer named Schiaparelli, in 1877, announced this discovery. He afhrmed he saw a series of dark straight lines crossing the disk of the 20 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. planet and in some cases appearing in couples. He used a glass of 8% inches. The world, however, was anything but pre- pared for the revelation, and when he announced what he had seen promptly proceeded to disbelieve him. Even to this day the large 26 inch glass at Washington refuses to show these canals. Schiaparelli had the misfortune to be ahead of his time and the yet greater misfortune to remain so. For not only did no one else see the lines at that opposition, but no one else suc- ceeded in doing so at subsequent ones. For many years fate allowed Schiaparelli to have them all to himself, a confidence he amply repaid. While others doubted, he went on from dis- covery to discovery. What he had seen in 1877 was not so very startling in view of what he afterwards saw. His first observations might well have been of simple estuaries, long natural creeks running up into the continents and ever cutting them in two. His later observations were too peculiar to be explained even by soimprobable a configuration of the Martian suriace. Im 1679 the “Canadl/z,” as he called them) showed straighter and narrower than they had in 1877, thus, not in consequence of any change in them, but from his own improved faculty of detection, for what the eye has once seen it can al- ways see better a second time. As he gazed they appeared eight straighter and he made out more. Lastly, toward the end of the year, he observed one evening what struck even him as a startling phenomenon, the twining of one of the canals, two parallel canals suddenly showed where but a single one had showed before. The paralleling was so perfect that he suspect- ed an optical illusion. He could, however, discover none by changing his telescopes or eye pieces. The phenomenon ap- parently was real. At the next opposition he looked to see if by chance he should mark a repetition of the strange event and then he saw twenty of them double. This capped the climax to his own wonderment and it is needless to add to other people’s incredulity, for nobody else had yet succeeded in see- ing the canals at all let alone seeing them double. And now we have a map of Mars, drawn as our earth maps are on Mer- cator’s projection, showing regions, canals and oases, all regu- THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 21 larly planned and looking marvellously like a lady’s silk hand- kerchief. Down to date we have accurate descriptions and names of 288 features of the areography of Mars. For nine years he labored alone, having his visions all to himself. It was not till 1886 that any one but he saw the canals. In April of that year Persotin, of Nice, first did so, when the great Nice telescope of 29 inch aperture was set up. But it was some time before, even with this large glass, they could be discovered. But suddenly Persotin discovered one of them called the Phison. His assistant, M. Thollon, saw it immediately afterwards. Afterwards they managed to make out several others, some single, some double, substantially as Schiaparelli had drawn them. Since then other observers have continued to detect them, the number increasing every opposition, but even now these fortunate observers are less in number than twenty, and the reason of this is that many of the observatories are not situated under the best atmospheric conditions. It seems to be altogether a question of a glass of moderate power and very clear, and what is most important of all, a very steady air. To all this Mr. Lowell, of Flagstaff Observatory, in Ari- zona territory, has added very much. He records that in the early morning of the 7th of June, 1894, he saw two brilliant star points suddenly flash out from the Polarice cap on Mars and soon die away. Just as on earth, travelling in a road at sunset we may see a sunbeam flash back by reflection from a window in a house on some adjoining field. And so some stray sunbeam was flashed back from some crest of ice on the South Polar cap as the planet turned on its axis. Remember that flash came nearly 200,000,000 miles and took nine minutes to cross the gulf and it struck the eye of one solitary observer that happened to be watching from that observatory overlook- ing a deep canyon in Arizona on that early June morning. And remember, too, that though we see the south pole of Mars with its ice cap across a vast gulf of space, no human eye has ever seen our own south pole and that only a few hundred miles away. Mr. Lowell’s explanation of the bright flashes is quite reasonable, but the enterprising and highly ingenious profession- by bo JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. al newspaper paragrapher has drawn his trail across the path that leads to truth, and we have been gravely told that the Mar- tian beings are flashing signals to their terrestrial cousins to arouse their attention and attract corresponding heliographs or electrographs. We have heard of a class of citizens in Toronto called “* Acqueducters”’; it is a small and privileged class, but ’ and thus it seems they in Mars every one is an “* Acqueducter,’ flash their bright signals to their less favored brethren on this earth and so glorify their work and jeer at the small success at- tending that of terrestrial toilers. Other brightly flashing points have no doubt been seen beyond the general line of the termin- ator, but they are occasioned by the sun’s setting or dawning rays gilding a vast extent of cloud, floating at a great height in the Martian atmosphere, if such there be, or irradiating a moun- tain peak rising with steep slope from the surrounding plains. Recognizing these canals as the work of Martian engineers gives one so to speak, the “creeps.” We feel in the presence of some weird-like midnight mystery. Jamie Soutar, of Drum- * Crusoe, of our early days, tochty, would say, “its no canny,’ started when he saw the foot prints of human beings pressed on the sands of his desert island; so we look with wonder at these canals and are filled with awe at the thought that may- hap here we see the product of human intelligence. ‘“O’er all there comes a shadow and a fear, A sense of mystery the spirit daunted, That says as plain as whisper in the ear The place is haunted.” “That Mars seems to be inhabited,” says Mr. Lowell, “is not the last but the first word on the subject.” We must look at things now from a new standpoint and take a broad sweep, not take merely a local view. By a local view I mean a terres- trial view. The human race with all its proved attributes may after all be but a link in the chain. Man is merely earth’s highest production up to date. But let us halt! Let me re- member the warning that “the assertion which outstrips evidence is not only a blunder but a crime.” Bem truly said in his essay on “ Truth,” “the mixture of a lie doth ever add THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 23 pleasure,” by which he meant not a lie in malice, but any bold statement that was fleeter of foot than evidence. Rigid demon- stration is unpopular, but any astronomer of reputation and ready wit can fill a lecture hall if he proposes to discuss the attitude of the Martian inhabitants, or if he will tell us how to construct some mighty triangle or pentagon on the desert of Sahara, light it up with myriads of electric lights, then watch for results from our neighbor Mars. This was exactly what happened with Mr. Lowell, of Flagstaff Observatory. Heintington Hall, at Boston, was filled, every seat and all the standing room, when he gave his four lectures on the planet Mars. He is a very famous astronomer and writes most charmingly in the Atlantic Monthly, and when he speaks he will be listened to eagerly, and what he writes will be read by the magazine-loving public from cottage to boudoir. The great and absorbing question with the Martian people it seems is the water question. There can be no party politics. The acqueduct question is the only question, and it is not a national question; it ismore; it is planet wide. Worlds, like individuals, are not gifted with perpetual youth. They are born, spend a hot and feverish infancy, grow cooler with ad- vancing years, attain an early youthful vigor, and are fitted for the abode of life. As they advance in years higher types of inhabitants are evolved; they then grow old and commence to droop with icy cold; soon they reach senility, and then comes decay and death after millions of revolving ages. Mars it seems is far advanced in its life, its’ mountains are all levelled, its water has nearly all evaporated, its inhabitants are driven to protect themselves by a gigantic international system of irriga- tion. They have dug a net-work of canals and so catch the annual meltings of the Polar ice cap, oases are formed at the junctions, and there the strong minded and mighty limbed Martians most do congregate and admire their ingenious hydrographic system. The silver thread of the actual acque- duct is not visible but what is seen is the broad strip of vegeta- tion growing onthe banks. Itis proved by strict mathematical reasoning that on account of the small gravitating power of 24 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. Mars its men are giants and are fifty times as effective and can do fifty times as much work, so that the task of excavating these wonderful ditches is easy, one Martian is as good as fifty Italians. Life is moreover much further advanced, the arts and sciences are thousands of years older than here on earth, and the powers of nature being better understood more gigantic results can be produced. Steam and electrical machinery are long out of date and are kept in museums as relics of a by-gone civilization, and so the rein is given to the most fervid imagin- ation, and the grandest results flow easily. Even good Schia- parelli is quoted, speaking on the idea that the “canals” are the work of intelligent beings, “I should carefully refrain,” he says, ‘‘ from combating this supposition which involves no im- probability.” But Schiaparelli was a philosopher and was not lecturing to a Boston audience or writing for the Atlantic Monthly, or he would have put it positively and not negatively. The Lick Observatory authorities are singularly unappreciative; they exhibit little real enterprise, or the air at Mount Hamilton is not so exciting as that of Flagstaff. Thisis what Prof. Edward 8. Holden coldly writes: “ Something is seen no doubt, but I may say that nothing has been observed at Lick Observatory during 1888-1895, so far as I know, which goes to confirm the very positive and strange conclusions here described. It is a point to be noted that the conclusions reached by Mr. Lowell at the end of his work agree remarkably with the facts he set out to prove before his observatory was established at all.” Conjecture, however, is often the pilot of discovery. Let us suspend our judgment until we hear from the Yerke’s telescope at Lake Geneva, 40 inch, near Chicago, working under the best atmos- pheric conditions, next spring, or until the projected monster at Paris in 1900 verifies, if it will, Mr. Lowell’s ingenious antici- pations. We may add that to explain the mysterious gemina- tion or doubling of the canals so far has defied the most labored efforts of the Flagstaff observers. And so the years roll onwards and scientific discovery closes one volume to open another and yet another. We see at THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 25 the best in a glass darkly, and most things we cannot see and little that we do see can we truly interpret. Eclipses may be calculated, orbits of double stars may be measured and intellec- tual conquests of a very high order can be achieved, but when we consider the vast problems of physics and astronomy the masters of science are at the best but— ‘*Children crying in the night, Children crying for the light, And with no language but a cry.” And if we students of astronomy are not lifted from nature up to nature’s God, unless the book and volume of the firmament does not reveal to us much more than mere stellar points, then, indeed, we fail in our pursuit. A Swiss scientist, whose name I do not presently remember, heard a sermon in a French Ca- thedral from a Bishop who inveighed fiercely against science and scientific men. The poor man was troubled with the nebu- lar hypothesis or with the six literal Genesis days or something of that kind, and with a repetition of that condemnating vigor that launched Galileo into prison he thundered away. At the close of the service the Swiss astronomer went to him and said: “¢ Monseigneur as tu jamais vu Dieu?” ‘ No,” said the startled Clameclarrnzin, Il inewrere Chol CO Winem, Mlomsenameune, IL Inge” was the reply. ‘1 have seen Him in the great cathedral of the universe; I have felt Him in the movements of creation; I have witnessed His workings from nebula to star and from star to planet; I have read these scriptures of the sky which you have not; I have touched His robe and have known Him as a visible being.” Our intellects were given us to use them to cope with lofty difficulties and to surmount them; let us as humble students use what mind and gift and opportunity we have. ‘God did annoint thee with his odorous oil To wrestle, not to reign.” It is the oil of the palestra we have and not the chrism of a king. Let us wrestle here valiantly, earnestly, honestly and prayerfully, no matter whether successfully or not, and we shall reign there. It is strange, and to a humble Christian a sorrowful 26 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. thought, that rare scientific accomplishment is so often united to an uncertainty of Christian faith. We do not understand it, we are mute in the presence of it and we are distressed in the conviction of it. Just before closing I cannot in this connection forbear to speak of Thomas Henry Huxley, the great English apostle of evolution, with whom it grew late and dark in the year 1895. He was not an astronomer in the narrow sense, but a philosopher of the highest type as a physicist. Time forbids to speak of his greatness as a scholar, scientist and man of cul- ture. He was moreover what scientific men are not always, yea, indeed, very seldom are—a master hand in the use of the English language, a forceful platform speaker, gifted with an elegant diction. His thoroughness as a student is illustrated by one of his maxims—* know a thing directly and do not assume that you know more of it by knowing around it.” But a strange sadness oppresses one reflecting upon his death, not only because he died, but because he died as he did. Those who wrote his epitaph understood him best, or at least thought they did, and this is what they wrote: ‘“And if there be no meeting past the grave, If all is darkness, silence, yet ’tis rest ; Be not afraid, ye waiting hearts that weep, For God still giveth His beloved sleep, And if an endless sleep He wills, so best.” “ Sleep ”—-I recognize a christian metaphor— such as sons of Britain to stand for certain “ inalienable rights,’ “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Franklin and Jeffer- son, Hamilton, Patrick Henry and theillustrious Washington, will forever hold honored places in the phalanx of defenders of the rights of men; but six centuries before the American Revolution, stalwart English champions of freedom uttered their Declara- tion of Independence in the teeth of King John at Runnymede. That student will revere the heroes who in 1628 gained the signature to the Petition of Right from Charles I, and will honor the memory of those patriots who wrested the Habeas Corpus Act, that second Magna Charta of English liberty, from Charles II. And such recognition of obligation is forthcoming. Nobler tributes to England’s Gracious Queen I have never read than those springing from the American press; and in the face of the fuss and furore of angry controversy, in the gleam of jingoistic pyrotechnics, strong hearts and balanced heads have given expression to language of honor and fraternity. This is an extract from an American editorial written during the “ war scare” of two years ago: 40 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. WHAT THE U. S. OWES TO BRITAIN. ‘Our liberties, our law, our literature, our learning, our enterprising Spirit, the land we stand upon, were won for us by England. Wolfe won for us, on the Heights of Abraham, every foot of land between the Alleghanies and the Mississippi. But for that most decisive victory this would now be an appanage of France and we would not be here at all. Mexico, with its peculiar Spanish and Indian population, would now extend to Alaska. Do we hate England on account of Blackstone’s commentaries, Skakespeare, Walter Scott, Robby Burns, Tennyson ? or because she stuck to Napoleon, the butcher of Europe, sparing neither blood nor money till she stopped him? By the way, where would Ger- many be but for England? What made the difference between Jena and Waterloo? Emperor William hates England. Where would he be but for England?” And this worthier type of patriotism, cultivated by the read- ing of history, will make every patriot honest—so honest that he will not shrink from the acknowledgement of the truth, how- ever unpalatable that truth may be; will proudly assert that he can easily afford to make honorable admission of error on the part of a country with a great history. In truth, it should make a man very humble to read history, for the old adage about glass houses must be frequently in his mind. Will any Englishman have the hardihood to deny the mistakes of England? Does he dethrone Queen Elizabeth when he admits her vanity, duplicity and cold-hearted calculation where sentiments of relig- ion and humanity should have borne sway? Thackeray, proud of his British blood, did not hesitate to characterize the royal Georges as they deserved, and that Englishman of Englishmen, Lord Macaulay, told the historic truth regarding the misgovern- ment of Ireland. Admirers of that uncrowned king of England and born leader of men, that fearless defender of liberty and conscience, Oliver Cromwell, do not stultify themselves when they admit that his conquest of Ireland showed the savage while it revealed the general. After every mitigating circumstance has been offered in extenuation of the expulsion of the Acadians in 1755, history will yet rank it as one of the cruel edicts of modern times. No member of our planetary system need shrink in shame because the sun has spots; and no Briton need admit THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 41 ® an error without the proud reflection that the empire which looks not on the setting sun has stood for justice, freedom and civilization, as for unconquerable force and courage; and may well challenge history to show a sovereign receiving such loving loyalty from millions of subjects, such honor and esteem from millions more in every quarter of the globe, as has for sixty years been presented in the character of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. And it will be incumbent upon the American also to calmly read the history of his country with a mind open to reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. And this com- mendable spirit will lead him to admit that his beloved country, whose Declaration of Independence proclaimed all men to have been born free and equal, nursed for ages an institution, the crime of which was foul and smelled to Heaven. He will be obliged to confess that the country’s policy toward the Indian has been a dishonor; that she has failed to keep faith with China. No future historian will justify her war with Mexico. The United States, of all civilized nations, refused to prohibit the liquor trafic with the Congo region. And with tears and blush of shame he will read of the treatment by a jingo Senate of a proposed Arbitration Treaty which was to give the United States with England the greatest opportunity in nineteen cen- turies to inaugurate peace on earth and good will to men. Thus honestly admitting every weakness and confessing every wrong, he may still hold his citizenship as dearly as ever Roman held his, and glory in that land whose history, develop- ment and power all great minds extol. If history did no other service she may claim high honor for this alone: much which seems to be distinctively modern is shown to have most venerable antiquity, and by this service the wise student is freed from imposition. Many an ancient dame masquerades in 1gth century attire. In nothing does his- tory more strikingly repeat itself than in the schools of thought which now and again dominate society. The most ethereal system of idealism that scorns to recognize the actual being of matter, and leaves to ‘‘mortal mind” servitude to material 42 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. things, has its roots in millenniums past. None can doubt the fact of human progress, but it will sober us to reflect that some of the advanced philosophies are but elaborations of ancient schools of thought. If Socrates and Plato were the fathers of Greek thought, Anaximander and Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Parmenides and Anaxagoras were the grandfathers of modern ideas. The doctrine of evolution, theistic and atheistic, and the nebular hypothesis, antedate our day nearly twenty-five centuries. No student dwells long on the annals of the race without consciously or unconsciously constructing a philosophy of history. Hegel points out three stages of historical devel- opment in the mind: the first dealing with mere incidents, the second treating of facts in broader relations, the third reasoning upon causes and effects, and viewing particular acts and facts as they are related to the whole process of develop- ment. The Canadian boy is easily interested in the capture of Quebec by Wolfe: the stealthy night passage before the French batteries ; the red-coats clambering up the Heights of Abraham ; the heroic fall of the two generals; the dying Wolfe cheered by the cry of victory. Later on the boy gives the battle its proper setting in the campaign, connecting it with the genius of Pitt, the struggle between British and French and the final triumph of the British cause. There will come a still later day when his view will be so enlarged that in the history of North America and the development of Europe, the fall of the Laurentian capital will be but an incident, important indeed, but very small. So will he learn to generalize. Grand combina- tions of historic movements enable him to form great concep- tions concerning the progress of mankind. No pent up Utica confines his powers. He apprehends things as wholes, and the accredited power of Pythagoras will be his in reality ; success- ive ages will be grasped by him. Here the philosophical student of history stands on a critical point—too critical to be comfor- table. He sees how evidently the ages have produced and moulded men, and the operation of general laws appears as he takes still wider views. His tendency then is to so generalise upon all history as to completely elinimate the personal element. THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 43 “Once he thought that grent personages made history. Alexan- der, Richard, Wolfe, Wellington, did not these mould the affairs of man? Now in the knowledge of wider vison he observes how time, custon, thought, the pressure of a thousand forces, have affected men, and he murmurs, “ Ah, I see. Circum- stances make men. With such antecedents and environment his personality is but a feather, and the freedom of the will a !” He is ready now to plunge into sheer fatalism and chimera regard man as a mere creature of circumstance, so weak and helpless as to be utterly irresponsible in the part which he thinks he plays. Tabulated statistics show him that so many murders, suicides and other crimes may be expected in a year, and is not that proof of a “reign of law” in history completely disposing of the force of personality? But further study leads him to observe that neither in public life nor private station are all men and women the puppets of circumstance. To judge from what we have seen does not prove that men were compelled to play the parts they did. Were all men as some men statisticians would have no crimes to tabulate. The science of history broadly considered, does not warrant us in concluding that one may know a given man’s action under given circumstances, or in supposing that in the struggle between environment and the individual the force of the latter is reduced to zero. The student must see that even the force of heredity can be turned in an opposite direction, and that resolute souls have changed the character of history by laying conquering hands on circumstan- ces. William, Prince of Orange, might easily have failed in the crisis which placed him on England’s throne, and every great reform that has honored the English speaking race has been achieved by determined resistance to environment. It does not minister to the pride of the Anglo-Saxon race to reflect that against every effort to rescue children or Africans from slavery, has been arrayed the weight of position and wealth. Yet against these, brave men and gifted women have opposed undaunted courage and love of mankind, and have taught the world never to consider anything settled until it is settled right. Circumstances do indeed make men, by affording ground 4A JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. for the exercise of manhood. The self same soil produces the hero and the coward, the man of honor and the knave. Edward I and Edward III had no better opportunities than Edward the II, but t#ey were men while 4e was a poltroon. Washington’s character has made his name the synonym of nobility the world over; Benedict Arnold’s perfidy made him despised by the British, and gained for him the contempt of posterity. George Brown and William Lyon Mackenzie were determined advocates of popular rights; the same soil produced an unbalanced rebel and a prince among men. Not alone in the larger events of history, but in every conflagration, every shipwreck and railway disaster do we find the same circum- stances producing the finest heroism and the most pitiable cowardice, the sweetest devotion and the cruelest selfishness. Thus history reveals man’s dignity with his subordination, and in the acting of his part he recognizes dignity and subor- dination as one. His confidence in his own freedom is not disturbed by the conviction that history moves as an organized whole. Guizot profoundly says, ‘* Man advances in the execu- tion of a plan which he has not conceived and of which he is not even aware. He is the free and intelligent artificer in a work which is not his own. Conceive a great machine, the design of which is centered in a single mind, tho’ its various parts are intrusted to various workmen, separated from and strangers to each other. Noone of them understands the work as a whole, nor the general result which he concurs in produc- ing, but every one executes with intelligence and freedom, by rational and voluntary acts, the particular task assigned to him.” And with him the Laureate-seer : “‘T doubt not, thro the ages one increasing purpose runs, And the thoughts of man are widened with the process of the suns.” Once I cherished a fond hope which inspired as often as it filled my mind. It is gone with a varied assortment of bright and interesting illusions. This particuliar hope was centered in the great Pyramid! Could I but climb where ancient bnilders stood, and view the landscape o’er, my soul would be filled with delight. One night half dreaming, half waking, I toiled to the THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 45 apex of that great wonder of the antique world. The mighty columns of humanity marched in stately review. There was an awful grandeur in their tread, despite every evidence of pain and wrong. The hosts of Egypt, Assyria and Judea appeared ; Carthage, Babylonia and Persia next, with Macedonia, Greece and Rome on their trail. The Messiah’s Advent was seen and soon the crash of falling Rome was heard. The settling of the Nations, the Reformation of Europe, the Crusades—a New World appeared. Britain’s Glory, the French Revolution, the American Republic were seen. Far off raged the war for exis- tence and supremacy, dark clouds rolling above the combatants, and I caught the sound of Byron’s despairing wail : ‘“ and these were in 1248, but four books in “ the vulgar tongue,’ reported to be old and useless,—vefusta et tnutilia. And at a later day, when Leland, by commission of Henry VIII, spent six years of research in the libraries and colleges of England, he found but a mere handful of books written in English. Such lack of native literature shews how little regard, so late 52 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. as the time of Henry VIII, there was for the vernacular tongue. Still, even in Chaucer’s time the tide, though slow, began to turn. In 1388 parliament was opened with an English speech. In the law courts, cases might be carried on in English. Modern English prose, if traced to its immediate source, will be found to go back little further than to the books written at a time not far from that date. These are Wycliffe’s scripture translations, Trevisas’ translation of Higdon’s Polychronicon, and the Mandeville travels. The oldest manuscript of Sir John’s travels is indeed in French, and both his claim to be of English birth, and his personality have been called in question. He also garnishes his adventures with stories of snails having shells as big as cottages, and Ethiopians who have only one foot, which he says was strong enough for swift travelling and large enough to shelter its owner, when recumbent, from rain and sun, and other accounts which recall Lucian’s satire on credulous tales of his day, and the conviction that Sir John’s back deserves a stroke or two from the same rod. But for all this “The Voyage and Travayle of Syr John Maundeville Knight,” in its English version, remains a delightful book to be prized with the choicest treasures of early English prose. A life of Chaucer written with the care, fullness, and insight of Lockhardt’s life of Scott, Masson’s Milton, or Dowden’s Shelley, would be an attractive book. At this dis- tance, how interesting would be the story, could it be told, o¢ Chaucer’s education in the schoolroom, and in that life school of many masters where all are pupils; of the work he did and the men he met; of his attitude towards his fellows, and the spirit of his time; of the mofzfs of his poems, and the order of their production ; how his life-work was hindered, tried, guided in the right way, and sometimes lured by false lights into wrong paths; and how his creative genius by degrees fashion- ed, in the dawn of English literature, works whose beauty and fidelity to nature will always be dear to lovers of the English tongue. But such a work could hardly have been written at the immediate close of his life, and cannot be written now. The letters, journals, and other documents essential to both THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 5S) warp and woof of the biographer’s web had no existence in Chaucer’s time. They are the growth of a later social day. Experts, who have given to this subject years of study, say with accord: the demonstrable facts of Chaucer’s life can be told in few words, and that biographies of the poet written before that by Sir N. H. Nicolas, in 1845, abound with erron- eous misleading conjectures.} Thus it is, modern criticism com- pels earlier opinions we thought definitive, to be supplemented and amended. It is disconcerting to find the idol we thought golden in part clay, or that of a favourite picture, only the out- line is from nature, the colouring and details being imaginary and unreal. But truth heedless of likes and dislikes often compels a hearing, and may not be silenced. In this case not a little that was deemed fact turns out to be fable, stil] if muchis lopped away, enough is left unscathed to make Chaucer an attractive personality worthy of study. Geoffrey Chaucer was the son of John Chaucer, Vintner, of Thames street, London, England. No record of his birth has been found, but it is likely he was born in London about 340. By general acclaim he is honoured as “ the poet of the dawn,” first in time, and protagonist of English poets. Still he was a man of deeds as well as words. His closing days were passed in quiet, but till near the end of his life he was actively devoted to duties whose variety and importance shew the versatility and trustworthiness of his character. In youth he was page or servitor of some kind, in the train of Elizabeth de Burgh wife of Lionel third son of Edward III. And in man- hood he was in turn: yeoman of the court, soldier, diplomatist, collector of cfistoms for the port of London, member of parlia- ment for Kent, clerk of public works, and withal the poet of his age. The family name—in French chauwcter—maker of shoes or hosen, indicates that some remote ancester was a disciple of St. Crispin, which were no cause for surprise, as poetry and the gentle craft are neither enemies nor strangers. Sucha liason as this patronymic suggests had ceased—if it ever existed— before Chaucer’s time, as his father and grandfather were both 54 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. vintners, and when his mother after his father’s death in 1366 married another vintner, their son, Thomas Heyroun, was also a vintner. Where Chaucer was educated is uncertain. The short life, written in Latin, by Leland more than a hundred. years after Chaucer’s death, is nearest of the biographies to the poet’s lifetime. It says: Chaucer studied at Oxford; was taught mathematics by John Some, and Nicolas, friar of Lynn, and also studied in France about the last year of Richard II. On the other hand, Speght says: he studied at Cambridge; a view some think is favoured by touches of local colour in the first lines of the Reeve’s tale :— ‘At Trumpington not far from Canterbrigge, There goeth a brook and over that a brigge.”’ The time for his studies in France is an error, as Chaucer died but a year after the King. And the poems abound in touches which in the most realistic way hit off numerous places mentioned, leaving no ground to infer the poet knew Cam- bridge better than Oxford. And though Leland stood nearer in time to Chaucer than his other biographers, he cites no evidence unknown to them, while later writers have found documents unknown to him, all of which are silent on this subject. Indeed, so far as records go, it is not shewn that he studied at any university. In olden times not all men of dis- tinction had that advantage, and in cur day Mill, and Beacons- field, both noted for their acquirements, were not university men, though both had special advantages from their fathers’ teaching. If it be doubtful whether Chaucer attended these universi- ties, it is certain he was a diligent student in what Carlyle calls the university of books. All his works bear witness to his fondness for, and use of these. In the opening stanzas of his “« Legende of Good Women” he says: if books were gone, the key of remembrance were lost, and though he knows but little: ‘“On bokes for to rede I me delyt, And to hem give I feyth and full credence, And in myn herte have hem in reverence. THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 55 Few men have used this key of remembrance more skill- fully than Chaucer, or scattered the treasures gained by its agency to better purpose. That, all admit. Milton calls him: “our learned Chaucer,” and in doing so points out the niche men of his own and of succeeding time deem appropriate for him. Modern scholarship has indeed mildly challenged this general verdict, by its reminder that the highest learning must work up vast treasures of exact knowledge into an organic whole, and that Chaucer’s learning was both inexact and lack- ing in organic unity. Prof. Lounsbury, in his admirable studies in Chaucer, follows up this subject fully. But after all, though Chaucer did err, called styx the pit, not the river of hell; thought the name of Venus was taken from Mount Citheron, and not from the Island of Cythera, and committed sundry other similar sins, the faults are but venial, judging him by the only fair test, the standard of learning in his own time. More- over, modern scholarship is exacting, if not finical, and subjects everything to the test of such high magnifying powers that the field sometimes is accordingly small. Lord Sherbrooke said in irony: ‘“‘an Oxford professor of Greek who could not pluck éschylus with ease would be deemed dull and inefficient,” and professor Rolfe said recently: “I have just spent six months of stimulating work most profitably in preparing, for the forthcoming Latin dictionary of Woelfflin, an article on the preposition a.” If cognizance be taken of the rarity and cost of books, and lack of opportunity for special studies in those times, it is no wonder that weighed in the balance of recent criticism Chaucer is found somewhat wanting. By State records, a written bible, or book of like bulk, cost at that time a sum equal to four hundred dollars of our money. Teubner’s three hundred volumes of Greek and Latin authors, can now be bought for Jess than half that sum. Ben Jonson said Shakespear knew little Latin and less Greek; still he managed to exploit some of the richest quarries of the old learning. In Latin Chaucer was more learned than his great successor, though like Shakespear he knew but little Greek. Few scholars in the XIV century did. They had but 56 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. the glimmering twilight of the renaissance; its noonday came after the Turk drove from Constantinople Greek scholars scattering them throughout Europe, and after Lascaris, Aldus, Politian and their friends kindled in the learned world a pass- ion for Hellenic studies. Chaucer refers to more than a score of Latin authors, some writers of poetry, others of prose. Ovid was his favorite poet; and for prose his favorite was Boethius, a writer of the late Latin period, whose work “ Consolation of Philosophy,” he translated, as Alfred the Great had previously done. He was also conversant with some of the patristic writings of Jerome, St. Augustine, Origen, and Tertullian. To the collection of popular stories called the Gesta Romanorum, and to that other singular collection called the Golden Legends, he often refers. From the Legends his account of St. Cecilia was taken. Innocent III before he was Pope wrote a work called “ De contemptu mundi,” which Chaucer often quotes; and he knéw the somewhat credulous book written by Orosius, to shew that the troubles of the times were but a continuation of the war and misery inseparable from every period of history, and were in no way attributable to the early christians. Chaucer also refers to works on medicine, on mathematics, and on astrology which he designates “superstitious cursedness.” Of the books he quotes, most have come down to these times, though a few are known only by name. With the History of Troy, the most popular of the Medie- val legends, Chaucer was familiar, and turned it to good account. The course that legend ran is interesting to all lovers of English literature. Benoit de Saint More took the account of Troy, current under the shadowy names of Dictes, and of Dares, and in the XIII century expanded it into a French poetical version of nearly thirty thousand lines. That was turned by Guida da Colunna into Latin prose without acknowledgment, and as unti] thirty years since the plagiarism was not detected, for six cen- turies Guido reaped in reputation where Benoit sowed. One episode of the legend is the story of Troilus son of Priam, and Cressida daughter of Calchas the Trojan priest. That story THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. yi inspired Boccaccio, and through him Chaucer, whence his “Troilus and Creisida.” Moreover Lydgate’s Troy book, and the Troy book Caxton translated from the French, which was the first book printed in English, are from the same source, as is also Shakespear’s tragedy of that name. Chaucer became a soldier, and went into France, with the English army of invasion, during the war, began in 1359. He was taken prisoner by the French, and on March st, 1360, King Edward III paid sixteen pounds sterling for his ransom. That was a small sum, but money was worth fifteen times as much then as now. In those days a cow sold for five shillings ; wheat was two shillings a quarter; Judges of the High Court received forty pounds a year; and labourers and mechanics worked for wages averaging from a penny to threepence a day. About 1366 Chaucer married one of the ladies in waiting to the Queen; and the same year he was granted an annual allowance of £13. 6s. 8d. The name Chaucer appears several times in records of that date, and in one or two instances has been held to refer to the poet’s children; but there is trust- worthy evidence of only one son, the boy for whom Chaucer wrote his “ Treatise on the Astrolabe.” The opening sentence of that lesson has the ring of genuine affection. It reads: ‘Little Louis, my son, I aperceive well by certain evidences thine ability to learn sciences touching number and proportions.”’ Several writers speak of Chaucer’s marriage as unhappy ; and a record of some abduction, come of late to light, has been impressed into service of that opinion. Infelicitous wedlock is unfortunately confined to no class, it laughs at barriers, and merit is powerless to resist its insidious attack, as John Milton, and John Wesley can witness. In this instance we may “ for- bear to judge,” for as Professor Lounsbury says: ‘“To interpret two or three passages in his writings to mean his life with his wife was unhappy would compel us to reverse our whole con- ception of the poet’s character.”’ In 1360, Blanche, the wife of John of Gaunt died. To com- memorate her worth, and the sorrow of the Prince, Chaucer wrote “ The Death of Blanche the Duchess.” His threnody, . 55 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. though written after a French model, does not lack originality, and concludes in a strain of true pathos. It is one of the poet’s earliest pieces, and serves as the surest chronological starting point of his works. After this, little trace of Chaucer is found until 1366, when his name appears on the list of esquires of the King. His relation to the Royal household, made known to Chaucer many celebrities of that day, as Philippa, the Queen, by the poets, minstrels, and notables she assembled in her train, added to the distinction of the Court. In the reign of Edward ITI, pestilence, war, and civil tumult, reduced the population of England to about four millions. But for all such a combination of horrors, national spirit was neither retrograde nor stationary. Socially there was an effort to improve the lot of the people, and to make devotion to truth, honour, freedom, and courtesy —the ideals of chivalry—something more than high sounding words. The arts too made advancement despite such difficult- ies. Mural paintings, richly coloured windows, and elaborate foliated ornamentation, became a fashion, and enhanced the beauty of public buildings, whose stateliness the west front of York Minster, and the spire of Salisbury Cathedral make known to this day. Chaucer went to France twice with the army, and between 1370 and 1379 he crossed the channel several times, on peace- ful missions for the Government. On his second tour in 1372 he visited Genoa and Florence. Landor makes that visit the setting for an imaginary conversation at Arezzo, Petrarch’s birthplace, between the three poets Chaucer, Boccaccio, and Petrarch. The meeting was of course entirely suppositious, although it might have taken place. The firmer ground on which belief of a meeting between Chaucer and Petrarch rests. is: The Clerk of Oxford’s Tale is Petrarch’s Latin story of Griselda, taken from Boccaccio’s story in the Decameron. The Clerk in his prologue says, he learned that tale at Padua, of Frances Petrarch the lauriet poet, whose poetry shed light over all Italy. And giving force and reality to that statement he adds: ‘‘He is now dead and nayled in his cheste, I prey to God so yeve his soule rest.” THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 59 After Richard II became King, Chaucer was entrusted with the delicate mission of negociating a matrimonial alliance between him and Mary, daughter of Charles V, King of France. Charles, called the sage, cared less for the glories of war than for works of peace, and two of his institutions, though dis- similar, the Bastile and National Library, have received world- wide attention. From his predilection for peace, it was thought Charles might favour the object of Chaucer’s mission as a means of ending the war; but the negociations were unsuccess- ful. In 1375, Chaucer became comptroller of customs and subsidy of wools, skins, and tanned hides at the port of Lon- don. By terms of his appointment, the rolls of his ofhce had to be written in his own hand. After some time his office was made more important by placing the petty customs of the port in his charge; and he was allowed to engage a deputy. Chaucer may have been, likely was, the first poet of note to collect revenue for the English Government, but he was not the last. Dryden discharged almost the same duties; Burns was an excise officer; and Wordsworth received from £500 upwards a year for some time from the Government Stamp revenue service. The wedding of Richard II with Anne of Bohemia, took place in January, 1382; and Chaucer wrote in celebration of the marriage his “ Parliament of Fowles,” a spirited poem in which Richard, the royal eagle, finds favour in the eyes of Anne, when eagles of less royal mien plead vainly for her affections. In 1386, Chaucer sat in Parliament as Knight of the Shire for Kent. Members of parliament then, and for long after, were paid what was bluntly called wages; a Knight receiving four shillings, and a burgess two shillings a day. Chaucer took part in discussions of the hour; but the fates were against his political party. The Government side was supported by Chaucer’s patron John of Gaunt, who, before the house met, went to Spain to prosecute some suppositious claim to the Spanish throne; and in his absence the opposition con- trolled by the Duke of Gloucester, overthrew the Government party. Chaucer’s income from the customs, his pensions from 60 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. the Crown, and from John of Gaunt, together with his daily allowance of wine from the King, gave him several years immunity from monetary cares. But the wheel of political fortune turned, and forthwith came less pleasant times. With the new Government he at once lost his office in the customs, and in 1388, his Court pension was taken from him. A further turn of the wheel of political fortune brought Chaucer’s party again in power, and he became Clerk of the King’s works at Westminster, Windsor, and at the Tower, where costly alterations were made. In two years more he was again out of favour with the dominant power; ousted from office; and though the King never quite forgot him, he was in straightened circumstances so long as Richard IT reigned. When Henry IV became King, in 1399, Chaucer addressed to him “a compleint to his purse,” stating that it was light, that he needed help: ‘“ For I am shave as nye as is a frere.” The King answered his application and granted him a pension in October, 1399. Two months afterwards Chaucer leased a tenement in the garden of St. Mary’s Chapel, West- minster, and on the 25th of October, 1400, he died. He was buried in St. Benet’s Chapel in Westminster Abbey. His place of sepulture, the east aisle of poets’ corner in the Abbey, is to all who love English literature a hallowed spot. Near to Chaucer’s tomb rests Spencer, “the prince of poets of his time,” with Browning and Tennyson, princes of song in our time, while surrounding are presentments in marble of that choir of ” > is our heirloom “singers silent long,” whose “ glorious music ’ from the intervening centuries. Chaucer’s manners were pleasing and attractive, and he was a modest, cheerful companion, thoughtful indeed and sometimes taciturn, but when he chose to be jocose, his humour was resistless. Reverential and religious at heart, his satire could nevertheless sting, like a scourge of scorpions, hypocrisy and deceit. The artistic faculty was dominant in his well balanced mind, and was the central gem which gave refulgence to the rich setting of graces which adorned his character. That divine faculty found good in everything, and to it nothing THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 61 was common or unclean. After Chaucer’s death, Hoccleve, one of his contemporaries, caused to be painted a picture of the poet, which has become famous, and which sustains the best estimates of his character. It represents a well knit. elderly man, of medium size, and whitening hair. He is clad in dark hood and gown, and stands with right arm outstretched and index finger extended as if to emphasize something he had just said. In the left hand is a rosary. The eyes are full, features regular, and the brow and nose indicate perfection of refine- ment. A shade of sadness rests upon the face, and the averted eyes are looking downwards; eyes and mouth both betoken rich humour, and fathomless sympathy. The ballade “ Truth, or good Counsel,” Chaucer is said to have written on his death bed, incidentally illustrates some of the finer traits of his own character. Though the whole ballade must be read to realize its beauty, I quote one verse: ‘“« That thee is sent receive in buxumnesse, The wrestling for this world asketh a fall. Here is no home, here is but wilderness, Forth pilgrim forth! Forth beast out of thy stall, Know thy country, look up, thank God of all; Hold the highway, and let thy spirit lead, And truth shall thee deliver, it is no dread. Five hundred years have passed since Chaucer lived, and in the interval between his day and ours lovers of English literature have devoted no little time and learning to furnish an accurate text of what Chaucer wrote. The result of this labour is embodied in the noble ‘* Oxford Chaucer,’ fessor Skeat and published in 1894, and in the excellent “ Globe Chaucer,” published by Macmillan & Co., in 1898. These > edited by pro- works meet fully all ordinary requirements, although their editors take pains to say, a definitive text, absolutely satisfac- tory to diplomatic criticism, is yet to come. To rightly esti- mate the difficult task of establishing such a text one must bear in mind: Chaucer wrote a century before the days of printing ; and although more than fifty manuscripts of the Canterbury Tales, and from one to a dozen manuscripts of the several 62 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. minor poems are known, they were written when the language was in a transition state, and abound with various readings and interpolations. Had Chaucer acknowledged any one of these written copies its authority would of course have been settled ; but excepting a copy of one of the minor pieces written for Henry V when Prince of Wales, and therefore before 1413, the date of all is conjectural, and most likely none goes back to the poet’s lifetime. With the perfected system of printing, absolute freedom from typographical error is next to impossi- ble; and it can be no marvel the ancient Scribe, chosen for his writing skill rather than learning, and working with few of the printer’s aids to accuracy, should err. And err he did, ften and egregiously. How gross some of his blunders were may be inferred from an instance quoted by Lounsbury from a written copy of the Canterbury Tales. The Saxon verb hertaz means, to praise. Wycliffe says: the shepherds when they had seen the infant Saviour “ turned glorifying and 4ery- ing God.” When the Marquis of the Clerk’s Tale has a son born to him, of his folk it is said: “God they thank and ery,” that is they thank and praise. But in the written copy Louns- bury quotes, the scribe, led away by the sound, wrote: “ God they thank, for he was “azry.” In another passage the monk > when cAzz is the is said to fasten his hood under his “ s4z7,’ word meant. Caxton printed the Canterbury Tales in 1475, and six years afterwards learning his book was not according ‘ unto the book Geoffrey Chaucer had made, to satisfy the author ”— as Caxton quaintly writes in his preface—he printed another edition. Only eleven copies of the first edition, and nine of the second are now known to exist. Pynson, one of Caxton’s assistants, treading in his master’s steps, attempted to gather al) Chaucer’s poems into one volume; but his collection was incomplete. A better attempt to form a complete collection was made by Thynne, in 1532. Thynne, who served in the household of Henry VIII, obtained a royal commission giving him authority to search all the libraries in England, that his collection might be complete. For more than two centuries it THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 63 was the accepted edition of Chaucer. A second edition appear- ed in 1542, notable for including the Ploughman’s Tale. That attack on churchmen had never before been printed with the Canterbury Tales. After much discussion as to whether this tale was written by Chaucer, it is now rejected as spurious, Without entering into bibliograpical details, foreign to this paper, it may be said that after Speght’s Chaucer of 1598, and his second edition bearing date 1602, for which he had aid from Thynn, the younger, whose father had supervised the edition in time of Henry VIII, already mentioned, no important edition of Chaucer appeared until that of Urry ini7ir1. He began the work of collating fourteen manuscripts of the Can- terbury Tales, but died before his task was finished. His work is notable chiefly because he was the first to adopt modern editorial methods of collating written copies of his author, and because his Chaucer was the first in which the ueo s f black letter type was abandoned. In 1775, Trywhitt studied twenty- six manuscripts for his edition of the Canterbury ‘Tales. Knowledge of English grammar has advanced long strides since his day, enabling Wright and others to take him sharply to task for grammatical shortcomings. Nevertheless Tyrwhitt brought to his undertaking, learning, enthusiasm, poetical taste, wide reading, industry, and an acute critical faculty; rare gifts which won for his work praise from impartial judges. With the nineteenth century came new zest for early English litera- ture; and this generation has been favoured with a band of earnest Chaucerian workers and scholars. Wright, Bell, Morris, Skeat, and Pollard have done excellent work by their respective editions of Chaucer; and Henry Morley, Furnivall, Child, Bradshaw, Ten Brink, and Lounsbury have made Chaucer and his times attractive subjects wherever English books are read. Seventy-seven pieces, each with distinct title, have been at one time or another attributed to Chaucer’s authorship. Some of these are flagrant impostures, making reference to events which happened after Chaucer’s death. The spurious Pilgrim’s Tale refers to the Lincolnshire insurrection, a revolt described 64 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. by Thomas Cooper in his “ Captain Cobbler,” which did not take place till nss6. the timevor Henny WINE Othen similar pieces require no iconoclastic spirit to drive them from the esti- mable company into which they have been thrust; their own crude lineaments bespeak them to be of other workmanship than the master’s hand. With some pieces, the task of adjudg- ing is more difficult; and a few of the minor poems are still sub judice. ‘The scrupulous examination to which everything doubtful claiming to be of Chaucerian origin has been subjected, has greatly reduced the list formerly accepted. Besides the usual tests applied to works of doubtful authenticity, every- thing bearing Chaucer’s name has had to undergo tests of grammar, dialect, rhyme, and rhetorick of the utmost minute- ness, and almost without end. The council of criticism which has conflrmed the accepted Chaucer canon decided more than half the seventy-seven pieces under judgment to be apocryphal. Only twenty-two poetical pieces, comprising thirty-five thou- sand lines, are sent forth from the ordeal bearing an indubitable stamp of genuineness. There are also four prose pieces held to be genuine: the Boethius; Astrolabe; Parson’s sermon ; and the tale of Melibeus. There remain five short pieces of poetry considered to be doubtful; and doubt still attaches to parts of the Romance of the Rose. Of rejected pieces, the Pilgrim’s Tale and the Plough- man’s Tale have provoked more discussion than the rest. The Pilgrim’s Tale was lost for many years, but was rediscovered and printed by the Chaucer Society in 1875. Thynne the younger says, when his father proposed to Henry VIII-to include this story in his edition of Chaucer, the King said: “I suspect the Bishops will call thee in question for it.” But when Thynne further asked the royal sanction to include it, and for protection, the King said: “Go thy way and fear not.” Still, for all that, he says at Cardinal Wolsey’s instance it had to be thrown aside when printed, and was not allowed to appear in that edition. The Pilgrim’s Tale is now admitted on all hands to be spurious; and though Thynne’s gossip may in the main be trustworthy, the dates show some mistake in his THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 65 story. Wolsey died in 1530, and was out of favour at Court for at least a year before his death; while the elder Thynne’s first edition of Chaucer bears date 1532, so that any preventive action by Wolsey regarding the contents of Thynne’s book must have been two years before it was printed. Moreover, the Pilgrim’s Tale we know refers to Captain Cobbler’s revolt in 1536, six years after Wolsey’s death. Possibly as the Pil- grim’s Tale and Ploughman’s Tale were not unfrequently referred to, one for the other, as Lounsbury suggests, the latter tale might be that meant by Thynne the younger. Such an explanation removes most of the difhculty. ‘The Ploughman’s Tale certainly deals harder blows against the misdeeds of Churchmen than does the other tale, and would be more obnoxious to the Cardinal than the other. And further, the Ploughman’s Tale was not in Thynne’s first edition of 1532, but was in the second edition of 1542, when after ten years’ antagonism the King became more truculent towards the Church. Leland, writing in the time of Henry VIII, says: “The “tale of Piers Plowman, which, by the common consent of, ‘the learned, is attributed to Chaucer as its true author, has “been suppressed in each edition because it vigorously in- “ veighed against the bad morals cf the priests.” Leland’s opinion, with few exceptions, prevailed until near the close of the last century. Even Dryden shared in it. But Warton, after stating that the Ploughman’s Tale is attributed to Chau- cer, adds “perhaps falsely.” Soon, after Warton’s expressed doubt, Tyrwhitt shewed plainly by internal evidence of the poem itself that Chaucer was not its author; and his opinion has since been generally accepted. Of recent writers, whose words carry authority, Lounsbury may be taken as a represent- ative. He says: “Nothing but the bitterness of religious “ controvery, coupled with defective literary sense, could have “imputed the Ploughman’s Tale to Chaucer in the first place. “© There was not the shadow of evidence in favor of the view ‘“‘ that he was its author.” A taint of the rancour which then marked religious discus- 66 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. sion in England infected this subject. There was hope that by coupling Chaucer’s name with the Ploughman’s Tale he would be deemed friendly to Wycliffe’s followers and opposed to their foes. Wycliffe, a proficient in scholastic disputation, also han- dled vigorously most of the popular questions of that day. This he did at first in an academic theoretic manner, in the Latin tongue; but after a time his poor parsons in their long, coarse, russet-brown woollen raiment, wandering barefoot with pilgrims’ staves from place to place, became efficient propagand- ists of his doctrine. Some of these parsons were blamed over the peasants’ revolt; and John Ball, one of the leaders, claimed Wycliffe for his teacher. But that was said under sentence, and cannot be received without reserve, as Ball was excommun- icated before W ycliffe’s time. The chance to associate Chaucer’s name with this obnoxious tale seemed favorable. His patron, Jobn of Gaunt, was Wycliffe’s friend; and Chaucer’s artist instinct saw a good side in Wycliffe’s followers to which most of their enemies were blind, But proof is lacking that Chaucer sided with Wycliffe in his religious contest. Like the great Italian writers of that time, he satirized the vices of the clergy, as did his contemporary Langland; but in both instances the lash was in the hand of a friend, and not an enemy. As a pioneer of modern English literature, Chaucer influ- enced the mother tongue more than any of his successors did. Lydgate, the Monk of Bury, a competent authority, who knew Chaucer well, called him: ‘“The first in any age That amended our language.” Some of these amendments have been deemed corruptions ; still time, the great arbiter, has stamped them with approval. But Chaucer had no set plan to change the English language. He wrote the East Midland dialect of his time, just as Luther wrote in the current dialect of the Chancery of Saxony; and ag both writers were more widely read than others, they exer- cised paramount influence over the written language of their respective countries. The linguistic changes of his age, which THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 67 Chaucer’s writings did so much to establish, were important enough to mark a new era in English literature. Alliterative poetry was discarded for poetry whlch rhymed after the French method. Langland’s Piers the Ploughman, written in Chau- cer’s lifetime, was the last alliterative poem preserved. A number of native words were replaced by words of French origin; and many Saxon adjectives were supplemented and reinforced by French forms. ‘That practice was long followed ; the Troy Book, by Caxton, abounds in two sets of adjectives— one of Saxon, the other of French derivation, and both mean- ing the same thing. There also came in vogue important permutations of vowel and consonant sounds, and considerable change took place in inflected words. But structural changes, though important, were likely least noticed at the time, because of their slow growth. Of old English nouns, which had at first six cases, only the s of the possessive case is now left. Originally the dative ending was e for the singular, and zs for the plural; in the XIII century only e was used for both singular and plural; and in the XIV century the e was also lost, and the dative, as it has since remained, became the same as the nominative. The English language, by four cen- turies of contact with Norman French, took a richer vocabulary and many changes; but its structural features remained essen- tially Saxon. As an old writer remarks: “The Normans “conquered the land but could not conquer the language, “though they did mingle with it much of the French.” Its words for number, and its particles, prepositions and conjunc- tions, the characteristic traits of a language, kept the German forms. And such forms continue; the strong verbs of the language still take ablaut or change of the root vowel to denote past time; and traces are left of that weakening mutation of vowel sound by a following vowel called umlaut, which is a marked feature of German speech. Also since Chaucer’s time English speech has further changed in many particulars, though its structure remains still the same. Increment of its vocabulary now makes the list of an English dictionary include more than three hundred thou- 68 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. sand vocables. What a change, too, in the number speaking that language and the area in which it is spoken. Chaucer wrote for a few readers scattered among a population of less than four millions. The great writer of to-day appeals to an English speaking publie of more than a hundred millions that has fewer illiterates to the mass than ever before, a fact which calls to mind these words of Grimm: “ The English tongue, “like the English stock, seems chosen to rule in future, in a “‘ sreater degree, in all corners of the earth.” The Canterbury Tales are Chaucer’s masterpiece. The offspring of his mature powers, their original plan of narration, and finished style, betoken long training and rare gifts. Of cunning pattern deftly wrought, the frame of the picture is like the setting of some Eastern story, while the picture itself por- trays in unique manner the life of that age. Boccaccio’s prologue to the Decameron adds to the interest of his stories ; and the epilogues to the tales written by Marguerite of Navarre a century later are pleasing and instructive; still both are sur- passed by Chaucer, whose work carries all the force and realism of life with the attractive charm of art. The poet introduces to his reader with grace, yet directness, a party of pilgrims casually met to rest over night at the Tabard hostelry, Southwark. They are on their way to the shrine of Becket, the Archbishop murdered in his Church by four knights of Henry II in gruesome answer to their Sovereign’s prayer that he might be “rid of that turbulent priest.” Canonized as St. Thomas of Canterbury, miracles surpassing those at the Rood of Bromholme, or for Our Lady of Walsingham. were by repute wrought at his shrine. Henry II did penance in the Church for his murder; and in after years his shrine was despoiled and his bones scattered by Henry VIII. Pilgrim- ages to Canterbury were common in Chaucer’s day; chiefly from motives of piety, to which secondary pleasures of fashion and perhaps a tinge of politics are also to be added. The word canter remains in the English language as a reminder of the easy pace of a pilgrim’s horse towards Becket’s shrine. The spring of the year so beautifully deseribed in the THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 69 opening of the poem was the time that remarkable meeting took place. Some lover of precision, from particulars inci- dentally mentioned by the poet of the heavenly bodies at the time, computes the exact date was the 26th of April, 1353, though Prof. Skeat thinks five years later fits best into all the known data. There were “ well nine and twenty of the com- “pany, a fair representation of English social life, the very highest and lowest. excepted. In his prologue to the tales Chaucer has inimitably sketched that gathering, leaving a picture hardly to be equalled, and of increasing value the longer the English language is read. After supper their host, Harry Bailly, a man fit to “han been a Marshal in an hall,” made everybody great cheer, and proposed further to them a plan for making theirs a pleasant ride to Canterbury. His plan was: each pilgrim on the way “ Canterburyward ” should tell two tales, and homewards he should tell other two, of “ aventure that whilom han befalle,”’ and on their return to the Tabard the teller of the best tale should have supper at the others’ cost. If they agreed to this he, Harry Bailly, to keep them merry would ride with them as their guide at his own expense; as marshall of the company he should tell no tale, and whoso withsaid ee judgment “shal ave al that we “«spenden by the weye.’ The host’s proposal was accepted on his own conditions ; and the party in the morning, “ when day gan for to spring,” rode forth at little more than a walk. Pilgrimages were evidently leisurely made, as pilgrims from London usually slept at Dartford, Rochester, and Ospringe, reaching Canter- ” on which bury on the fourth day. By the “ pilgrims’ way, portions of an old pilgrim’s house, it is said, are still left, the distance from London was fifty-six miles. How long Chaucer’s memorable company was ez route is not said. Harry Bailly marshalled the party as behooved his reputation. In all twenty- four tales were told. One, the story of Alchemy, was told by the Canon’s yeman who joined the party on their way; two were in prose; the Cook unfortunately was found to be in unfit state to tell a story, and was stopped at the beginning of 70 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. his tale; and the Sir Thopas tale—Chaucer’s own—in metrical romance style, made the Host’s ears ache so that he cried “ no more of this”; and nine of the party for reasons unknown told no tales. The company when under way, without the host, appears to have numbered thirty-one or two, a slight addition to the twenty-nine first mentioned. There was also departure from the intention for each pilgrim to tell two stories on the way out, and two returning; but whether that is proof the poem is a fragment, or is only a little artifice to whet the curi- osity of the reader, each one determines for himself. Such is the frame of this famous picture; as for the picture itself, its consideration falls beyond the scope of this paper. It may be fitting to add, that motives for the work were taken from every available source; some from popular stories told in the gloaming, around the peasant’s hearth, most of them tales of Latin, Italian and French writers, one or two of which tales have been traced from Buddhist Jatakas, through all sorts of highways and byways of literature. A few of these stories are coarse and repellant; the author says, had they been other- wise they would have been false to the life depicted. It may be added that Chaucer’s low comedy is told after the modern dramatic fashion by pairs, not to offend the rest; and all rude- ness and selfishness is made to inspire disgust, and beget esteem and reverence for the purity and unselfishness of the nobler characters of the poem. It was an act of poetical daring on the part of Chaucer to transfer the musical work of the Italian poets into the untried ten syllabic metre of his native tongue; but he attempted, and successfully accomplished his task. Swinburne, a past master in the art of melody, says: “Chaucer, with Teutonic accent through English lips, speaks “not only with more vigor, but actually with more sweetness ‘than the tongues of his teachers.” For the rest, let the clos- ing words of introduction by Mr. Pollard to his recent edition of Chaucer suthce: “ As a poet Chaucer needs to-day no one ‘to praise him. He has been praised already wisely and well ‘‘by many clever writers. All that is now needed is that the “« praise shall no longer be taken contentedly on trust; but THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 71 “that his poems, which in their freshness and restfulness must “in this century have more power of pleasure-giving than ever “before, should be allowed to speak for themselves to ears no SS lomoegndedind 72 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. INGAMIOURONIEGS IsDiSs NOUR: NOES: Read before the Hamilton Association. BY WM. YATES, ESQ. The communistic or socialistic tie seems to be as rigidly adhered to in assemblages of the larvae of moths as in the inmates of the bee hive or of the anthill, and in associations of the caterpillars of tree-boring Coleoptera, a regularity in the method of conducting operations is observable, for, as soon as the young emerge from the egg, the grubs assume a numerical organization that reminds one of military recruits under the orders of a drill instructor. The channels gnawed out by companies of these beetle larvae on the inner bark, as also on the surface of the juicy sap wood of recently fallen trees, particularly of the elm species, in symmetry and precis- ion of plan, are interesting objects of regard. The individual grubs advance, twenty to thirty in number, in two parallel lines, feeding at small distances from each other, as it were, en-echelon, with the uniformity of the steps of a ladder. Pieces of elm bark when removed from the tree trunks show an inter- esting design that would show pictorial effects if correctly imitated by the draughtsman’s art. ‘The spinners and weavers, too, in the tent-caterpillar communities seem each animated by a common, yet differentiated impulse that contributes from various starting points to the completion of a harmonious de- sign; the same controlling tendency or idea can be sometimes noticed in groups of larvae of several species of small moths, in their hybernations and winter dormitories, as seen under wood chips and fragments of tree bark, and in undisturbed litter near fences at the forest border. The gregarious habit and instinct is also frequently noticed in ophidians (and it is said by the chelonidae or mud turtles also), when by mis- chance dug out of their winter retreats, the all-pervading in- THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 73 stinct of greater individual safety seems the dominant factor in such communities. Many species of birds, as well as quad- rupeds, as is well known, have strong congregating tenden- cies, and it oftimes seems curious to observe that the sudden oncoming of great danger or cause of alarm impels different behavior or strategy at some times from that at others. Some of the more courageous species of birds, as the crows, jays and picadae, unite their numbers for defense and retaliation when assailed by certain kinds of enemies, and especially such is the case when called on to brave dangers that seem a menace to their young; but there are other occasions when the danger is of a paralyzing nature, such as is sometimes ex- perienced in thunderstorms and tornadoes, by quadrupeds as well as birds. On one such occasion, that we were witness of, one of a flock of thirteen or fourteen sheep was struck when grazing in a field by the electric fluid, and the flock was seen instantly to radiate from the danger center, as the spokes do from a hub of a wagon wheel. One of the ovine group was struck between the hips by the lightning, and in a few hours afterwards died from its injuries. The unfortunate animal was about the finest of the flock, and the only black- colored one in the number, with an extraordinary heavy fleece, and the electric current seemed to have passed along the spine, thence to the stomach, and by way of the cesophagus gullet, etc., through the mouth (as the animal was pasturing at the time), into the ground; the digestive fluids passed from the full stomach in a yeasty condition to the mouth, until the speedy death of the unfortunate beast. On another similar occasion, being at work in the forest when a violent thunder storm came on, and we were fain to take shelter in a dilapidated log shanty that had been built for the use of wood choppers in years agone, on looking out when the storm gave signs of abatement a vivid flash seemed to strike a large tree not far distant from the shanty, followed instantaneously by the thunder clap, and a flock of about twenty or thirty grackles which had been sheltering near by suddenly dispersed in flight, notwithstanding the rainy down- 714 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. pour; and the aberrant and confused movement of each indi- vidual bird was an interesting exhibit of hesitancy and com- plete bewilderment of the ornithic group, yet in a few seconds, as the cause of alarm subsided, the party were seen to reform and the ties of affinity reasserted themselves. It is also af- firmed by persons who have had experience on those lines that droves of semi-wild cattle that pasture in the forest avoid concentrating their numbers when ttees or tree branches are being blown down by violent winds or sudden tornadoes. In fact, at such times the bovine tribe can be observed to seek safety by deserting the bush territory, if possible, and keeping together in the open or clearings. Many curious incidents where danger or injury to human being was incurred by light- ning in this district could be narrated, and we may here be excused for giving several such. Two young women, farm- ers’ daughters of the neighborhood, went to gather raspber- ries to a place a mile or two. distant from their home. In a short time after the girls had begun fruit picking a brisk thunder storm came on and they hastened to seek shelter in the adjoining woods. The rain soon descended in torrents, and as they cowered under the wide-spreading lower branches of the undergrowth saplings a lightning flash struck a large maple tree that grew ten or twelve feet from the position oc- cupied by the girls, who were for a few moments almost ren- dered unconscious by fright. They afterwards described their situation as being apparently encircled by a small roaring il- luminated whirlwind, which caused the dry forest leaves on the ground near to their feet and also the foliage just over their heads to twist and whirl in violent commotion, almost causing suffocation for several moments. ‘The parties, on re- covering presence of mind, ran through the drenching raia to the nearest dwelling, about a quarter of a mile distant, where the writer of this happened 'to be at the time, and as soon as the storm had quite passed away (on being requested to do so) one of the girls kindly returned with him to see what permanent marks might have been caused by the electric discharge at the danger spot. With the exception of a THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 75 somewhat “ruffled” appearance of the dead leaves on the surface of the ground near the big tree above alluded to, no havoc seemed to have resulted, but as the said tree stood on land close to the boundary of that which was in our posses- sion, we had frequent occasion to pass that way, and in less than a year after the above incident a rift or lightning crevice appeared from the top to the base of said tree, which soon afterwards died; the electric discharge seemed not to have been sufficiently energetic to force off the coarse bark of the tree over the crack, just at the moment of striking, yet the same had been separated from the sap weod (like a ribbon) the length of the tree trunk, and the truth became manifest that the young women shelterers had had a narrow escape irom instantaneous death. Another curious effect of light- ning stroke on a forest tree may be here described. The tinie of the year was the second week in May (about the 15th, I think). Vegetation that year was quite backward, but a warra wave seemed approaching, accompanied by hazy clouds and drizzling rain, when about the hour of three in the afternoon a vivid flash of hghtning, instantly followed by appalling thunder, caused the several inmates of our dwelling placc much sudden perturbation of mind, yet there was no second flash or second thunder on that day, and we were unaware until the following day what damage had been done by the explosion. About one hundred and thirty yards from our dwelling the lightning had struck a large thrifty basswood tree that had been left to grow in the middle of a clearing smashing the same literally to atoms and scattering the timber fragments in every direction around and among all the woody debris. Only one piece was found sufficiently lavas oir al fence rail. On carefully examining the pieces and portions of the upper trunk, the fact was made plain that the electric bolt or ball of fire had struck the main stem, not at the summit, but on the northeast side, and at a distance of seven or eight feet from the highest part of the tree stem. The place of en- trance was of a semi-circle form (the bow upwards) of about two inches across the arc. The phenomenon demonstrate: 76 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. the irresistible power of the subtle electric fluid in repelling and destroying the cohesion of atoms of matter, for a band of about the same diameter of the spot of entry, the stringy, tough inner basswood bark down to the roots of the tree (or nearly) had been “hetchelled” into fibres as threadlike as those of hemp or flax, and enough of this substance had been in- stantaneously manufactured to about fill an ordinary flour barrel, and so soit and mosslike was the substance that por- {ions of the same were made use of by the poultry people of the vicinity for “goose nests” in the “setting” season of the anserines for years afterwards. The pionecis cf the bush had an axiom that basswood trees are more liable to be lightning struck than any other forest monarchs. Can this be owing to their great size and altitude? On our first settlement here about ninety acres of our demesne was primitive forest, and among other varieties of deciduous trees about fifty basswoods could be counted .ot massive and mature growth, and the fact was notorious that almost every one of the number gave evidence of lightning stroke, yet from whose effects they had recovered without very serious injury. It may here be thought worthy of remark that a majority of these basswoods were of taller growth than the maples and beaches by which they were generally sur- rounded. A curious instance of the extraordinary nature and in- ‘tensity of the heat of some of the lightning flashes was fur- nished near this spot a few years ago, when, during a July (1 think) thunder storm, a very large basswood tree, which had been left to grow for many years amid cultivated grain crops, was stricken by a powerful electric discharge from the clouds. ‘The tree was instantly set on fire and burned with such rapid- ity and vigor that, notwithstanding its towering mass, its crown of green foliage and its sap-repleted conditions, this monument of the ancient woods was totally consumed in the space of a few days’ time, and speedily thereafter the plow furrows were traced over the spot where the tree’s noble pro- portions had adorned the landscape for many a year. i THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. WG Barns containing a large quantity of hay newly stored, cr of recently harvested sheaves of cereals, which may be thought to emit a rarefied air or fermenting gases, seem at- tractive to electric currents in the atmosphere when thunder clouds are about. About two and a half years ago a large barn near here and valuable contents were burnt by lightning during a nocturnal thunder storm. During the day previous to this burning fourteen large loads of millet sheaves hail been hauled from a harvest field and stored in the already partly hay-filled edifice. During the progress of the violent midnight tornado a neighbour who, being anxious for the safety of his own outbuildings, was looking out of the window, saw two streaks of lightning dart together from two separate clouds and unite in the sky just over the doomed barn. The much-enlarged fire streak after the junction struck the build- ing, which, with all it contained, was quickly reduced to ashes. ‘The facts in this case support the above theory. A subject of occasional reflection has been the difference in the wild plant garniture of two well-defined zones or areas in this county and the sharpness of the limits by which the said areas are bounded. A wooded swamp of only two or three hundred yards in width, but stretching lengthwise across a number of concessions in Burford Township, divides what is called ““The Plains” from the heavier timbered sections or districts of Brant County. There are several genera of wild flowers abundant in one of these divisions that do not exist in the other, and even where the genera may be identical or similar the species differ in one zone from the other. A few may be here noted: SCRUB OAK SECTION OR PLAINS FLOWERS. Lobelia Virgata; Houstonia Purpurea; Hypoxis Erecta; Gillenia Trifoliata; 3 Gerardia’s; Asclepia Tuberosum ; ‘Quercus Alba; Rosa Lucida; Polygala Seneca; Laurus Sass- aitas, etce., etc. 78 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. TIMBERED MAPLE SECTION. Various species of Viburnum Acentifolia; Phlox Divari- cata; 2 Hydrophyllums; Actea Rubra and Alba; Asclepias Cormutt= Lobelia -Inilata-and- Imcarata> Waurus Benzom: Euonymus Obovatum; Orchis Psycodes; Epilobium An- eustifolium ; Menispirmum Canadensis; Quercus Bicolor and Raul ae ie. vc. These varying phenomena must, one would think, indi- cate essentially different chemically constituted soils, as the plant varieties do not intrude on each other’s habitat, and :f artificially transplanted refuse obstinately to naturalize in the alien soil. It would seem as if where the right conditions exist, the organizations are sure to evolve as if from omni-. present spores or aerial germ dust. To the southward a few miles another plant zone may be noted where novel species flourish non-existent in either of the aforementioned. The numbers of the common bluebirds which seemed much depleted three years ago have returned to about their normal proportions, and their warblings were heard at all hours of the day about here until the last days of October, yet it has been noticed that these birds have of late years be- come much more shy in choosing situations for nesting, scarcely ever of late coming to the near vicinage of dwellings cr outbuildings. Probably the repellant influence of the im- migrant sparrow may account for this uinversally admitted’ change of habit. The various movements of wild creatures on the ap- proach of the cold season are remarkable. The land snails sometimes utilize for winter shelter the vacant (or otherwise) burrows of the ground hog.The larvae of the May bug, al- though seemingly so sluggish and helpless in their motions, perseveringly work their way downwards to the warmer suhb- soil as the temperature of the surface becomes less genial to *Notr.—Only a few of the more striking and prominent diversities are enumerated here. ‘ t THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 79 various forms of life. The earthworms also perseveringly descend during the nights of October to the depth of two to three feet from the surface of fields. These annelids seem to avoid light sandy subsoils and choose in far greater numbers those of the unctuous or tenacious clay variety. .When the farmers are engaged in digging pits or depositories on some hillside for the winter storage of root crops, numbers of earth- worms, having penetrated in various stages of growth, are disinterred; a large proportion of young ones are met with, the parent worms having penetrated into the impacted and indurated clay in an astonishing manner. This tunneling can only have been accomplished by the worms softening the matrix by a saliva-like secretion, and the excavated material serves as food. ‘These annelid burrows are met with to a depth of three feet, are beyond the reach of frost, but early in May or sooner the annelids, etc., promptly reappear at the surface to enjoy the increasing vital warmth. lite An indisputable portent of the approach of spring was the curve of warm temperature that manifested itself during the second week of February, and of five or six days’ dura- tion. On the rith our thermometer stood for several hours at 53 degrees in a Northern exposure. On the 1oth one of our acquaintances tapped several maple trees, and from sap procured from them on two or three succeeding days informs us that he made more than two quarts of delicious syrup, and during the same week of mild skies those true forerunners of spring, the horned or prairie larks, made good their appear- ance about our pasture stubble-fields in small scattered par- ties. And judging from former experiences these ornithic visitors might have been expected. They come into these districts usually after the first of February thaw, and are known to our rural residents as the February “larks.”” They like the town sparrows, are a sort of “scavenger” bird, and So JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. obtain a part of their food supply from the ejectae and haif- digested seeds found on the highways and in fields frequented by farm animals. To these larks the chill breezes and dull skies of Feb- ruary and March seem to present few terrors, and the species must be nearly as hardy in constitution as the Arctic snow- bunting and as resourceful as the bluejay or bearded tit (chicadee). The notes of the prairie lark, though feeble, are enlivening and somewhat larklike, and are poured forth re- mittently on the outbursts of feeble sunshine on raw March days or in declining afternoon. Their advent to these parts first began to be noticed and talked about 36 or 37 years ago, when, through great progress in land clearing, the numbers of cattle and acreage of grass lands had much increased. . These tufted larks have not been noticed about here since about the beginning of October last (1897), but they usually stay after breeding their young in April, their nests contain- ing callow young have (it is credibly affirmed) been found about here even during last week in March, whilst remains of large snowdrifts still lingered about fence corners and ‘in such grass fields as the nests were found in. But May is the ionth they usually breed in, though nests containing eggs have also been reported of in the month of June. These birds are at any rate a welcome addition to the list of our feathered visitants and are clearly lovers of an open country, and have no arboreal proclivities, but seem contented with such shelter and food as is afforded by grassy hum- mocks and weedy leas. A few of the non-migrating species of birds show an in- clination to live on friendly terms with man. ‘This trait is noticeable in the chicadee, small parties of which come regu- larly to. the wood-choppers’ shanty at dinner-time, and if not repelled by unfriendly demonstrations, will alight on his knee or shoulder if a bit of food is placed thereon, but show much shyness and suspicion at the presence of a cat or dog. The bluejays and several species of woodpeckers are occa- sional visitors to the farmer’s garden trees or else to the THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. SI corn-crib. The so-called hairy woodpecker (Picida Villosus), which is larger and lighter in color than P. Pubesens, has been this winter a more frequent visitor than usual. Several of the smaller wild quadrupeds seem impelled to come forth from their winter dormitories during the oc- casional February thaws. The legendary myth, that ursa major comes out of his hollow tree on February 2nd, may possibly have a germ of probability to rest upon. This year one heard the remark made that as there was intense frost with clear sunshine on that date, if Bruin looked over his shoulder his shadow was distinctly visible, so the “dictum” was that he must return to the somnolent condition for six weeks longer.» Yet there came a few days afterward a re- lenting of the rigorous cold, and the bear’s cousins, the racoons, seemed seized with the mating instinct, and started forth on their peregrinations about the bush, and by their footprints on the snow were tracked by prowling hunters to their temporary visiting dens, and so became victims to the peltry dealer in numerous instances that one became cog- nizant of in this vicinity. About the same time frequent captures of Mephitis Mep- hitica were reported of by the local dealers in raw furs, ete. In general the trappers narrated that the snow tracks revealed that parties of these perfumed quadrupeds had found shelter im underground burrows, whence, after smothering, the quadrupeds were disinterred and skinned, as their furry vest- ment is now at a small premium in the market. In most instances one was assured that the proportion of the sexes in the underground rendezvous was three females to one male, and this latter sex in marks of bitings and scars, ap- peared to have just recently gone through an election contest. The inference, theréfore, seems a safe one that several of our small quadrupeds of the bush incur many dangers cf extermination from this periodic instinct to ramble, and are much in harm’s way, when some of the rodents are safe in the darkness and repose of the cataleptic sleep, as the dor- 7 82 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. mouse, flying squirrel, bat, chipmunk and marmot, and per- haps muskrat. The porcupine and otter that had scarcely any hyber- nating instincts have been exterminated from the earlier set- tled districts of Ontario. The somewhat ungainly rodent, the marmot, arctomys monax (that seems half way between a squirrel and a guinea pig), holds its ground well, despite the extensive changes brought about by land clearing. Does the arctomys instinct of four or five months’ somnolency evince a lingering relic of the reptile in its constitution? People who have kept the groundhog as a pet say that arctomys almost invariably re- tires to frost-proof burrow as soon as the early autumnal frosts have killed the tenderest wild plants, that are the choice tood of this herbivorous rodent, such as the desmodiums, vetches and other leguminosz, and to the list may be addeci some of the convolvulacee, as the pumpkin vine leaves, of which the quadruped is inordinately fond, and their obese state in September, seem to induce sluggishness and som- nolency. A big curve of their vital orbit has been outlined. and travelled through, and the other portion, as indicated by the calendar, is lived out, as it were, “below the horizon.’ ‘The limits seem to be a set time, for some individuals emerge from the winter trance state early in March, whilst the ground is vet snow-laden and suitable food must be far harder to come at than when the lotus-lke forgetfulness came over them; these aberrant individuals, who thus (in appearance) inopportunely wake up, seem to have “slipped a few cogs” in the cataleptic clockwork, but they manage to live on by nibbling the buds of low shrubs and the bark of small saplings, and, like the experimentary 2nd February bear mood, add “a codicil’ extension to the hybernating term. It has been noticed that the marmots have sometimes some of the bodily fat remaining when spring comes, but that they rapidly be- come thin on resuming active life and fulfilling mating in- stincts before even all the snows have disappeared. THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 83 The ground hog, too, requires a partly wooded and partly arable territory to prosper in; he has limited tree- climbing powers, and often seeks security when pursued by enemies by preferably ascending tree hollows, but with mus- cular effort can ascend in about the same ungainly manner as the bear or racoon, some of the rough-barked forest trees, but, like the plantegrade, can only safely descend “rear end first.” The rodent’s brief period of gestation (said to be about 30 days) may show co-relation to the climate where the quad- ruped can so firmly and persistently maintain its status in the chain of organized life. The marmots show foresight and sagacity in the choice of a site for their hybernating burrow, a gravelly ridge in a sheltered part of the forest not likely to be flooded during winter thaw or rains. In summer fields of tall-growing wheat near clover meadows are their homes, and in a drouth they are frequently known to desert their holes on the ridges and knolls and excavate fresh ones in lower levels, where it hus been supposed they can dig to a water supply or to cooler or moister quarters. (This conjecture about digging for water may be untenable; cleanly, or sanitary, reasons seem to carry more probability). To country boys with their dog the ground hog affords much summer sport. The boys say that the marmots have a traverse or excavated enlargement in the interior of their burrow to turn round in, or to make strategic evolutions in, when invaded by an enemy, like mephitis, but that they never or rarely have a rear entrance to their earth fort, but in the fall carry in a supply of soft and dry leaves, and enclose their sanctum with an earthy partition door, but store up no crude food supply, but trust the resources of absorption, as in Bruin’s fable of “sucking his paws.” 84 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. Ill. The genial warmth returned so early this year, March oth, that many supposed (or surmised) that we were about to be visited by a premature spring, but up to this date (April 28th) the result has not fulfilled those apprehensions, and now there are occasional frosty nights that may keep back the fruit blossoms from a too early “setting.” The month of March was almost unprecedented in its mildness, and a number of the hardier feathered visitants appeared here from the 3rl and oth to the 24th. Robins, bluebirds, grackles, killdeers. (plovers) and cranes were seen on the 21st and the phoebe fly catchers on the 2oth. The sugar (maple tree) making had an early beginning. Sap-flowing began on the 8th and oth of March, with a range of the thermometer of from 40 to 65 degrees in the shade. The first ten days of April were colder, yet the dandelion flowers appeared in considerable numbers (on sunny slopes) on Easter Sunday (1oth), and the first scarce fully expanded hepatica flowers were to be seen in the forests on the same day. From the beginning of Easter week there came a cooler wave, with northeast airs. Heavy rains, and chilly breezes on the roth and 2oth retarded farm work for a week or more. More warmth and sunshine eventuated on the 25th and swal- lows promptly appeared and bats were seen on wing in the twilight of evening at the present date (April 28th). Some idea may be formed of the progress of the season from ob- serving that numbers of birds are incubating. Crows were setting two weeks since, and now the phoebes, quails, killdeers (plovers). bluebirds and robins are at the same interesting proceeding. One of my neighbors was regretting the loss of a brood of young goslings which inopportunely emerged from the egg during the violent northeasterly rain storm oi the roth instant, and died of cold, etc., ere seen by their human superintendent. A greater number than normal of thunder storms visited these regions during the past three months, THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 85. and during one, which occurred about 10 p.m. on the 16th March, a valuable barn and contents were thereby set fire to and destroyed. The illumination from which burning buil«d- ing was seen from the spot where I now write (Mr. Landon’s,, ot Burford Township). Many vivid electric flashes occurred, ‘attended with hail, but with only a light rainfall. The farming operations are now about in as advanced a stage as during average seasons, and there seem to be no unpropitious conditions around us thus far. Yesterday, on walking through a half-mile of woodland, I heard the metallic notes of the “chewink”’ in four or five instances, at short in- tervals. Of course their sounds were from four or five indi- vidual birds, indicating that a flock of that species had arrived about there. These are prettily colored and are hardy and strictly sylvan in their habits and associations. The golden-shaited (or golden-quilled) woodpeckers were also much in evidence, but none of the small May warblers,. of which the redstart fly-catcher (S. ruticilla) is generally the pioneer, seem to have yet arrived. The wild gray rabbits have already given evidence of their reproductive powers, our little terrier dog having killed one two weeks since which, on close examination, proved to be on the eve of giving birth to five young ones, and next day the dog cornered another bunny, evidently near its parturition time, but the dog was driven from his intended victim this time. A day or two previous to this the same dog got barking savagely at the end of a hollow log in the bush and his would-be, or wished-for, victim was soon discovered and got at by my son. It proved to be a full-grown ferret, which was safely captured (unhurt) and brought home, and is now contentedly inhabiting a large box in our woodshed. ‘The ferret must have escaped from rabbit hunters, but may have travelled a considerable distance from the possession of its former owners. It is rather pretty and is freely handled by my son without showing any symp- toms of viciousness. 86 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. The renovation (annual) of nature is moving on in pleas- ant “renaissance” and the cathrapalustris, erythronium, dicen- tra, etc., are now in full sway, and seed oats, barley, peas and clover are being energetically deposited in the earth with most hopeful anticipations. | Wee Od ~I THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. REPORM On LEE GROLOCICAL SECTION: To the President, Officers and Members of the Hamilton Association : The Section, in submitting this report for the session of 1897-98, desires to state that the usual interest has been main- tained; that the work of collecting new specimens has been continued during the year by the members; and a large num- ber of specimens has been added to the Museum. Quite a number of boys of the City of Hamilton have taken enthusiastically to the work of collecting Fossils and specimens of Rock, making themselves familiar with the Rock Structure in the vicinity, and the preserved impression of ani- mal remains. ‘This is the best and only way to acquire a cor- rect and lasting impression, as well as a continuance in the pursuit of knowledge pertaining to any branch of Science. These young students of Geology naturally seek counsel. and guidance from our constant and untiring laborer in this particular field (Col. C. C. Grant), who is always delighted to lend such help, and give such encouragement as is necessary to stimulate the energies and develop the mind of the student along the lines of Geological research. The members of the Section had the pleasure of a visit from some of the distinguished and able scholars from Britain and elsewhere who were attending the meeting of the British Association, which met in Toronto during the month of August, 1897. All who visited the Museum were pleased to find such a large collection of Fossil Sponges and Graptolites obtained from the rock formation represented here. There has been added from time to time a number of new specimens of Graptolite and Sponges, as well as other varie- ties collected from the Clinton and Niagara formation and the ‘ 88 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. Barton beds. Some of the Lingula from the Clinton beds: show the rich natural coloring of the original shell, some of them being new to science. Col. C. C. Grant drew the attention of the Section to a work recently published by Mr. Schuchardt, of the Geological Department at Washington, D.C., who deals largely with the present nomenclature of Paleontology, suggesting a revision of the whole classification, removing some classes altogether, and even families, transferring them to altogether different genua from those to which the student of science has associated them ‘in the past, the adoption pf which would involve an immense amount of labor to the section. A very interesting fact was brought before the Section on Noy. 26, 1807, when Mr. A. E. Walker, the Chairman, exhibited a specimen of a fossil Parasite adhering to a fossil specimen of Bryozoon, and recently a living Parasite of the same genus was found adhering to a living Bryozoon, closely allied to the fossil specimen. As is variously stated by Geolo- gists, millions of years have passed since the fossil specimen had performed the functions of an organized being. There have been five meetings held during the term, at all of which papers of interest have been read. Following are the dates and the subiects: November 26—Geological Notes, by Col. C. C. Grant. February 4—Geological Notes, continued, by Col. C. C. Grant. February 25—The Lost Atlantis, by Col. C. C. Grant. March 25—The Lost Atlantis, by Col. C. C. Grant. April 22—The Lost Atlantis, by Col. C. C. Grant. OT. NE PEM) Secretary: THE HAMILTON ASSGCIATION. S9 GEOLOGICAL NOTES. Read before the Geological Section. BY COL. C. C. GRANT. It has been customary for some years at the opening ses- sion of this section to bring to the notice of the members any- thing new that came under observation regarding the geology and paleontology of the district. The papers on the former subject by Profs. Spencer, F.G.S., “Kennedy” and “Wilkins” and others, have so completely exhausted the matter that one finds some difficulty in discovering anything omitted worthy of notice. However, a recent visit to Grimsby satisfied me that in some instances things have been unrecorded. For instance, the variation in the thickness of the Upper Green Clinton lay- ers at Hamilton and GrimSby I may remark here, this is also perceptible on comparing the Upper Clinton beds at the Jolley Cut, near the Hancock quarry, with the ones at “The Bluff,” a little beyond the City Reservoir. You will find the lowest wedge-shaped sandstone bed at the former varying from 9 to 4 or 5 inches at the thin end, while at “the Cliff” above the railway track the same layer is not unfrequently mistaken for the thick Niagara Limestone bed, known to quar- rymen as “The Niggerhead.” I have on several occasions ob- tained from the surface of blocks which had been detached and rolled down the slope, when the frost was disappearing there, specimens of “Lingule.” They are difficult to extract, since the matrix bears a close resemblance to Quartzite, and unless they put in an appearance on the very edge of the block, only a heavy sledge or chisel, worked patiently for a considerable time, will afford perhaps a rather indifferently preserved Brachiopod, which undoubtedly may be classified with ‘“Lin- gula Oblonga” Conrad, so numerous in the Iron band, and \ 90 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. red shales below. Ina former Paper I think published in the Proceedings, | called attention to the boulder clay resting on the Niagara chert, as also underlying the Burlington Heights. The Antient Lake Iroquois Beach of Dr. Spencer I omitted to state. It may be found also at the foot of “The Escarp- ment’ whenever landslides take place there. It is well known to the section that the Glacial Grooves, scratches, etc., are nearly at right angles with the axis ci Lake Ontario, in this neighborhood, on the brow of the so- called Mountain. Dr. G. J. Hinde remarked Scratches (Glacial) corresponding with the axis at both extremities of Ontario, and inferred from this fact the excavation of the lake itself was effected by glacial action. ‘The late Dr. Newberry considered “A Pre-glacial Valley determined the direction of the continental glacier. Ina Paper read before the American Philosophical Society, in 1881, by Dr. Spencer, F.G.S., on the Origin of the Lower Great Lakes, the author remarks: “Only in one instance, at Hamilton, have I noticed glacial scratches and polishing corresponding with the axis of the Lake and submerged Valley.” The place referred to was a projecting ledge of Medina Sandstone at the Russell Quarry, under “The Mountain View Hotel.” I was with him at the time, but an old friend of mine called my attention previously to this mark- ing on more than one quarry (since worked out) to the east of the place in question. In every instance I noticed scratch- ing and polishing, but not grooving, such as you may see when the soil and boulder clay are removed from the glaciated chert beds on the Niagara Escarpment. While Dr. Spencer has, [| think, proved the existence of a great river and pre-glacial valley in this neighborhood, perhaps he may find it more diffi- cult to convince many Geologists in Canada that the late Dr. Newberry was quite mistaken in his views respecting glacial action on this continent, when Director of the Ohio Survey. The Report on the Surface Geology of this State, especially that portion respecting “the Origin of the Great Lakes Erie, Ontario,” etc., is of great interest now, when we find such a difference of opinion regarding this point among Field Geolo- THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. : OI t gists. Dr. Newberry states as follows: “All our Great Lakes are probably very ancient, as since the close of the Devonian period the area they occupy has never been submerged beneath the ocean.” “That they have been filled with ice, and that ‘ice formed great moving glaciers we may consider proved.” “The West End of Lake Erie may be said to be carved out of corniferous limestone by ice action as its bottom, and sides and islands—horizontal, vertical, and even overhanging surfaces—are all furrowed by glacial grooves, which are par- allel with the major axis of the Lake.” “This, at least, may be positively asserted in regard to the agency of ice in the excavation of the lake basins, that their bottom and sides wherever exposed to observation, if com- posed of ‘resistant materials,’ bear indisputable evidence of ice action, proving that these basins were filled by moving glaciers in the last Ice period, if never before, and that part at least of the erosion by which they were formed is due to these gla- ciers.’ [underscore this paragraph in Dr. Newberry’s Report Geological Survey of Ohio, because it expresses the same view as I held when my Regiment (the Bedfordshires) was en- camped at Fort Erie during the Fenian troubles in 1866. If think I remarked two sets of strie near the exit of the Lake, shallow scratches and polishing along its axis, and deeper grooving in the direction corresponding nearly with one Barton local chert strie. The latter I attributed to the Great Continental Glacier. When this arrived at the boundary, or walls, of the pre-glacial valley, a portion was deflected proba- bly. The Lake put forth then, pursued the course where little resistance was encountered, filling the valleys of Erie and On- tario and pushing on before it many of the fragmentary rocks of “The Hudson River Series,’ combed out of the North Shore near Toronto. ‘These water-worn shales, pebbles, re- arranged subsequently on the shore of the ancient Lake Beach (Irrequois), formed its western boundary. Ina former Paper published in our Proceedings | pointed out some of the recent ; Q2 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. changes of the Southern portion of the Ontario Shore near Winona, where the Lake is rapidly encroaching on the lanl. As far as I know, no Field Geologist has noted the sub-aerial changes taking place in the Niagara Escarpment here, and its recession at several points, despite the protection afforded by the vegetation, grasses, etc. when the rocks were laid bare and exposed as the glacier retreated. This must have been a pow- erful agent in land, and rock degradation, and its agency was probably sufficient to remove the entire face of the Escarp- ment. For even since the small reservoir was excavated, almost annually, tons of material which fall from the Clinton Series: above it are removed by the, city, 1 regret Dr! Pettit, of Grimsby, was laid up by illness last summer and unable to point out the place in the ravine where he had noticed “Gla- cial Scratches,” etc., on the face of the cliffs corresponding io its axis. ORGANIC REMAINS. The Barton Niagaras during the past collecting season afforded no new species, but some fine slabs were obtained from “The Waterlime Beds” above “The Albion Mills,” con- taining apparently Plant Remains, alluded to in our local cata- logue, “Niagara Fossils.” Specimens were forwarded “The Redpath Museum, Montreal,” and furnished to Dr. Ami, F.G.S., Canadian Geological Survey, Assist.Palzontologist, on his recent visit to Hamilton. ‘The base of the Barton Shale, near the City Drain, resting on the chert, afforded me a fine Brachiopod Rhynchonella Tennesseensis Roemer. Dr. Hall found one and gave it the same name, which slightly differs, a variety perhaps. He renames it ‘“Uncenulas Stricklandi.” It may be. It would be necessary to obtain both originals for comparison to be certain as to which it belongs. The Niagara Chert, as usual, displayed some “New Grap- tolites,”’ and the Glaciated Flint Flakes (Chert) in the field, close to “the Corporation Drain,” presented a few ‘“Bryo- zoons,”’ “Fenestelledz,”’ and ‘“Cladopore.” A small parcel of the latter was given to Prof. Ami, who remarked, on one ot THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 93 the branches, that striated epitheca was preserved. This ap- pars to be very rare. In the chert it escaped my notice in this instance, and out of several scores of specimens obtained I can only recall two cases where it was preserved. Dr. Jas. Hall, who founded “The Genus” and described it as ‘‘a Coral composed of a series of tubes, or cells, radiating equally on all sides from the axis, and apparently destitute of septa, or rays. This corresponds with its general appearance here, when the epitheca was not preserved. Indeed, then, it resembles a branching “Cheteetes,” or “Monticulipora,” rather. Nicholson, in “The Paleontology of Ontario,’ states: We are unable, 59 far as our specimens enable us to judge, to separate the forms referred to, ‘“Cladopora,”’ from Favosites. The Pro- fessor’s were obtained in Niagara Limestones (two species only, as far as I can see). He was not likely to find either well preserved in this material, and neither “Hall” or “Nich- olson” mention an E/pitheca, so we may infer this feature was unknown to them. Prof. Foorde, former Assistant Palzontol- ogist Canadian Geological Survey, considered “‘Cladopora’” belonged to “the Monticuliporide.” So you may perceive a difference of opinion exists regarding it. Dr. Ami received a small collection from “the Glaciated Chert,” which may throw a little light on this obscure “Family Group.” There are sev- eral forms probably undescribed yet. The Chert (flint flakes) near the Corporation Drain presented some fragments of “a Cornulites,” which I have not seen figured. Outwardly it bears a near resemblance to a dwarfed “Orthoceras.” .This is deceptive. Other fragments likewise obtained display nei- ther ‘“Septa” or “Syphencle,” but a hollow tube inside, or in some cases, one filled with darker chert; so no doubt can ex- ist regarding the classification. On the whole the organic re- mains there were disappointing, since the removal of “The Indian Corn” last Autumn, and few rare fossils were found. The same may be said of the Niagara Limestones in our local uarries. They presented merely a few New Graptolites, per- haps. O4 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. THE CLINTON SERIES. During the past Summer, when staying at Winona Park, I paid several visits to “The Gibson Quarries,” formerly work- ed there and now abandoned, in order to secure (chiefly) as many portable Upper Clinton Slabs as possible displaying Dr. Hall’s Fucoid “Arthrophyeus Harlani.” Many specimens vere obtained in fine preservation for the Redpath Museum _ and general distribution. One in the side case of the Museum, to which I may call particular attention, clearly proves how er- roneous it was to suppose that any “‘Crustacean” or “Anne- lid” could ever have produced the impression on the flags, when the lobed nodules on the surface extend to the sides of the branches also. A single branch displaying a tuft of others at the extremity has been placed in an upper case of the Mu- seum. The Iron Band of the series afforded an interesting “Lamelli Branch.” It appears to be a species of Conrad's “Leiopteria,” that has only been found in higher beds, and in the absence of “the Type Species” for comparison, it would be very unsafe to rely altogether on mere verbal description, more especially since we have only the impression of “a flat- tened single valve.” A large slab containing several branches and portions of the main stem of Hall’s Fucoid ‘“Buthotrephis” was extracted from the lower Green Band and placed ina side case with a few other Fossils of local interest. The Medina Beds presented nothing new. Ina work by Professor C. Schuchert, Washington, a great many alterations have been made recently in the nomenclature of “the Brachio- pods” by the Chief Palzontologists of “the United States,” under the sanction of “the Director General of the Survey, C. D. Walcott. If the changes intimated are generally ac- cepted for the reasons assigned, this section cannot lag behin¢ recent discoveries which. led to it, and must conform also. Probably some of the men attending the lately established College here from other parts of the Dominion may wish to THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 95 become members of the Geological Section of the Hamilton Association. We must impress on them that while success or failure in collecting local organic remains greatly depends on accidental circumstances, it is absolutely necessary to know the places where Fosils are found, and also the Fossilif- erous beds in the different quarries. This would save much disappointment. Some of the layers seldom or never present organic remains, and time is lost in a fruitless search. The writer would be pleased to have an opportunity of pointing out likely localities to any one wishing for information regarding the Geology of the District, and has put aside a few character- astic fossils for an enquirer’s acceptance. 96 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. CHOCO GICAL NOME s CONAN Ui: Read before the Geological Section. BY COL C. €. GRANT. Much of the ignorance regarding Geological matters in Canada ‘tis said. may be attributed to the influence of the published sermons and theological writings of the clergy of a former age. The Honorable Dr. A. D. White, ex-President Cornell University, in his “Chapters on the Warfare of. science,” notices that even so recently as the eighteenth cen- tury we find how such great and good men as “John Wes- ley,” “Adam Clarke,’ and “Richard Watson,” in Geology, were hopelessly fettered by the mere letter of Scripture and by a temporary phase in theology. Now, we must not forget all our Christian Churches in Wesley’s time held similar beliefs, as expressed, regarding Witchcraft, Comets, Earthquakes, How Death Came Into the World, The Six Days’ Creation, etc. If one wishes to learn something of the views universally entertained, then we can consult the work of the United States Ambassador. the Honorable A. D. White. I find the Papers. to which I refer have recently been published in England in book form (in the States, also, I suppose). I cannot say whether the scattered writings of the late Dr. Huxley have as vet assumed a similar shape. That they are important factors in dispelling theological superstition hitherto entertained is evident. His Grace of Argyle, who was put forward to oppose Huxley, appears to have fared even worse in the conflict than Archbishop McGee. He now frankly confesses he abandons the position he held regarding the Antiquity of Man, being convinced it was untenable. In the warfare of Science to-day she possesses the gates of her enemies. Her opponents may for a brief period endeavor to retard her progress; her ulti- mate triumph is assured. THE HAMILTON ASSCCIATION. 97 Already we find a powerful body of the Church of Eng- land known as “the Broad Church” party, while accepting the historical accuracy of the Jewish records from the time of Abraham, prepared to abandon as non-historical the events of an earlier period. They would save the battered hull of Ec- clesiasticism by flinging part of the cargo overboard. The little interest taken in Scientific matters here was - clearly shown when the British Association for the Advance- ment of Science recently visited Toronto. While full reports of the proceedings of the different sections appeared in the daily papers of that city, the Hamilton ones did not afford a single column for the purpose. Why should they? The edi- tors aid managers were well aware that their respective read- ers, aS a general rule, took little interest in things of that sort, and therefore abstained from publishing what they felt an en- lightened public in this city did not require. The splendid address of the new President of the British Association (Sir John Evans), I find, has been published in pamphlet form, a copy of which I received from Toronto since its delivery. Perhaps among the many Old World Geologists and Antiquarians you cannot find a more cautious Scientist than the distinguished one selected to fill the Presidency of “the British Association.” If even a particle of doubt exists, he is only too ready to put forth the verdict of ‘““Not Proven,” and to counsel we had better await further development. He may as aty individual be perfectly satisfied as regards the cor- rectness of the views of others submitted for investigation, but he never fails to impress on his hearers the absolute necessity of slowly and surely proceeding in scientific matters. To take nothing for granted, but seek proof which admits of no denial and which cannot be by any possibility evaded. Once satisfied that he stands on firm ground, he fearlessly expresses himself, utterly indifferent to hostile criticism. ‘The proofs adduced at Toronto regarding the Antiquity of Man were so irresistible that no attempt at refutation has been attempted, I believe. Are the clergy of our day less fettered by old tra- ditional beliefs than their predecessors? It may be so. One 98 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. may notice greater liberality in all denominations to-day, less imclination to substitute abuse for argument, an avoidance of » such a term as “Infidel,” which was so lavishly bestowed or Sir Chas. Lyle and several others by the champions of Or- thodoxy formerly. “In' New Chapters in the Warfare _ of Science” (A. D. White), ex-Principal of Cornell University, to which I have referred already, he states: “It is a duty and “a pleasure to mention here that one great Christian scholar “did honor to religion and to himself by quietly accepting “the claims of science and making the best of them, despite ‘all these clamors.” That man was Nicholas Wiseman, who afterwards .became Cardinal Wiseman. The older Church had learned by her earlier mistakes, especially in the cases of Copernicus and Galileo, what dangers to her claim for infallibility lay in meddling with a growing science. He also notes an article by a Catholic gentleman (St. George Mivart), in the Nineteenth Century, July, 1885, in which this passage occurs, viz.: God allowed the Pope and the Church to fall into this grievous error, which has cost so dear, in order to show once for all that the Church has no right to decide ques- tions in Science. I wonder if other churches are now profit ing by these examples. It seems rather surprising to the writer that some of the statements passed unchallenged; that not even a mild protest was forthcoming. The churchmen of “Toronto the Good” apparently are as ready to cast aside Jewish traditions as the Bampton Lecturer (of Huxley), who. said: “We most of us remember when in this country (Eng- land) 'the whole story of the Exodus and even the legend of Jonah, the fabrication of Eve, were seriously placed before boys as history and discoursed as dogmatically as Agincourt or the Norman Conquest. All this is now changed; the whole world of history has been revolutionized ; the mythology which embarrassed earnest Christians has vanished as an evil mist.” We may notice while Sir John Evans clearly proves that man existed in England in even pre-glacial times, as was shown by recent cave discoveries where human implements and bones were found mixed with the remains of animals now confined THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 99 to the African Continent, and while he sees reasons for accept- ing the discovery of Paleolithic implements in the ancient pleistocenes ot india, mingled with the bones of the extinct animals of that age, he abstains from pronouncing any opinion regarding the recent interesting discoveries in British Colum- bia and elsewhere on the American Continent. Although the matter is still under discussion, the evidence adduced already seems strongly to prove the existence of mankind here also in pre-glacial times, and perhaps even as far back as “ The Pleistocene,’ since Whitney’s discoveries in California have been since confirmed by Prof. Alfred Russell Wallace, who was perfectly satisfied the claim was well founded, and that human remains were buried under a flow of lava of the age in question. IT have not yet seen a reliable account of Professor Skertchlv’s discoveries in British Columbia. He is credited with asserting the relics he obtained there are as ancient as any in Europe. I was perfectly satisfied when quartered at Gibraltar in 1846-7 that the Rock must have been joined to the African Continent, from whence it derived its tailless Monkeys, Por- cupines, etc. I was also aware that at one time animals from the Dark Continent overspread Europe, but until Sir J. Evans produced evidence of the fact, I never imagined proof could be found of man’s existence at such an early period. I knew human remains were mixed with those of the Bear, Elephant, Reindeer, in caves. This may lead only to the probability of man’s presence in “Glacial” or “Interglacial” times. I recently noticed in a United States Scientific Journal that Professors Scheuchert and White had arrived at Washing- ton with a large collection of organic remains from Green- land for the Smithsonian Institute. Through the writings of Oswald Heer, Nordensjold, we learn Greenland yields “Carboniferous Triassic,” “Iurassic’’ Fossils, pointing to a tropical climate. The Cretaceous Rocks there indicate a sub- tropical one, probably. But the Miocene Flora of Disco, etc., is its more interesting feature. Where on earth can we find 100 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. such an assemblage of land plants of the age as these? Only think of the numbers (nearly 200 species) made known to us already, extracted from exposed strata of exceedingly limited extent. Sequois, resembling the gigantic trees of California, appear to be very numerous. ‘Tree Ferns and Magnolias, such as may be seen in Jamaica, seem mixed with Laurel, Beech, Elm, Oak, etc. The modern flowering plants, Lich- ens, etc.. bear a marked recemblance to the Flora of North Europe, strong confirmation of the opinion held by the writer that a land connection existed recently, geologically speaking, between Europe and America. The Hamilton Association recently honored a Canadian lady here (and reflected honor on itself also) by unanimously electing her one of its “honorary members.” A Conchologist, she has collected from Seas, Lakes and Rivers the beautiful and valuable assemblage (duly named and labelled), which we all appreciate. The lady did not confine her researches to “Natural History Objects,’ for you may notice how much she was interested in Antiquarian matters, and also from the extensive collection of “Mound Builders” and other “Indian Relics” in one of the cases. Not long since she wished to obtain some pieces of “Mexican Native Pottery,” which can- not be had here, so she requested a dealer in the States to forward the articles in question to her. On their arrival, as imported “Crockery,” a high duty. was placed on them, I pre- sume, to encourage the manufacture of Antiques in the Do- minion. The writer some time ago required an old “Japanese Sword,” which he found could not be got in Canada (of course), so he procured one from the State of “New York.” It was on arrival (mind you, an ancient second-hand article), liable to a duty of 30 per cent, because it came under the head cf “Imported Arms!” Such facts require no comments. They prove, however, to the outside world what little reason Cana- dians have in boasting of progress in Scientific research, as claimed at Toronto recently. That claim has no foundation, as far as the Federal Government was concerned, “The Pro- vincial Parliament” displayed at least a little more liberality. THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. IOI sitet ey ©) Si AuIsle AUNGE TiS: Read before Geological Section. By, (COM. Cel GRAND. Did it ever exist, or did the Roman Naturalist, Pliny, sim- ply express a popular belief among his countrymen in his time regarding its submergence? Can any reliable proof be pro- duced of such a fearful catastrophe as the destruction of an inhabited continent in the North Atlantic? No satisfactory ‘answer, perhaps, can be given to the above questions. Herbert Spencer, who is looked upon by many as the greatest Philosopher of the age, some years since arrived st the conclusion “that all Myths appear to have a foundation in fact.” In our own days we find many instances of the elevation or depression of the earth’s crust in several places, as for in- stance at the mouth of “the Indus,’ where a large tract oi country was submerged, with its villages and fort in 18109, while another tract known as “the Ullah Bund” (God’s gift) was elevated. Again, in 1822, about 100 miles of the Coast of Chili was raised from four to six feet. Yet more recently is- lands in the North Pacific, with their inhabitants, disappeared altogether.Independent of the few out of the many sudden changes enumerated, all Geologists know that a gradual ele- vation or depression is taking place at the present moment in various localities. The late Sir C. Lyell discovered instances of this kind of elevation along the shores of the Baltic, where places which a century ago were at sea level, are now several feet above it. In this case the rise has been noted since 1820, and it amounts to some inches. At the North Short of Anti- costi, in rear of the settlement at “English Bay,” the writer traced an ancient beach containing portions of the skeleton of 102 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. a large whale buried in the shingle. One vertebra alone was a fair weight for a man to carry. A large Archain boulder (in front of the village) which formerly was completely ‘under water at low tide, is now uncovered, and even a portion of the shore outside it exposed. The old fisher folk there imagined the sea had receded about two feet in 30 years. The falling of the water, however, is a manifest impossibility, as the relative levels of the sea and land outside were unaltered. Not long since, Dr. Spencer, F.G.S., who has more carefully studied the Field Geology of the Niagara District than any of us, posi- tively asserts that changes are even here progressing in the vicinity of Lake Ontario, which may threaten the stability cf the Ambitious City of Hamilton itself. Well, it may be so, put what changes have taken place since our Niagara Rocks became dry land, countless ages ago. No violent action in the earth’s crust here has put in an appearance. No earthquake has ever impressed its presence on its undislocated, undisturb- ed and untilted rocks. Elsewhere you will find massive beds which once lay horizontally on ancient sea bottoms, elevated and presenting the opposite position. You may think it perhaps an unpardonable omission on my part not to instance the case of Port Royal, in Jamaica, which was said to be swallowed up by an earthquake in 1602. I know the place in question. Its destruction was not owing to the sinking of the earth crust there, in the usual manner. hut to a series of tidal waves (caused by an earthquake), which washed away the loose sandy beach on which the inhabitants erected churches and foundationless dwellings. The ancient Port Royal (like the modern one, of same name), was built on this spit of sand called “The Palisades,” from the timber wharfs and crib work, piles, etc., used by the inhabitants to prevent the material thrown up by the sea from disappearing. There was sufficient water at the wharf to al- low vessels of 700 tons to come alongside. Sir H. dela Reche, one of the best Field Geologists of his day (the Director of the: British Geological Survey), who was well acquainted with Jamaica, remarks: “Had it been a general subsidence the THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 103 “ Fort and rocks adjoining must have disappeared with the “rest.” (They were not disturbed.). To a landsman the harbors of Port Royal with its “Keys” and Coral Reefs, seem difficult of access. The writer retains rather a faint recollec- tion of the well known “Mangrove” Bushes along the lowland coast of the Island, which appeared to reclaim from Neptune's Dominion a portion of the territory lost, perhaps in other times, when “the West India Islands” were part and parcel of the American Continent. Sir Henrv de la Reche noticed the Devonian Conglom- erates of Jamaica. An isolated patch occurs near Komoka, Ont., and it appears strange to recognize it in such distant places. Detached rounded fragments occur below “‘the Fails of Niagara’ on the Canadian side. The proprietor of a Sugar Estate in Jamaica told an amusing story of a Naval Officer who had been stationed at Port Royal. On his return from “the West Indies” he spent his leave down in Devon- shire with his two maiden aunts. They were anxious to hear all about the Island, particularly the Botanical features. He informed them that one tree there produced the butter which the military men used for breakfast and called “Subaltern Butter.’ The ladies had heard of “the milk in the cocoanut,” so they may not have been so much astonished to learn that another tree presented a more finished production. “Twas only natural. But when he added “the Mangrove trees there fur- nish crops of Oysters,” their graceless nephew fell considera- bly in their estimation, and they expressed their belief that the Royal Navy appeared to have but a limited regard for veracity. The inocent-looking Midshipman (so the story goes) felt a little indignant at the manner in which his Island experience was received by his near relations, and congratu- lated himself on abstaining from asserting that “Washing Soap” used by the colored population of the Island largely was obtained from a species of land plant growing there. How- ever, seeing he had little hope of regaining his Aunts’ good epinion, he concluded to reel off a regular sailor’s yarn and ascertain what effect that would produce on his relations. So: 104 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. he mentioned when the ship he was in previously was stationed in the Red Sea, they were _ surprised to find on weighing an- chor a bronze wheel entangled in it, which the Chaplain on board assured them must have belonged to one of the War Chariots of the Host of King Pharaoh that perished there. () how interesting! Maria, does not that confirm all we read about regarding the escape of the children of Israel from the cruel Egyptians?” So this modern Ananias contrived to get restored to the good graces of his relatives—by a fluke. One of the most remarkable discoveries of the early Eng- lish Geologists was what is known as “the dirt beds” of the Wealden Group, Isle of Portland, more recently recognized at Weymouth, also in France, Germany, etc. The Marine Lime- stone on which they rest-is called ‘The Oolite.’”’ When this was raised up and became dry land a tropical climate prevailed in England and a sufficient soil had accumulated on its sur- face to enable the rich Flora of the period to flourish abund- antly. ‘Tropical in its nature, viz., Cycadeoidee,’’ etc., re- marks de la Reche, who furnishes me with the following ex- tract taken from his Geological Manual, third edition: “This “land was then depressed ; but so tranquilly that the vegetable “soil, mixed with a few pebbles from the subjacent rock, was “not washed away: neither were the trees considerably dis- placed, but they were left in much the same way as we have “seen other trees in the submarine forests which surround “ Great Britain in various places and occur on the Coast of “France. Like them also, the trees of the dirt bed are found, “some prostrate, others inclined, and others nearly in the po- “sition in which they grew, the upright portions being partly “imbedded in the limestone strata above. There is nothing “singular in the gradual depression of land. This has hap- “pened at various periods.” A good many years ago the writer received from Sir W. Dawson, then Principal of McGill University, an able Paper on“ The Geneses and Migrations of Plants.”” Through his kind- ness on former occasions I was indebted to him chiefly for the little knowledge he acquired of Devonian Fossil Land Plants, = THE HAMILTON “ASSOCIATION. 105, etc. The late Dr. Asa Grey noticed nearly forty years ago the relationship existing between the Modern Flora of Japan and North America. Dr. A. Henry more recently claims that the “Tulip Tree” of China is identical with the American one.} As regards the Geographical distribution of land plants on this Northern Continent, it bristles with physical difficulties, remarks Sir William. Indeed the same may be said of the Fauna. He then gives an account from a lecture by the late Dr. Asa Grey on Forest Geography and Archeology, pub- lished in the American Journal of Science, xvi., 1878, and taking the following as his text, he imparts to his readers most valuable information on “The Geneses and Migration of Land Plants from Mesozoic times until now. “I can only say at large that the same species of Tertiary Fossil Plants have been found. all round the world; that the richest and most extensive finds are in Greenland; that they comprise most of the sorts which I have spoken of as American trees which once lived in Eu- rope—Magnolias, Sassafras, Hickories, Gum Trees, Southern Cypress, and especially Sequoias, not only the two which obviously answer to the two Big Trees now peculiar to California, but several others. We have evidence not merely of “Pines”: and “Maples,” “Poplars,” “Beeches,” “Lindens,” so like those of out own time and coun- try that we may fairly reckon them as the ancestors of several of ours. We appear to be within the limits of scientific infer- ence when we announce that our existing temperate trees came from the North. Remains of the same plant have been found fossil, in our temperate region, as well- as in Europe.” Commenting on this extract, Sir W. Dawson remarks: “The truly Eocene Flora of the temperate and Northern parts of America has so many species in common with that called “Miocene” in Greenland that its identity can scarcely be doubt- ed. This “Eocene Flora” established itself in Greenland anil probably all around the Arctic Circle in the warm period of the early Eocene, and as the climate of the Northern hemisphere became gradually reduced from that time to the end of “the Pliocene.” it marched on over both continents to the South, 106 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. chased behind by the modern “Arctic Flora,” and eventually by the frost and snow of the Glacial Age.” The causes which led to the latter coincide with Sir Charles Lyell’s views. Woodward, in “The Manual of the Mollusca,” under the head “Land Shells, Canadian Region,” states: “‘It is chiefly re- ““markable for the presence of a few European species which “strengthen the evidence of a land passage across the North “ Atlantic, having remained until after the epoch of the exist- “ing animals and plants.” Professor E. Forbes, the famous Edinburgh Naturalist, referring to the Boreal Sea Shells com- mon to Europe and North America, out of 140 examined, found more than half common to Europe. He adds: Many of the species, it is believed, could only have extended their range, so distantly by means of continuous lines of connecting ‘coast, now no longer existing. Sir John Richardson, speak- ing of “The Cod and Turbot Tribe (common to both contin- ents), remarks: Most of “the Gadoidea” feed at the bottom, so their great diffusion ought not to be attributed to migration from their native haunts, it is probable they never wander out of soundings into “the mid sea’; they seem analagous 1D), J. D. Macdonald, M. D. 5 1D. M. D. 1885|Rev. C. H. Mockridge, M. A., D. D. 1886|Rev. C. H. Mockridge, 1887|Rev. S. Lyle, B. D 1888]Rev. S. Lyle, B. D 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 M. A., D. D. see ee 1B, 18, Choavsttcm, 6. cocone IBopk Clanton tetctec A. Alexander, F. S. Sc.. A. Alexander, F. S. Sc.. A. Alexander, F. S. Sc. . Sb 1aMeese ieee.ao 5 duhoc ALe as Neill 22 eee eal Niet ice. oseeecy ae A. Alexander, F. S. Sc.. T. W. Reynoids, M. D. Olam Ie, MM IDE, 1% IR. Cas: kev. W. Ormiston, D.D. Jeb wElinlibunt ye MEAS Ib ive 1). aa Wichmann errr nen J. B. Hurlburt, M. LL. D. Judge Logie A., H. B. Witton, J. M. Buchan, M. J. M. Buchan, J. M. Buchan, M.A.... W. . A. IRS Bs Nalewgay Ieiny ID). 6 P. Wright, B. E. Charlton B. E. Charlton H. B. Witton IRNEVir Os alvin aateciet eke T. J. W. Burgess, M. B. If, IRS Sie E IPS Ja We Burgess, M. B. F.R. S.C. J. Alston Moffat A. T. Neill A. T. Neill Wate Ro INCU 66 ceoccon A. T. Neill T. W. Reynolds, M. D. T. W. Reynolds, M. D. Ws A. ee ee cee ee .|Richard Bull SECOND VICE-PRES. J. B. Hulburt, M. A., Thy 1D J. B. Hulburt, M. A., ILL, 1D); Chas. Robb Rey. W. Ormiston, D. D. Rev. W. Inglis, D. D.. Richard Bull ecco rs ee oe ee ee tee ene J. A. Mullin, M.D.... H. B. Witton Romo S106 0 Rev. C. H. Mockridge, IMIG JAXo5 1D); 1D), W. Kennedy Matthew Leggat...... W. A. Childs, M. A... W. A. Childs, M. A... J. Alston Moffat Cr Cc ir ry . W. Reynolds, M. D. . W. Reynolds, M. D. A. E. Walker A. E. Walker BEARERS Cor. SEc. | Rec. SECY. T. C. Keefer, C. E. T. C. Keefer, C. E. T. C. Keefer, C. EB. Wm. Craigie, M. D. Wm. Craigie, M. D. J. M. Buchan, M.A. J. M. Buchan, M.A. Geo. Dickson, M.A. Geo. Dickson, M.A. Geo. Dickson, M.A. R. B. Hare, Ph. D. . Dickson, M.A. . Dickson, M.A. . Dickson, M.A. . Dickson, M.A. Geo. Dickson, M.A. Geo. Dickson, M.A. Hi. B. Witton, B. A. H. B. Witton, B. A. H. B. Witton, B. A. H. B. Witton, B. A. Thos. Morris, Jr.... Thos. Morris, Jr.... W. McG. Logan, B. A. W. McG. Logan, By AY Rev. J. H . C. Herriman, M. D. Thos. Morris, Jr... TREAS LIBR. AND CUR. Wan. Craigie, MADS|\W. bl) Parks... 2... A. Harvey. Wim: Craigie, M.D.)W. H. Park........ A. Harvey. Wm. Craigie, M.D.|W. H. Park........ jA Harvey. Wm. Craigie, M.D.|W. H. Park........ Chas. Robb. Wm. Craigie, M.D.|\W. H. Park........ T. MclIlwraith. I. B. McQuesten,|W. G. Crawford..../T. MclIlwraith. M. A. I. B. McQuesten,|\W. G. Crawford....!T. McIlwraith. M. A. ; Geo. Dickson, M.A.|Richard Bull ...... T. Mcllwraith. Geo. Dickson, M.A.|Richard Bull ...... T. Mcllwraith. Geo. Dickson, M.A./A. Macallum, M.A.|T. MclIlwraith. Geo. Dickson, M.A.|Richard Bull ...... A. T. Freed. A. Robinson, M. D.|Richard Bull .....- W.H. Ballard, M. A. Wm. Kennedy...... Richard Bull ...... W. H. Ballard, M. A. Wm. Kennedy...... Richard Bull...... W. H. Ballard, M. A. A. Alexander...... Richard Bull...... Wm. Turnbull. A. Alexander ..... Richard Bull...... A. Gaviller. A. Alexander...... Richard Bull ..... A. Gaviller. 1B SotSXe5 A. Alexander ...... Richard Bull?) 7.32: A. Gaviller. 1g Se Sie A. Alexander ..... Richards Bull {ese A. Gaviller. IF Se S@s A. Alexander...... Rvchanciebs tllieeerye A. Gaviller. F. S. Sc. | A. Alexander...... Richard Bull ...... A. Gaviller. Hs Sp Se: A. W. Stratton,B.A.|Richard Bull ...... A. Gaviller and G. M. Leslie. C. R. McCulloch...|Richard Bull ..... A. Gaviller and | G. M. Leslie. S. A. Morgan, B.A.|Thos. Morris, Jr....|A. Gaviller and S. A. Morgan, B.A. S. A. Morgan, B.A. S. A. Morgan, B.A., B. Paed. S. A. Morgan, B.A., B. Paed. S. A. Morgan, B.A., B. Paed. W. Chapman. . Morris, Jr....|A. Gaviller and W. Chapman. Ml \A. Gaviller and W. Chapman. A. Gaviller and H. S. Moore. AY Gaviller and H. S. Moore. oe Aes Gawvaller: Thos J. M. Burns. IP. Ikp SSBWwON, so0'es P. L. Scriven P. L. Scriven. MEMBEKS OF COUNCI: 1857—-Judge Logie; *Geo. We Reid) 9G. 1H7; AP Bamnciaee Freeland. 1858-—Judge Logie; C. Freeland; Rev. W. Inglis, D. D.; Adam Brown ; C. Robb. 18s59—Rev. D. Inglis, D. D.; Adam Brown; Judge Logie ; C. Freeland ; Richard Bull. 1860——]. Bi urlburt, M.A) sD ] Hreeland: sje Logie ; Richard Bull ; Wm. Boultbee ; Dr. Laing. 1871-—Geo. Lowe Reid, "C. Ey; Rev..W. 2) Wright, oie A. Macallum, M. A. ; A. Strange, M. D.; Rev. A. B. Simpson. 1872—Judge Proudfoot; Rev. W. P. Wright, M. A.; John Seathy Gl. Aci EL) Cameron ss) Aad, reed. 1873—Judge Logie; T. Mcllwraith; Rev. W. P. Wright, M. A.; A. Alexander ; I. B. McQuesten, M. A. 1874—Judge Logie; T. Mcllwraith; Rev. W. P. Wright, M. A.; A. Alexander ; I. B. McQuesten, M. A. 1875—Judge Logie; T. Mcllwraith; Rev. W.: P. Wright, M. A.; A. Alexander ; I. B. McQuesten, M. A. 1880—M. Leggat; I. B. McQuesten, M. A.: A. Alexander ; Rey) As Bunnse Mi. Ax alee): 10): ToSi——1. Mellwraith ; “He )B: Witton); aA. “ey Preed apex. W. P. Wright, M. A.; A. F. Forbes. 1992-1) Mellwraith= “Et. Bie Witton 35 Aciwi iced iene Forbes ; Rev. C. H. Mockridge, M. A., D. D. 1883—A. Alexander; A. Gaviller; A. F. Forbes; T. Mell wraith ; R. Hinchcliffe. 1884—A. Gaviller; A. F. Forbes; T. MclIlwraith ; R. Hinch- cliffe : W. A. Robinson. 1285—W. A. Robinson; S. Briggs; G. M. Barton; J. Al ston Moffat ; A. F. Forbes. 1886—J. Alston Moffat; Samuel Slater; Wm. Milne; James Leslie, M. D.; C. S. Chittenden. 1887—J. Alston Moffat; James Leslie, M. D.; P. L. Scriven; Wm. Milne; C. S. Chittenden. 1888—J. Alston Moffat ; B. E. Charlton ; T. W. Reynolds, M. D. ; S. J. Ireland; Wm. Kennedy. 1889—T. W. Reynolds, M. D.; S. J. Ireland ; William Turnbull ; A. W. Hanham ; Lieut.-Col. Grant. 1890—Col. Grant; A. W. Hanham; W. A. Robinson; A. E. Walker ; Thomas Morris, Jr. 1891—Col. Grant; W. A. Robinson; J. F. McLaughlin, B A. ; T. W. Reynolds, M. D ; Wm. Turnbull. 1892—T. W. Reynolds, M D.; W. A. Robinson; P. L. Scriven ; Wm. Turnbull; Wm. White. _ 1893—James Ferres; A. E. Walker; P. L. Scriven; William White; W. H. Elliott, Ph. B. 1894—James Ferres ; A. E, Walker ; P. L. Scriven; J. H. Long, NiwACr lips Bes We Ee HlhotheB: Ar. Ph: 1B: 1895—J. E. P. Aldous, B. A.; Thomas Morris, Jr.; W. H. Elhott, B. A., Ph. B.; P. L:’Scriven; Major McLaren. 160), Eo P. Aldous: BY Avj) Thomas’ Morris; Jr.; ‘W- EL Elliott, B. A., Ph. B. ; George Black; J. M. Burns. 1897—W. H. Elliott, B. A. ; Thos. Morris, Jr. ; Robt. Campbell ; J. R. Moodie ; Wm. White. Hoos We El. Hilioth 2. vAu., Inobt Campbell Wy a5 Childs: M. A.; Wm. C. Herriman, M D.; W. A Robinson. ABSTRACT OF MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION DURING THE SESSION OF 1898-99. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, 1808. OPENING MEETING, The meeting was called to order by the retiring President, A. Alexander, F. S. Sc., who introduced to the members the newly elected President, Thos. W. Reynolds, M. D. The President, after thanking the Association for the honor conferred upon him, delivered his inaugural address, in which he outlined the past history of the Association and briefly reviewed the work already accomplished in its various departments. At the conclusion of his address, the President called on the Camera Section, who favored the members with an excellent series of views from St. Louis and Redlands. The remainder of the evening was devoted to an informal dis- play of the work of the various sections. Attendance for the evening about two hundred and fifty. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8th, 1898. The President, Thos. W. Reynolds, M. D., in the chair. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The President, on behalf of the Council, reported the result of the negotiations of that body with the officers of the Hamilton Y. W. C. A. ve rental of rooms in their new building. An application for membership was read from Mr. Fred. P. Clappison. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 9 W. A. Logie, M. A., LL. B., then read a very instructive paper on ‘Public International Law.” The lecturer gave a clear and logical explanation of the various departments of International Law, and of the regulations governing each. An interesting discussion followed the reading of the paper. THURSDAY, JANUARY 5th, 1899. President Thos. W. Reynolds, M. D., in the chair. Minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed. The report of the Biological Section ve the distribution of prizes in connection with the botanical exhibit was read and adopted. The Corresponding Secretary reported the usual exchanges, and outlined the programme for the remaining meetings of the Session. Mr. Fred. P. Clappison was elected a member of the Association. The President then called on the Recording Secretary, S. A. Morgan, B. A., B. Paed., who read a paper on “The Theory of Telepathy.” Without seeking to advance or disprove the theory, the essayist set forth the phenomena which it claims to explain, and suggested the chief arguments for and against its acceptance. A lengthy and interesting discussion followed the reading of the paper. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 1899. The President, Thos. W. Reynolds, was in the chair. Minutes ~ of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed. The attention of the Association was called to the proposed establishment of a Central Library of Reference at Toronto. Wm. C. Herriman, M. D., then read the paper of the evening, which consisted of a series of Natural History notes from Mr. Wm. Yates, of Hatchley, and were written in Mr. Yates’ usual interesting and instructive style. A short discussion followed. i ie) THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. THURSDAY, MARCH oth, 1899. In the absence of the President, Vice-President J. M. Dickson occupied the chair. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Recording Secretary read the Table of Contents of a work about to be published on The Bermudas, from the pen of Mr. H. B. Small. Inspector J. H. Smith then read a very interesting paper on “‘OQdd Characters Among the Early Settlers.” The paper gave a carefully authenticated account of the lives and characters of a number of the early settlers of the district, and proved very instructive to the members. A lengthy discussion followed. Messrs. A. Alexander and H. B. Witton, Sr., spoke feelingly of the deep loss sustained by the Association through the death of the late J. A. Mullin, M. D., and paid a deserved eulogy to his learning and character. THURSDAY, APRIL 13th, 18099. President Thos. W. Reynolds in the chair. Applications for membership were read from Messrs. J. Schuler, John E. Wodell, W. Toye and T. Cummings, M. D. It was resolved that the several applications be received and balloted on at the present meeting. Messrs. Schuler, Wodell, Toye and Cummings were elected members of the Association. Prof. James Fletcher was appointed to represent the Association at the coming meeting of the Royal Society of Canada. Mr. David Boyle, of Toronto, then read a paper entitled “Some Mental and Social Inheritances.” This paper proved very interesting and instructive to the members, and an animated dis- - cussion followed. THURSDAY, MAY 4th, 18909. President Thos. W. Reynolds, M. D., in the chair. Minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. II W. A. Childs, M._A., read an instructive and carefully written paper on “ Poisonous Mushrooms and Edible Toadstools.” A series of ‘‘ Natural History Notes,” from Mr. William Yates, were also read. The annual meeting was then held, and the following reports were read and adopted : Report of the Council, by the Secretary. s ‘“¢ Curator, by Alex. Gaviller. “« Geological Section, by A. T. Neill. Biological Section, by J. M. Dickson. Photographic Section, by J. M. Eastwood. Corresponding Secretary, by Thos. Morris, Jr. Mreasurer, by P:-. Scriven. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, - - Thos. W. Reynolds, M. D. First Vice-President, - A. E. Walker. Second Vice-President, J. M. Dickson. Corresponding Secretary, Thos. Morris, Jr. Recording Secretary, - S.A. Morgan, B. A., B. Paed. ‘Treasurer, Se PH Seriven: Curator, - - - Alex. Gaviller. Auditors, : - H.S. Moore and F. Hansel. Council: W: A: Childs; M: A., W. Hi: Elhott, B. A.. Wm. 'C. Herriman, M. D., Robert Campbell, W. A. Robinson. 12 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. Your Council take pleasure in submitting their report for the Session of 1898-99. The Session just closed has been, on the whole, a successful one, both in the character of the work done and in the interest dis- played by the members. Seven general meetings of the Association have “bebe held during the session, at which the following papers have been read, ViZ.!: \ 1898. Nov. 17th—‘“Inaugural Address”—President T. W. Reynolds, M. D.. Dec. 8th—“ International Law”—W. A. Logie, M. A., LL. D. 1899. JAN. 5th—‘‘The Theory of Telepathy ”—S. A. Morgan, B. A, bee baed: Fes. 2nd—‘ Natural History Notes”—Mr. Wm. Yates. Mar. 9th—‘“ Odd Characters Among the Early Settlers ”—Inspector J. Ho Smith. APRIL 13th—‘‘Some Mental and Social Inheritances”—Mr. David Boyle. May 4th—‘ Poisonous Mushrooms and Edible Toadstools ”— W. A. Childs, M. A. May 4th—“ Natural History Notes ”—Mr. William Yates. We are pleased to be able to report an increased interest on the part of the public in the work of the local Museum, as evinced by the largely increased numbers who avail themselves of the opportunity of visiting it each Saturday afternoon. It has been especially encouraging to the Council to note that a large number of these are from the young people of the city, many of whom are thus becoming interested in the work of collecting local specimens. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 13 We cannot close this report without referring to the death of two of the oldest and most valued members of the Association. Rev. W. Ormiston, D. D., was the first President of this Association, and it was largely to his efforts that the success which marks its early history must be attributed. The late John A. Mullin, M. D., was always deeply interested in the welfare of the Association, as in all other movements having for their object the bettering of mankind. Their noble characters and faithful devotion to duty are too well known to the members to require an extended eulogy. All of which is respectfully submitted. THos. W. REYNOLDS, S. A. Morecan, President. Secretary. 14 ’ THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. INAUGURAL ADDRESS. DELIVERED BY T. W. REYNOLDS, M. D., PRESIDENT, NOV. I7TH, 1898. Ladies and Gentlemen - I would be very lacking indeed if I did not appreciate the honourable position in which I now find myself, that of President of this distinguished body, a position which has been held by fourteen others, all men who have done themselves and the Association credit by the manner in which they discharged the duties devolving upon them. Let me, therefore, before proceeding further, return my sincere thanks to my colleagues, the members of this Association, for their kindness in placing me in such a distinguished company. At the same time I can assure you all that while I appreciate the honour of this office, I am equally aware of the responsibilities attached, and particularly that of preparing a fitting introductory address. This address, though at its outset imposes a very pleasing duty, that of welcoming our visitors, for we must admit that we cannot claim all present as members, much as we would like otherwise to do ; however, we are always ready, on the one hand, to admit new members to our ranks, while, on the other, we are ever pleased to see visitors at any of our meetings. I might take this opportunity of stating that we have different classes of meetings, each intended for special purposes. Of these we have, first, our open meeting, which, of late years, like to-night, has taken the form of a social function, in order to bring the mem- bers and visitors together in an informal way, while the latter are given some idea of what the Association and its members are really trying to accomplish, and of what their quarters contain. ‘The second class of meetings are the general meetings, held at least once a month during the winter, for the transaction of business and the reading of papers. The third class are the section meetings for work proper, but I shall have more to say later on of both of these classes. Let us all now, both members and visitors, consider the objects of the Association, by way of affording information to our visitors, JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. ° 15 and reminding our members of some facts they may have lost sight of. To do this, I think it would be well to look back at our history. The Hamilton Association was instituted on November 2nd, 1857, and continued its meetings regularly to the close of the year 1860. Then there was an interregnum of irregular meetings till 1871, when what I shall call the 2nd epoch of our history ensued ; it lasted for five years and was followed by another inter- regnum of four years. Since 1880 the Association has been in active operation. In the first volume of our Transactions, the fact is recorded that the annual meeting held in May, 1884, was the one hundreth meeting of the Association, and since that time we have had more than a hundred additional meetings. The Association was incorporated in the year 1883. When the Asssociation was instituted it was customary for the members to affix their names in a book to the by-laws, in token of their submission to the same, and the book, which is still in existence, therefore contains some valuable autographs. Unfortunately, of late years, this very laudable practice has fallen into disuse ; asa matter of fact the last name, or last but one, is that of Thos. Wm. Reynolds, but I am thankful to say that many useful and hard working members have joined the Association in the thirteen years since that time. As this book shows, our membership from the very outset has been composed of those well known, not only in our own community, but in the Province, and in fact the Dominion ; it will, therefore, perhaps not be out of place to refer to some of them, many of whom you will notice in the list of officers published at the front of the Proceedings. ‘The Association, as I have already mentioned, has had 14 Presidents, and to the best of my knowledge 11 of them are still alive, most of them being still active members. The first name in the Signature Book is that of the first Presi- dent, and it has but to be mentioned to recall in the minds of many that sturdy old Scotchman, Rev. William Ormiston, D. D., who was so thrilling with energy that it seemed to affect even the tips of his hair, to judge from his appearance and the portraits of him to be seen In so many of our homes. His rst Vice-President and succes- sor in the presidential chair the following year was Dr. John Rae, so well known as the discoverer of Sir John Franklin’s remains, and who only died within the last few years. On the resumption of the 16 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. / meetings in 1871 the President was William Proudfoot, Esq., better known as Vice-Chancellor Proudfoot, though he has now retired from the Bench. His 1st Vice-President and successor in office the following year was the late Judge Logie, who was one of the original members of the Associaton. I may be pardoned for dwelling upon his name, because, apart from any personal private regard I may have for it, wherever Hamilton is mentioned amongst botanists they wili at once speak of the work done by Judge Logie in Hamilton and its vicinity. The third era of our Association had for its first President one whose name is also familiar to all. I refer to Mr. Thos. MclIlwraith, who was also one of the early members, and -whose work on the “Birds of America,” first published in our Transactions, has done much to bring the name of the Hamilton Association before the scientific world. Another name, that early appears amongst our list of past officers, should not be overlooked. I reter to that of Mr. H. B. Witton, whose genial countenance is, we are all happy to say, still to be seen at nearly all our meetings, and one of whose contributions is to be found in our last Transac- tions. Of other worthy members I would fain speak, but time will not permit. Having thus briefly referred to our past membership, I must remind you of what I intimated previously, that this gathering is intended to make you acquainted with our present members, and ere long I hope our future membership will include the names of many who may be only visitors to-night ; and here let me inform you that ladies are equally as eligible for membership as gentlemen, and we would be very ungrateful if such were not the case, for many of our finest specimens have been contributed by ladies, notably by Mrs. Charlton, who is one of our honorary members, and Mrs. Carey, another of our honorary members, whose collection of shells forms such a valuable part of our museum. I would also remind our botanical members of the fact that Judge Logie received much assistance from his sister-in-law, Miss Kate Crooks, when preparing his valuable list of the Hamilton flora. Let us now look at the objects of our Association. These, according to our Constitution, are ‘‘the cultivation of Science, “Literature and Art, the formation of a Museum, Library and Art “Gallery, and the illustration of the Physical Characteristics, Natural JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 17 “ History and Antiquities of the country.” It would not be ex- pedient for me to dwell at any length on the value of the cultivation of Science, Literature and Art, for that has already been very fully done before by my predecessors in their inaugural addresses, but I will reiterate what has been said, that in this busy age of ours we are too often assailed with that question of expediency that is advanced as regards anything beyond mere money-grabbing by the average man or woman. For even our lady friends are too prone to let their peculiar cares become too pressing, whether they are engaged in business or feel themselves bound down by domestic ties. Hum- boldt in his Cosmos refers very aptly to the value of a study of the Arts and Sciences, and although written forty years ago his opinions are still pertinent ; he says as follows : ‘“An equal appreciation of all branches of the mathematical, physical and natural sciences is a special requirement of the present age, in which the material wealth and the growing prosperity of nations are principally based upon a more enlightened employment of the products and forces of nature. ‘Those States which take no active part in the general industrial movement, in the choice and pre- paration of natural substances, or in the application of mechanics and chemistry, and among whom this activity is not appreciated by all classes of society, will infallibly see their prosperity diminish in proportion as neighboring countries become strengthened and in- vigorated under the genial influence of arts and sciences.” But better, perhaps, even than these remarks, apt though they are, is a consideration of what we witnessed last year in the class of men who took part in the British Association meeting in Toronto, for what do we find? An array of business men who also take an interest in scientific matters, notably the President, Sir John Evans, a man without a university education as regards an ordinary arts course, but a member of many scientific societies, and so one of our visitors told us in Hamilton, the only man, or one of the few, who has read the Encyclopaedia Brittanica through. Another good example is that of Sir John Lubbock, who, although an active member of the bank- banking firm of Robarts, Lubbock & Co., is better known as a popular writer and lecturer, and of whom Punch used the following parody: ‘*How doth the busy banking bee Improve each shining hour,” in allusion to his investigations on the subject of Ants and Bees. 18 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. As regards the second set of objects of our Association, and to which we must now turn, viz., the formation of a Museum, Library and Art Gallery, I shall not say much, as my predecessor, Mr. Alexander, has already in a paper on Museums very exhaustively dealt with that phase, still we must not lose sight of the fact that we certainly have a good nucleus for a public museum, of which we are justly proud, but we need larger quarters so that our collections can be better displayed and more use made of them, and our museum be all the more attractive to visitors. The Library feature is not so incumbent upon us, as the Public Library fills in a great measure the want so long felt. But here, also, I would refer to a mine of wealth in our possession that has been too much neglected; I mean our valuable collection of Trans- actions that are so well worthy of perusal. We receive publications from 122 societies in all parts of the world, so I think we should no longer delay in making arrangements for a systematic use of them. The Art Gallery feature, though in a great measure lost sight of by us, is, I am happy to say, being looked after by other institutions in the city. The last group of objects to which our attention is directed, viz., the illustration of the Physical Characteristics, Natural History and Antiquities of the country has been to a great measure under- taken by our Geological and Biological Sections, and it is proposed to establish an Archzeological Section, which will utilize our by na means small collection of antiquities. Let us now see how we can best carry out these laudable objects to which I have alluded, and for this purpose I have inti- mated that we have two special classes of meetings—our general monthly and the several section meetings, the former being intended to be of more general interest, though not, perhaps, of such practical value. The section meetings are intended to be the really practical working ones, and although they have done a great deal of valuable work, there is a wide field before them. Our old Constitution pro- vided for seven sections, but at present we have only three really active ones, viz., the Geological, Biological and Camera Sections, to all of which we are much indebted. But here I would offer a word of caution, and that is that there is too much disposition in, each JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 19 section to let a few members do all the work; for instance, in the Geological Section, our old and valued friend, Col. Grant, is a regu- lar Atlas, who, in his enthusiasm, not only bears on his shoulders the ordinary work that may be prepared by others, but is heaping up much more of his own, even in the direction of the lost Atlantis, as our last Transactions show. It seems only fair, therefore, that some of the younger members should come to his assistance and relieve him. Though these three sections are at present the most active ones, I am pleased to be able to state that in addition to the Archeological one to which I have alluded, the Philogical expects to open work vigorously at an early date, and I would also suggest that a Transaction section should be formed, the members of which would systematically examine all the exchanges and then call the attention of the several sections to those papers that would be of use to them, and also at each general meeting present a comprehen- sive summary so that the members would have their attention called to what is most of interest in these publications. But now having said something about the work of our sections and the value of them, I am met by the objection from some mem- bers, “‘I am not a specialist in any branch, what am I to do?” To such a man I would say I pity you, for I was once of a similar opinion, but when the Biological Section was revived a few years ago I joined it as Secretary, thinking in that way I could do a little, but by dint of keeping my eyes open soon found plenty to occupy me, and work that was most pleasant. John Burroughs in his “Locusts and Wild Honey” says: ‘‘ Noting how one eye seconds and reinforces the other, I have often amused myself by wondering what the effect would be if one could go on opening eye after eye to the number of say a dozen or more. What would he see? * * * This would require not so much more eyes as an eye constructed with more and different lenses ; but would he not see with augmented power within the natural limits of vision. At any rate some persons seem to have opened more eyes than others. * * * How many eyes did Gilbert White open? how many did Henry Thoreau ? how many did Audubon? Not outward eyes but inward. We open another eye whenever we see beyond the first general features or outlines of things.” To these very pertinent queries I would add 20 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. these: How many eyes has John Burroughs himself opened, and how many has our friend Mr. William Yates? Cultivate, therefore, my friends, this opening of the eyes, and if you have no taste for any of our present established sections we have plenty of room for others. Thus by cultivating our various talents we will soon find our Association fufilling the wishes of the founders, and instead of find- ing the study of Nature a trial we will be ready to say with the poet Wordsworth : ** Therefore am I still A lover of the meadows and the woods, And mountains: and of all that we behold From this green earth ; of all the mighty world Of eye and ear,—both what they half create, And what perceive ; well pleased to recognize In nature and the language of the sense, The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, The guide, the guardian of my heart and soul Of all my moral being.” > QUARRY, MOUNTAIN TOP, AT HEAD OF “JOLLEY CUT” ROAD. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 21 NOTES AND QUERIES ON NATURAL HISTORY. Read before the Hamilton Association, February 2nd, 1899. BY WM. YATES, ESQ. Probably the old-time herbalists had some notions of modern bacterealistic theories and of germicides by giving such quaint names to plants as vermifuge, fleabane pedicularium and bugbane—our modern pyrethrum, or insect powder, merely to come in contact with which or to touch, is death to such larvael forms as the common cabbage butterfly caterpillar. The name catmint indicates perhaps that that labiate was eaten by domesticated felines as an anthel- mintic ; and even the mammoth felines, such as the lion and tiger, when caged in menageries, are known to manifest a liking for the nepeta cataria and other odoriferous herbs of the mint family ; and the house cat’s love for catmint and for the valerian herb is easily seen as they purr and lick and nibble over a leafy sprig, and to the malady of intestinal parasites the cat tribe are frequent victims, the epidemic being sometimes spoken of as the cat murrain, as a remedy for which ailment powdered areca nut has been recommended by newspapers. A majority of species of the mint order of plants are inimical to the insect race, as the housewife’s faith in the use of lavender, rose- mary, thyme, hyssop, pennyroyal, when placed in clothes drawers and bureaus as a deterrent against moths, may sufficiently prove. The pyrethrum insecticide is a plant said to be of the same natural order, that is, the composite, as wormwood and tansy—¢anacetum vulgara, and is said to be imported from the Balkan regions. If kept, that is, the dried stems and leaves sold in the drug stores as insect powder, slowly burning in a censor, the mild aromatic fumes immediately drive house flies and mosquitoes from a room. The eating at certain seasons of acrid herb substances, such as the lobelia inflata and burdock, by horses and colts, may have a powerful sedative effect, as these two herbs grow abundantly in BPs THE HAMILTON ASSCCIATION. many pastures, and are believed to cause copious salavation when eaten by equines, though the same effects are also attributed by some to the fondness for eating the blossoms of white clover, which horses evince, and the ripening seeds of which plant are thought to cause working farm teams to lose flesh in the latter summer months. An acquaintance near here thinks that the eating of the above nauseous herbs, and also the bitter sumach, is—as an item in natural pharmacy—as a prophyllactic for ‘‘ bots,” which are believed to be an insidious and frequently a fatal foe to the equine genus of farm animals; and another rural philanthropist, whose name one could mention, used to aver that tobacco juice was the proper and efficient destroyer of the typhoid bacillus, and he earnestly and persistently advised his rural confreres, at times of typhoid preva- lence, to take abundant and frequent ‘‘chaws” of “ Myrtle Navy” or other brands of the opiate weed, and, as was popularly believed, with beneficial results to such as could bear up against the heroic remedy. i: This episode had a date before the era of pasteurism, or at least before those notions had obtained notoriety. ‘The tobacco quack had a rough philosophical notion of the microbe-in-the-blood source of typhus, and of the serum method of treatment, and had unshaken faith in his method of immism, akin to the homcepathists combating evil by a lesser ill, or, as the politicians sometimes say, “ fighting the devil with fire,” that is, ‘‘ outlying the liars.” Many farmers are made aware by experience that young lambs, and those, too, in a very thriving condition and fit for the butcher, are infested with tapeworms in the smaller intestines ; said parasites do not seem detrimental for a time to the lambs’ health, which are often in a state of extreme fatness, but about weaning time show a strong propensity to take bites of bitter shrubs, such as the wild cherry and sumach. This habit occasionally causes the death of the lamb from inflammation of the throat and salivary glands, ending in much swelling of the throat, and gangrene. A rural Burford cowleech relied on logical analogies, and in his treatment of a sick cow or ox, cases of what he termed “‘ embargo in the maniplus,” recommended to give a dose of half a pound of gun- powder in water solution. Sometimes the cure threatened by exag- geration worse dangers than the malady had done. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 23 The cat plague breaks out at irregular periods in a locality and numbers die off in spasms and convulsions. About the time of cut- ting the adult teeth healthy cats brought from a distance into an infected district have been known to die in a day or two. An intelligent acquaintance thinks the cause is frequently, the felines are fed on unsterilized milk, that is, they attend at milking time in . the cowbyres and get new milk, as from the udder and unstrained, in a saucer kept there for the purpose, and lung tubercles may possibly thereby result. Milk of ruminants seems a substituted food for cats, being specialized carnivores. Scarcely any samples of the hermit thrush or even of the veery are around us this year, and fewer individuals, strictly wood birds, than ever before. Cause, perhaps, bush fires in later years and extensive draining and clearing of swamp thickets ; yet the whipoor- wills came in unthinned numbers to their time honored haunts, and were very demonstrative by their weird vociferation in the warm summer nights. A neighbour raided a hawk’s nest last week. The old pair had been making depredations on poultry near by. The nest contained four young ones of various ages. One was just entering the pin feather stage, with long waving white down on the head and neck ; two others nearly ready to depart from the nest, which was situated in the main divide or bifurcation of a large red or swamp maple tree, and it was rather a dangerous climb for the boy to get at the rap- tores. Like the cuckoo, the female hawk is irregular in the time of laying her brood of eggs, and it would seem that the warmth of the earlier hatched young is utilized in lieu of the old ones constantly sitting to the full incubating period. About five species of hawk visit this district, that is, sharp skinned hawk, red tailed hawk, coopers’ hawk (so termed), the goshawk, small sparrow hawk (f. sparxerious), and the kestrel, and occasionally the black hawk of the Western States, which is known by its louder outcries resembling the screams of a young pig when in difficulties. An acquaintance in this vicinity took a young crane (ardea herodius ) from the lofty nest in a tree in the midst of the herony, where, for many summers, the big waders had been accustomed to associate to the number of fifteen or more pairs in community for nesting purposes. Being well fed and kindly treated, the young 24 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. heron became fearless and tame, and in a month or less after capture would answer a call of its name, “ Bill,” given on its first frog feeding operations. The owner or his children, on finding a frog or lizard, mouse, crayfish, or young ophidian in the fields, even when a good distance intervened, would hold aloft a white handker- chief and shout ‘ Bill” at the top of the voice, and the crane would fly straight to the objective point and gobble down the piscatorial or amphibian food. ‘The bird would evince alarm on hearing the scream of the locomotive as a train passed on the near by railway, but when the steam engine of an itinerant gang of grain thrashers , appeared and began its puff, puff, puffing near the roosting place by the barn, this, to heron ideas, partook too much of the marvellous, and the pet bird, esteeming itself an entire solecism, took flight to parts unknown and was seen no more by its erstwhile human asso- ciates. A similar going off, as to the abrupt manner of it, was recorded of a pet bittern that a Burford farmer of our acquaintance once tamed so as to associate in his poultry flock, and which would even walk into his kitchen and seize food from the dishes on the table if permitted. As the autumn came on no apprehensions were felt as to the pet proving a deserter from the seeming contentment and fraternization in the poultry yard, but one fine Indian summer- like afternoon, late in the month of October, (detaurus lentiginosus ), being in the farm house, and the human inmates seated around, the door being wide open, suddenly seemed to hear a call none else could hear, and with a weird scream ran out of doors into mid garden, soon taking a high circling flight skyward, and presently getting his instinctive bearings steered off south-westwards, was soon a vanishing speck on the sky, and from that hour to this was seen nor heard of no more by Burfordites. Both the bittern and the crane above mentioned had been allowed a free range about the farms, and the difficulty of procuring them suitable food in winter induced an expectancy of their migration southward in the fall. The autumn is proving a remarkably fine and warm one, and there is an abundant return for the labors of the farmers. Frosts have been slight and infrequent, and many tender vegetables are still looking green and luxuriant. Until quite recently humming birds visited the morning glory flowers at the JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 25 west side of our dwelling, and also the nasturtions, hollyhocks and sunflower tribe. Less than or about two weeks ago one of the feathered gems, perhaps attracted by some potted flowers that were blooming on our window sill, flew through the partly open window into a front room and fluttered violently close to the ceiling, and at length fell exhausted to the floor and was soon afterwards picked up quite dead by my granddaughter, who is trying to preserve the feathered mite in a parcel of ground pepper. It was the hen bird, as indicated by the lack of the ruby brilliancy of the throat peculiar to that species that comes to Canada every summer. Many crea- tures besides birds seem unable to draw inferences. The ruby throat’s instinct was to rise and soar aloft, the window of entrance being still open. Perhaps fright and nervous agitation paralizes in part the ornithic intellect ; yet bats and swallows, and even the wrens and phcebee fly catcher in similar quandaries, after a chance for second thought, descend to a broken pane or partly open door and so save their lives by regaining liberty in time. An intelligent acquaintance, whose opinion deserves consideration, is of opinion that humming birds rarely, if ever, succeed in raising a brood of _ their young so far north as Canada. The man says that he has met with-—he was born near here and is about forty years of age—many or quite a number of humming birds’ nests, some of which contained eggs, but he never yet found a nest containing young ruby throats ( Zrachilide) or ever even saw the old ones feeding their young or piloting or guarding or caring for the same. Hence his doubts, which are only jotted down for what they may be considered to be worth. It may be mentioned, however, that the man is an all round enthusiast on the subject of birds, and says he could give Mr. Mcllwraith many pointers ve the birds of Ontario. I may here mention that I, a short time ago, loaned Mr. John Scott, of Hatchley, Mr. McIlwraith’s work on that theme. October 2nd.—Robins were singing blithely to-day and feasting on the ripe grapes ; song sparrows, too, are yet tuneful (two species) ; meadow larks and shore larks are about us, the former frequently piping their pensive refrain. Higholders, so called, and other pickadee, as well as numerous blue jays, find a feast on the abund- ant fruit of the elderberry bushes in the neglected fence corners. 26 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. Some of our neighbors are uttering threats against the owl tribe, which have begun to make more frequent marauding visits to the poultry roosts. A few evenings since, when house lamp had just been lit, we were somewhat startled by strange buffetting sounds that seemed to proceed from a barrel that stood just outside our kitchen door, and was about half full of water. On going out to inves- tigate, lamp in hand, two round, big, glaring eyes and a hooked beak and a screech owl’s beautifully mottled plumaged upper parts met our vision, but the strix unfortunate was unable to rise from the surface of the water. My son said to me, “ Lift the bird out, it is dying.” ‘‘Not without a pair of tongs,” replied I. I would as soon handle poison sumach as that illomened visitor, which my son speedily jerked out of the water in a dead or last dying paroxysm. The owl had probably come to grief in the too eager pursuit of a big moth. A friend of mine writes from St Paul three days ago: “I and a friend went out to a lake about eleven miles from here the other morning. We arrived at the lake shore before sunrise in quest of wild ducks. All we obtained of that species of game was two teal, a whistlewing duck, and one jacksnipe. Just after sunrise, and whilst we were taking lunch under oak trees, we noticed a big hawk strike into the lake waters and saw it soon emerge with a fish, the raptore flying off to its mate, which we could see sitting on a branch of a dead tree some distance off, where, we believe, the two falconidee enjoyed an orthodox meal. One of the birds returned to the lake and repeated its former feat, and as we had hid in ambush one of us fired a shot and the fish fell from the hawk’s claws ; soon after the hawk came down with a mutilated wing. The bird was snow white in all; its under side parts and its extended wings measured more than I could stretch to with my arms extended to their uttermost.” JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 27 NATURAL HISTORY > NOTES: Read before the Hamilton Association, May gth, 1899. BY WILLIAM YATES, ESQ. A source of loss and regret to great numbers of Canadian land- holders in the Province of Ontario was the rather sudden dying of the fine forests of black ask trees (Fraxinus Sambucifolia) about the year 1888. Immense areas were occupied in the early period of the colony by this fine and useful tree, as, in a majority of the annu- ally flooded lowlands, this species held almost entire possession, these areas being generally known to the pioneer settlers by the term ‘“‘black ash swales.” ‘The timber was of inestimable value to the land clearers as fencing material, by virtue of its free splitting qualities and durability. From some not easily ascertainable cause (in a very extensive portion of Ontario) death overtook simultaneously the whole of these forests about eight or nine years ago. Various causes of the phenomenon were assigned. By some the loss was attributed to the clearing up of the environing dry lands ; by others extensive draining operations were given as a reason, while others asserted that exces- sive cold during winter or else abnormal summer frosts suffered to bring about the effect. There was much conflicting opinion expressed, and the real cause seems still surrounded by mystery. As we heard of few or no insect depredations being concerned in the matter, and as the decadence was sudden and quite general, only a very small percentage of saplings being left as survivors, the cause seems to have been atmospheric changes as to moisture, or abnormalities in temperature and new cycles of growth. Since the change adverted to there has been a very general invasion in semi- cleared and neglected lands of the poplar, which was in the early days of Canadian settlement a tree quite of rare occurrence. Allusion to the recent disappearance of the black ash forests, which appear to have lived out their appointed time (for it was a 28 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. matter of observation that young and vigorous individuals shared the same fate as the mature and senile instances of growth), like a displacement of ‘‘race” in higher planes of life, and a new depar- ture. This allusion, as we above remarked, brings to mind a some- what similar blight in forest growth, which was, in or about the year 1848, experienced over a rather extensive area in the Township of South Norwich, County of Oxford. In that year or the year follow- ing many hundred acres of thriftily growing pine trees were sud- denly invaded by the larvee of a moth. ‘The resinous, needle-like foliage was consumed by the caterpillars, which were about three- fourths of an inch in length, and plumed with a waving growth of cotton down. ‘The said pine tree leafed out no more, and over several thousand acres there was soon a dreary sight of withering dead trees, a source of immense loss to individuals, and perhaps to the community. A curious coincidence was spoken of at the time, as the news- papers of the day contained promiscuous statements that a similar unwelcome insect visitation had just overtaken large strips of the Black Forest region in Germany with similar destructive results, as was then feared and was verified in the sequel. And now owners of forest lands in this Township of Burford are asserting that what are left of our ancient beech areas are show- ing signs of speedy death trom natural causes, and are being swiftly removed for fuel purposes ere total loss results from rapid timber decay. And probably the thinning of the beech groves for their conversion into wheat fields was a main cause or factor in the extinction of the myriads of wild pigeons, which were up to the year 1874 such an interesting feature in Canadian ornithology. Arborists of experience now assert that the elm and the maple and the native pine are the kinds of trees that evince the best power of adaptability to changed environment, to which test the white ash may be added as a vigorous grower and a producer of valuable timber material, and that this tree is quite tenacious of life after transplantation some of us have had convincing personal experience. In our primitive forests in the Burford timbered region (as dis- tinguished from the Burford plains), as also in Oxford County and Middlesex, instances of large-sized butternut trees were not infre- quent. Hickory growths were not uncommon, and also, but more JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 29 rarely, the black walnut incidenta!ly was found of large size. The usual abundance of the nuts of the beech, as well as those of the hickory and of the two or three varieties of the oak tree, furnished an ample supply of food for the wild pigeons, and also for the flocks of wild turkeys which roamed about our hardwood forests, and not infrequently visited our buckwheat and wheat stubble fields in the autumn ; certainly up to the year 1851, and more sparsely up to the year 1854 or 1855. Quite a number of our neighbors and of our acquaintances, after the work of forest destruction for clearing purposes had been somewhat satiated, became inspired with the taste for transplanting evergreens from the swamps. ‘The white cedar proves hardy, also the native pine. But the truly national representative (Adves Cana- densis) of the Abietian family proved very difficult of successful removal. The spruce (Adves Vigra) was found more sure of growth on removal to well drained situations, but proved to have a habit of sending its main roots near the surface of the soil, and after twenty or thirty years of flourishing growth, and perhaps in consequence of its tall habit, was invariably uprooted by wind storms of occasional severity, but some that were planted in groups around dwellings and home shrubberies, by the mutual protection of their numbers, still survive, and give pleasure to the eye by the contrast in form and tint of their foliage to that of the other members of the Coniferz, particular to the cedars, whose tints in winter time give forth bronze reflections towards the showy landscape, and next, perhaps, to the native pine (/. Occidentalts ). The cedar seems to have the greatest capability of flourishing on either wet or dry land. The hankering for prophecy and foreknowledge is rebuked in the 53rd and 54th verses of St. Luke’s Gospel, and perhaps in other places in Scripture, but without straining ourselves by standing ever- lastingly as it were on the tip toe of expectation, and without abating our habitual trustfulness “‘ by possessing our souls in patience and to ‘await what may betide,” there can be but little imprudence in look- ing ahead, for is not the future, especially in our youth, a sort of terra (terror) incognita. Yet the sages teach us that Intellect annuls Fate. ‘So far as a man thinks he is free.” ‘‘Fate is a name for 30 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. those causes which have not passed under the power of thought. — E-merson. So, perhaps, to be forewarned is to be forearmed, and it is often seen to be prudent to take in sail ere you are caught and cuffed by the gale. In support of the theory that shocks and bumps are not the usual order of nature, see how gently changes displace and glide into each other. ' “*Thief-like step of liberal hours, Thawing snow drift into flowers.” The passing winter seems to have been characterized by frequent and by very abrupt changes, some of which have formed interesting themes for comment and discussion, one side maintaining that nature works by gradual and recognizable methods, rather than by shocks, cataclysms or violence. Yet the immense local snowfall of last December, succeeding to mild temperature, has hardly been previously experienced by the present generation, and the immense snow drifts had more the appearance of a three months’ winter accumulation than of the fan- tastic work of one or two days and nights. This was a surprise to all. “‘ At the conjuror’s,” it has been printed, “we detect the hair by which he moves his puppet, but we have no eyes sharp enough to descry the thread that ties cause and effect.” Yet one event exudes from, or grows from or on the same stem as another event, and we read in the scientific papers that the light- house keepers on the Eastern Atlantic coast of the United States affirm that those violent and destructive atmospheric commotions known as northeasterly hurricanes invariably give ample and unmtis- takable notice of their coming, even to an unscientific observer, very many hours previous to their onset, and that no one studious of his own safety and interest need be taken by surprise by those violent agitations. Cloudforms frequently denote what is ‘‘ brewing” in the atmos- phere that surrounds us. The big snowfall of the 4th December last was ushered or heralded some evenings previous to its advent by a dense “‘anvil-edged” cloud, that seemed to stretch clear across the southern horizon, at or just after sunsetting two or three evenings before the storm eventuated. ‘Traditions of early Canadian settlers always associated the above mentioned appearance as a presage of JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 31 snowfall, and there really is usually an index to the coming hour, which, perhaps, to read properly, requires a delicate impressiona- bility, or a habit of contemplation and watchful observance. Haas it not become an adage that “coming events cast their shadows before”? and co-ordination and co-relation seem hackneyed scien- tific terms, and poets, the most ancient as well as some of the more modern ones, have had faith in Nature’s prophecies. (See In Memoriam, Canto XCI.) : “Vea, tho’ it spake and bared to view A fact within the coming year, And tho’ the months, revolving near, Should prove the phantom-warning true.” *“ They might not seem thy prophecies, But spiritual presentiments, And such refraction of events As often rises ere they rise.” Old Chaucer tells (See Canterbury Tales) : ‘That Destiny warneth all, and some Of every of their adventures By previsions or figures, But it is warned too darkly.” 7. e., the hints are writ in too collossal character to be read, except in a just and appropriate mental perspective. Wordsworth avers, in the poem on “ Presentiments,” that ‘“ God instructs the brute to scent All changes of the element.” “< Blest times when mystery is laid bare, Truth shows a glorious face, While on the isthmus which commands The councils of both worlds she stands.” - “Tis said that warnings ye dispense, Emboldened by a keener sense, . . . And teach us to beware.” Storm centers gyrate and cycles revolve, but to discover when one’s energy or influence has run its course and another is advanc- ‘ing to replace the spent force perhaps requires more than mortal acumen ; but many among us try to read Nature’s riddles. In daily phenomena the “Idea,” the “Concept,” the “Fiat,” the decree 32 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, . seems to precede. There is the ‘Storm Centre,” the often invisible (to the eye) ‘‘ focus of energy.” To illustrate the practical phase which perhaps may be claimed for such fantasies, the following notes and jottings may seem perti- nent :—- On Monday, the roth of Debember last, we had extreme frost, a clouded sky with north-easterly winds, when some woodcutteis accosted the writer of this with questions as to the purport of pecu- liarities in the changes of level of the water in a small frozen-over rivulet near to where the two men had been working all day. On chopping through the 3-inch thick ice the water was observed at first to sink or recede two or three inches, so the men asserted, but soon afterwards more than regained the normal level, and in an hour or two overflowed the ice to the depth of an inch or more and remained at the level, Probably this indicated changes and pertur- bation in the elasticity of the atmosphere, but there was no barome- trical instrument near to consult, However, we in the course of the confab alluded to the traditional belief of farmers that a sudden rise in springs of water or of spring-fed rivulets invariably betokened storms to be near at hand. In the present case in a few hours there was a big rise of temperature and distant thunder was said to be heard. On the 2zoth December my diary records southerly winds and a foggy atmosphere and a general thaw setting in. The thick ice on ponds and rivers moans and upheaves and cracks, probably in response to the removal or lessening of atmospheric pressure on the upper surface of the ice, and it is often brought to the notice of foresters that after a spell of severe frosty weather and before there are any prominent indications of change the boles of large trees may be heard to give out loud snapping sounds, many of them resembling the explosion of a pistol or air gun, and which they really represent. This phenomenon must have an electric cause, as there is no abatement of the frost and usually a clear evening sky with strong radiation in the crystal clear air. Decided weather changes almost invariably follow these sylvan sounds (explosive). This list of incidents might be extended, “* Eterne alternation Now follows, now fits,” JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 33 “* The journeying atoms, Primordial wholes, Firmly draw, firmly drive, By their animate poles.” ** Open innumerable doors the heaven where unveiled Allah pours The flood of truth, the flood of good, the seraphs’ and the cherubs’ food ; Seek not beyond the cottage wall, redeemers that can yield thee all.” —Translation from Saadt. In the alleged premonitary sinking of the water level, and in the case of a warning fall of the barometer or thermometer like what occurred on Sunday, 8th of January last, in the morning of which day the mercury rapidly rose from about 10° to 31 , some thought a thaw was imminent, but the rise proved a sort of ruse de guerre, shall we say a deceptive move, and was abruptly succeded by a drop to 5 degrees below zero, and ue frigidity lasted three or four days, or sixty hours. This fake reminds one of the French phrase, Recéeler pour mieux sauter, a sort of concentration of energy for an antagonistic effort. As when in meteorology a cold wave treads on the heels of a warm one (or vice versa), there is crowding of the molecules at “the ragged edge” of contact, and in bucolic weather lore an unsea- sonably fine day is thought to be unreliable and termed a ‘“ weather breeder.” In meteorology there seem from time to time fresh atti- tudes or “moods” or new grouping of the ruling conditions. The rationale of this perhaps is that if the design can be perceived in one region of physics, analogy would tolerate the assumption through the whole purview and range of human thought, Occasionally during some of the recurring cold spells of mid- winter these parts are visited by smali parties or squads of aquatic birds, such as the grebes and the Icons or divers. The grebes occasionally alight among the ducks or geese of the farmer’s barnyard. A few incidents of this kind came to our notice one very severe spell in the month of February several years ago. About sunrise one clear morning, when the temperature was about 23 below zero, a grebe alighted in one of our fields, seemingly exhausted by a long flight and famine. At the base of the bjrd’s 34 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, beak, near the nostril’s apertures, icicles had formed from the con- gelation of the breath consequent on the intensity of the cold. These wanderers seemed to have been attempting to escape from the rigor of northern regions, and we soon after heard that one or two individuals of the species were seen a day or two before the above narrated occurrence to alight in a limited area of open water, just in the rear of the water-wheel of one of our local grist mills. The squads of web-footed migrants were moving in a direction from northwest to southeast. On one or two of these wayward wanderers alighting near, attempts were made to feed and restore and refresh them, but with little success, as they died in a few days, probably from inaccessibility to appropriate food. A week or ten days ago a small flock of similar aquatic birds of passage were noticed flying over head past our homestead and taking a southeasterly course. There were seven or eight in number, and they seemed as large as geese, but in their flight had more resem- blance to loons. Their migration was just preceding the advent of the late spell of arctic weather, which it was conjectured had com- pelled the bird movement to more genial iatitudes. A few of the February larks have lately been noticed about here, about bare spots in the fields and also on well-trayelled high- ways. This species usually appear here after a few days’ thaw, about the first week of February, yet the weather has been almost abnormally cold since the 28th or 29th of January, and last night, February 11th, there was a rather bright display of Aurora Borealis from 7 to ro o’clock, and fainter through the night. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 35 SOME MENTAL AND SOCIAL INHERITANCES. Read before the Hamilton Association, 13th April, 1599. BY DAVID BOYLE. If the time is not yet quite passed when it is unnecessary to address some audiences in a semi-apologetic manner on subjects more or less intimately associated with the development theory, the time certainly zs passed when one need have any fear that by so- doing he is likely to bring upon himself the condemnation, or, to put it more mildly, the displeasure of those whom he addresses. Neither need he entertain a doubt when thus treating his subject that he is in a measure aiming away above his mark, for now that biological science is studied on the basis of evolution by everybody, or that everybody has, to some extent, become acquainted with this tendency of thought, the popular mind is in a condition of recep- tivity rather than of antagonism. Asa matter of course I use the term “everybody” in a qualified sense, for it is undoubted that there are still those whose prejudices, or whose timidity, place them in an attitude of defiance, or of defence, to the theory in question, just as for a long time there were numerous worthy souls who declaimed against the theory of gravitation. On this occasion my ‘“‘everybody” embraces the members of the Hamilton Association. There can scarcely be a doubt that ever since the dawn of human reason, or, if this be too strong, ever since the observing faculties of man became worthy of the name, it was noted by some that this or the other person was marked by some quality or defect that characterized his father or his grandfather. Of a good runner it would be observed that his father was also one; and of a poor stone-thrower or bowman, that his son was no better. In primitive conditions of society it would be only along such lines that obser- vations of this kind were made, because in these conditions man’s attention was solely directed to the procuring of food. With advanced conditions, mental traits would claim a share of 36 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. attention, but from the earliest times until our own day it has been impossible to adduce anything like philosophical reasons to account, not only for individual, but for racial peculiarities. Very glibly we could quote, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge,” but the question always remained, why did the fathers eat the sour grapes in the first place ? This paper is written as an attempt to account in a measure for some human predilections by referring them to early conditions of society—to conditions that must have existed for many thousands of years, and which, notwithstanding the fact that for some hundreds of years such conditions have not existed, yet exhibit their per- sistency as a part of our being. In a purely savage state it must needs be that the supply of food is both precarious and inconstant, and of savage people more than of any others it may be truly said, “‘ They eat to live, and live to eat.” In time they acquire tastes for various kinds of amuse- ments and pastimes, but eating is the main business of life—it is not a means, it is an end—¢#e end. It therefore behoves each member of the family, or of the tribe, to lose no opportunity of securing that which is necessary for the subsistence of himself and of his fellows. He runs his prey down, or he attacks it with missiles, or he shoots arrows at it, or he lays a trap for it, or he inveigles it into some place from which escape is impossible, but in any event his wit is always superior to brute faculties. As population increases the supply of animal food diminishes, and man’s mental resources are more largely drawn upon to circum- vent the tactics of his prey, for the beasts themselves become more ~ knowing. Even when our suppositious savage is not actually engaged in hunting, he will not fail to avail himself of any chance that fortune may throw in his way to secure an animal. Even to him, habit has become second nature. He goes in chase sometimes merely for excitement ; he kills because he loves to kill; hunting has become one of his pleasures. In other words, untold repetitions of such acts through many hundreds of generations have transmitted a tendency to slay the lower animals—a tendency which remains long after man has arrived at a stage of advancement when it is no longer necessary that he should kill at all, and we find accordingly a JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 37 betrayal of this tendency—of this murderous instinct—on the part of all and sundry, young and old, in civilized society. The small boy delights in throwing stones at anything, or at nothing ; it would appear that he mast throw, and as he becomes less and less of a small boy he indulges himself with a catapult, a pea-shooter, a sling, a bow-and-arrow, a revolver, and at last a rifle. The hit-and-knock-down feeling is as strong in him as if it were a necessity of his existence. Many older people gratify this predatory instinct in the pursuit of what they call game. Once, or oftener, a year, and with as much regularity as marks the course of natuze in other respects, hard- headed business men become uneasy—they tell us they are getting ‘“‘run down,” that they require ‘‘a whiff of country air,” ‘a smell of the pine woods,” and so on, and they are quite sincere, for the old-time instinct is simply re-asserting itself in this desire for a ‘‘ run out-of- doors,” or ‘‘a spell in the bush,” but above all, in the case of the hunter, there is the desire to kill something. A deer isa prize, a bear is glory! So many brace of ducks or other game-fowl is some- thing to boast about until next season—not that this kind of food is _ anecessity, but solely and simply on account of an indescribable pleasure experienced in the taking away of life ! In the not-long-ago when trans-continental travellers on the Pacific railways, in crossing the prairies, happened to see a buffalo within rifle range, shots were fire at the animal from the car windows to gratify a spirit of pure savagery, for there was no hope that should a buffalo be killed its carcase or its hide would reward the ah—the ah—the sportsman. Sportsman indeed! the savage rather, for what cared he though the poor brute should linger for days in agony before lying down to die? Another class of so-called sportsmen to whom such opportuni- ties are denied, indulge their manly tastes in the slaughter of pigeons released from traps, or they commit sad havoc among chipmunks, robins and other ferocious creatures that infest the woods near home. In all ranks and conditions we find manifested the same spirit of slaughter, the same desire to inflict pain, and the same gratifica- tion consequent upon the practice of cruelty upon the brute creation. On no other theory than that of savage impulse does it seem possible 38 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. to account for the terrible atrocities inflicted by young people on the dumb beasts. With what ghoulish zest do they pluck the members of a fly! And how gleefully do they witness the contortions of the mutilated creature in its vain attempts at locomotion. I knew a boy who once took a pair of callow Baltimore orioles from their beautiful nest, and, pinning them wing to wing, hung them across a branch, leaving them thus to perish while he stood by in gleeful admiration of the grief-stricken parents trying to entice the young ones back to their home. For this boy, at the time, I pre- dicted nothing less than a termination of his career on the gallows, but he ultimately became a captain in the Salvation Army ! It is well for our race that with increasing years, that is to say, as we get beyond boyhood ; that period of lifetime which is most pronouncedly savage, a change comes over the spirit that dictates such acts. But this not always. For the records of the police courts frequently bring to light many acts of almost incredible cruelty as inflicted by mature persons on children and on the lower animals. Such perpetrators ’are veritable savages, notwithstanding their existence among ourselves, and they should be made to feel the arguments of the law and of humanity, physically, for the simple reason that they are totally unable to understand what they owe to civilization by any other means. Closely related to this phase of persistence in savagery is another inheritance affording pleasure of a low kind, namely, that which arises from the seeing of animals inflicting pain on one another, and this continues to afford enjoyment for a much longer period of the modern savage’s life, and it is participated in by a vastly larger number of people. Hence cock-fights, dog-fights, bull- fights and man-fights, which are still ranked among the amusements of the populace. If these things, or rather the desires which prompt them, are not savage inheritances, what are they? And that tens of thousands among us take a shocking delight in perusing accounts of how these things are done, is evident from the amount of space that is devoted to details in the columns of newspapers which regard themselves, and are regarded by us, as exponents of public opinion. Games of chance are of religious origin, that is to say, dlaby were at first employed for purposes of divination, but in course of JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 39 time as stakes were laid, or bets made on the possible results, the element of gambling found its way in, and there is no feature of primitive or savage life so universally prevalent as is this, and there is no inheritance from the long-ago which has clung to civilized men with more persistence than the spirit of gambling, which is neither more nor less than an unintelligent and wholly blind trust in luck, and it is notorious that among no class of people more than among confirmed gamblers is abject superstition so supreme, and superstition of every kind is an inheritance for which we have to thank our savage ancestry. Games of skill may have originated as mimic combats in friendly guise. It would be difficult to name one which does not involve loss and defeat on the one hand with capture and victory on the other. They all appear to be modifications of old-time pugna- city—of the days when family feuds and tribal wars were maintained fully as much for the sake of gore and glory as for aggrandizement, Most of our popular games, whether indoor or outdoor, demand that something shall be hit, or some person or some place captured, and so persistent is the ancient idea of war involved in the playing of such games, that even in many of the quietest and most thoughtfully ~ conducted ones, we speak of the pieces employed as “ men,” and as men whom it is a duty to “take” if possible. In athletic sports, again, muscle is, of necessity, the chief pre- requisite, and while it must be patent to everybody that although in these almost twentieth century days there is comparatively little need for the exercise of excessive brute force, we find many of our fellow-beings devoting their lives to the attainment of notoriety or of celebrity, as the case may be, in walking, running, wrestling and rowing, not for recreation or occasional diversion only, but as so- called ‘ professionals,” while those of us who for many reasons may be unable to practice such exercises ourselves, manifest a decidedly lively interest in the doings of these latter-day savages, even to the extent of betting heavy odds for or against a particular contestant, in this way laying ourselves alike open to the charge of exemplifying by inheritance an ancient savage predilection, for betting is but gambling, and all gambling operations are only the improved, refined, systemetized, 7z.c., evolutionized forms of deity or fetish placation -or cajolery, practised universally in the early days of human society, as I have already said. 4o THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, ~ We are too apt to consider the belief in luck, ghosts, fairies, witches, dreams, amulets, charms and premonitions as being enter- tained by ignorant people only. A very little inquiry will serve to dispel this too partial view. Superstition is apparently spiritualistic. It has been transmitted to us from a time when some reason had to be assigned for phenomena that were inexplicable on natural grounds, and it is really astonishing to what an extent it maintains its hold upon the minds of intelligent (or, shall I say, of otherwise intelligent ?) people. The belief in dreams is, perhaps, most widely spread, and chiefly among women. Lucky and unlucky times and seasons influence the actions of many persons whom it would be a mistake to characterize as weak-minded, only in so far as this inheritance from savagery is concerned. Powerfully occult influences have always been attributed by primitive man to the heavenly bodies, and especially so to the moon, and in this year of grace, cne thousand eight hundred and ninety- nine, there are farmers all over the world who regulate their sowing and planting, their killing of cows and pigs, by her phases, just as their wives take these into account in the making of butter and in the weaning of their infants. Even the weather is popularly regarded as being regulated by Luna’s influence, and so wise a man as Sir John Herschel actually prepared a tabular statement illustrative of his belief, but of course no possible use can be made of it by meteor- ologists of to-day. Sir John tried to square his acquired astronom- ical knowledge with his inherited tendency to the crudities of astrology. One of the first indications given by the new-born infant that he is henceforth to be regarded as a member of society is the mak- ing of a noise, or as Shakespeare has it in King Lear: “© When we are born we cvxy, that we are come To this great stage of fools,” # and elsewhere he says: ‘‘ We came crying hither.” From this time forward it may be observed that noise of one kind or other, often merely for its own sake, enters largely into many of the relations and pursuits of life. According to the theory on which this paper is based, the child exhibits much more of the savage than does the full-grown man, and JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 41 it may be said without a particle of exaggeration that mznws noise a child is nowhere. So tacitly do parents recognize this as a fact, that they actually provide their children with the means of gratifying this propensity. Spoons, tin pans, drums and wind-instruments of “fearful and wonderful” construction occupy a place in every juvenile chorus. When a little more advanced in years the sweetest of music seems to have no charms for sturdy boyhood comparable to that produced by the rat-a-tat-tat of a stick drawn rapidly over the pickets of a fence or the bars of a window grating, the result being not unlike that from the favorite rattle of most primitive peoples. To grown-up boys the production of loud and discordant sounds affords joy ineffable. I have listened with pleasure (not eesthetic, but scientific pleasure,) to a group of boys from ten to fourteen years of age, sitting on a pile of lumber during a summer evening, enjoying themselves to the full as they vied with each other in giving utterance to the most unearthly howls and yells. During the periods of maturity and old age the noise producing proclivity is less noticeable only because it is more under control, for the exercise of thought is not calculated to encourage the making of unmeaning sounds, unless under emotional influences, when it can scarcely be held that the judgment is responsible. In connection with political triumphs, victories in war, celebrations, and popular rejoicings of every kind, nothing short of lusty cheers and the dis- charge of firearms seem to satisfy the average human being in his desire to testify gratification. On such occasions ‘“‘three cheers and a tiger” indicate the highest attainable point of happiness. In process of time we have harmonized the dissonant utterances of our ancient forefathers. We have formed a gamut of such notes as the voice is capable of producing. From the bow-string and the reed we have elaborated the piano and the organ, and just in so far as we are capable of appreciating refined vocal and instrumental utterances are we judged to possess musical culture, z. ¢., are we reckoned to be above primitivism. In the gentle rhythmical motion, or the rapid whirl of the “ mazy dance,” it is not difficult to guess shrewdly as to the sources. When the original dance was not of a religious character it was ‘either to anticipate or to celebrate victory in a fight, and in the civilized forms of this amusement, so far as the latter origin is con- 42 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. cerned, we observe evident traces of the advance, the attack, the capture and the retreat. We see the votaries of this art marching in single file round the room. They effect flank movements, they take ambush by devious routes, they seize their adversaries, they simulate a struggle, and eventually succeed in placing the captives (usually fair ones) in a place of safety. Single dances like Ghillie Callum and the jig may be interpreted with reference to recitals of individual prowess in presence of the foe, accompanied by expressions of con- tempt, and by ridicule of the enemy’s valor. Even in our more personal and domestic habits it seems easy to discover some intimate relations between ourselves and our far- removed forefathers. I may refer just by mere mention to the fond- ness of some for half cooked or nearly raw meat, and to the not uncommon relish of others for animal food, especially fowl, in a con- dition that verges on what some would call putridity, but which is known to the gourmets as simply ‘‘gamey,” and yet we shudder at the thought of a Sioux or of a Hottentot who regales himself on the decaying carcasses that fortune may throw in his way. Again, many of us who think we can afford to pity those of such depraved taste, betray our own prehistorically acquired instincts in a manner scarcely less remarkable when we exhibit a fondness for rotten or rotting cheese. What a tit-bit is a lump of the rare old mitey article! And how appreciatively does the admirer of it smack his lips at what he calls its ‘“‘nutty flavor!” If I am not in error, vegetarians declaim respecting the use of flesh as food, not only because of what they declare to be its unfit- ness for this purpose, but on account of the cruelty and inhumanity that are involved in the necessary slaughter of the animals, which is equivalent to a declaration of these people’s belief that the custom is a savage one, and yet one of the most highly prized vegetable preparations is thought to be edible only when it is far gone towards putrescence. It is, indeed, not improbable that from the consumption of decayed, and consequently fermented vegetable substances, there has arisen in so many widely sundered portions of the world the desire to indulge in alcoholic intoxicants, although it is not always necessary that fermentation should take place, for the desired result sometimes follows from the consumption of a vegetable in its JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 43 original condition. In the northeastern part of Siberia there grows a somewhat rare mushroom, an average specimen of which, by means of an exceedingly peculiar and disgusting process, is capable of producing intoxication in all the members of a large family. Still, even in this case, it may be that the fungus is in a decayed state before it is eaten, so that it may be wrong to speak of it as being in its original or fresh condition. Closely related to intoxicants are narcotics, and it would be hard to say which has claim to priority in use. Neither is it easy to divine why savages or any one else ever thought of such a ridiculous and apparently wholly unnatural process as that of smoking. Perhaps they first chewed or snuffed the material, and the use of pipes may have been an after-thought for religious purposes, enabling the smoke to be whiffed as an offering to the cardinal points and to the sky. On any supposition the habit of smoking is purely a savage one; and although, so far as we are aware, our for- bears knew of no such practice, it is amazing how kindly many of them took to the use of tobacco, quite as much so, indeed, as the Indian took to rum. In both cases it may have been that long dormant instincts were awakened. Who can say? We all understand what is meant by savage finery, but do not we ourselves show some atavism in this respect? Do we not really enjoy a display of ‘ fuss and feathers”? We do not pierce our noses and lips for rings, nor tattoo our faces, because it would be inconvenient so to do; but whenever a ring can be worn to advantage, whenever a chain of the precious metal can be displayed, wherever we can attach feathers, ribbons, tinsel or gew-gaws of any kind, we make the best possible use of our opportunities. Members of the sterner sex may deny that there is any ten- dency on ¢heir part to go very far in this direction, but it would seem pretty plain that we are all, to a great extent, what are known as the “slaves of fashion ;” that in this, as in so many other respects, we are “ A’ John Tamson’s bairns,” for if we but give the male portion of the community a chance to figure in the procession of some secret society, or in the ranks of a military display, at some high-class ball or levee, or in a grand civic demonstration, we find the “lords of creation” adorned in “ full fig” with aprons, sashes, belts, gold lace, medals, badges and other regalia, in which they 44 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. strut about with fully as much consequence and pomposity as characterize the movements of an Indian chief when acting as Master of the Ceremonies at a big pow-wow on the prairie. Even tattooing, to which exception has been made with respect to our faces, holds its ground to some extent, but chiefly among boys, sailors and lumbermen. Women seldom indulge this savage taste, probably owing chiefly to the fact that its consequences are too permanent. It admits of no compliance with changing fashion, so they prefer another not less savage, but more variable method, for the purpose of heightening their charms by means of color. One of the pests, the manifestations of whose primitive predilec- tions meet us almost at every turn, is the jack-knife sculptor, a modern savage who, in imitation of his ancient congener, makes his mark upon all available surfaces, as if either to remind himself on a future visit that he has ‘been there” before or to acquaint the other members of his tribe that he has travelled past this spot. He will even laboriously carve his initials or his ‘‘totem,” which is often much more objectionable, in the hardest stone, and take his depar- ture with the happy consciousness that he has performed a duty or fulfilled a mission, feeling at the same time perfectly ready to repeat the operation as opportunity presents itself. Other mediums some- times take the place of the knife, but in any case the man who has inherited this low propensity is impelled by some means to indicate his presence, even to the spitting of tobacco juice on every painted or polished surface he passes by, and the whiter the surface the better is his object attained. He is a nineteenth century survival of the cave-man, and refrains from committing murder only because he has a wholesome regard for the terrors of the law. The prevalence of crime is among the surest evidences of the savage strain which by its persistency continues to ‘affect the life- blood of civilization. Only by an arousal of the baser passions can deeds of blood and plunder be perpetrated, and that these passions remain so capable of gaining complete mastery, goes to show in how many of us still rankle the aboriginal desires to waylay, to make war, to kill, and to increase our possessions by appropriating those of our neighbors. In a very summary and imperfect manner I have thus touched upon a few of the social and mental qualities which, as they apy ear JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 45 to me, we have inherited from the long distant past ; but as we are all disposed to do some thinking on our own account, it is inevitable that we should disagree respecting one or more of the positions I have assumed. ‘This, however, is a matter of small consequence ; the main point is that we do not fail to regard our highest moral, social, political, artistic and scientific achievements as intellectual developments which had their beginnings far away back in the stream of time, and these, too, chiefly in that most natural of all instincts, the instinct of self-preservation ; and we should value our acquirements the more and not the less on this account. We esteem ripened fruit none the less because it retains well- marked evidences of the original bud from which it sprung, and we see no reason to despise an ingenious bit of mechanism on account of its production from crude materials. That so many of our inherited proclivities bear such strong resemblances to savage ways is not only a proof of what is called the ‘‘ Descent of Man,” but they go to show how exceedingly brief has been his so-called civilized condition as compared with, the endurance of his primeval state. The effect of habits practiced during a lifetime cannot be removed in a day, a month, or it may be a year; neither need it be expected that all traces of customs and usages engendered and maintained during ages in a primitive state of society can be eradicated in the course of a few centuries in more advanced circumstances. , That the time will ever come in the history of our race when every tinge of the old life will be utterly removed is more than doubtful, even if it were desirable—indeed such a condition is inconceivable, for many of the supremest joys and pleasures of our being are inseparably connected with the gratification of tastes and desires engrafted upon our stock when hunting and fishing were necessities of individual, as warfare was of tribal, existence. Our work is to modify, to refine, to elevate, to direct, and as may be found necessary for the common weal, to suppress old-time instincts. aaah In other words, civilization should be a process of natural growth —the result of small but steadily supplied increments to our know- ledge, as a consequence of racial experiences. 46 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAI, SECTION. for the term ending May, 7899. The Section submits with pleasure this, their annual report, feeling that a steady onward march has has been maintained during the past year. Although the Section cannot announce many new discoveries in this vicinity since our last report, yet it can assure the Association that substantial progress has been made in the collection of speci- mens, some of which reveal varieties of well-known species, exhibit- ing peculiarities which might lead the novice to believe that he had discovered a new species, and for which he would, as in duty bound, proceed to add another name to the already over-stocked nomencla- ture of the family. Col. C. C. Grant, our indefatigable collector, sent to the late Dr. James Hall, State Geologist for New York, prior to his death, a collection of fossils. Among them was a Lingula LLamellata, on which Dr. J. Hall discovered the fossilized ova adhering to the shell in precisely the same place as the ovum is deposited by the modern Lingula, thereby proving that through the countless ages this species has preserved not only the shape, color and habits of its palaeozoic ancestors, but also the same mode of propagating its species. The specimen was obtained from the Clinton formation here. During the year many new specimens have been added to the Museum. The crowded condition of the cases does not afford any opportunity to display the newly acquired fossils to advantage. During the year the Museum has been kept open to the public on Saturday afternoons, so that any persons desiring to avail them- selves of the use of specimens in the Museum for comparison or study were free to do so by themselves, or have the assistance of Col. C. C. Grant or Mr, A. E. Walker, if required. The Section was gratified to learn that the Museum of the Hamilton Association was pronounced by competent authority to be “HIOAMUSHR THAAD WOW LY AYoSOdxXed MOO NOLNIT2 YIMOIT-D 9 “ , 5) » alae ge fg a, ere ALE ee ce ee (eee em © ee ee ee eo BT Sis ees Ae a ss pee aes O coe. ee eo ye ee ee & . -§ 2 SASS AAA JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 47 superior to anything of like nature in the Queen City of Toronto. When we consider that it is the result of volunteer effort by the lovers of natural history, it is all the more gratifying. The Section hopes that ere long the necessary accommodation for the proper display of so important a collection will soon come. It is no doubt a reflection upon the citizens of Hamilton, who have so long neglected to evince any interest in a society which has labored so arduously to disseminate a knowledge of the natural history sciences, to which subjects the schools of to-day are directing their special attention. Papers were read at all the meetings of the Section, three on geological topics and two on malacology.. The latter were illustrated by specimens from the excellent collection of shells placed in the Museum by Mrs. Carey, also from the collection of Col. C. C. Grant. Following are the dates of the meetings and the subjects of the papers read : Nov. 25, 1898—Paleontological and Geological Notes of Winona and Grimsby, by Col. C. C. Grant. Dec. 30, 1898—Palzontological and Geological Notes, by Col. C. C. Grant. Feb. 4, 1899-—Palzontological and Geological Notes, by Col. ©} Grant: March 31, 1899—Malacology. April 28, 1899—Malacology. All of which is respectfully submitted. A. E. WALKER, Xe ale NEY eLeies Chairman. Secretary. -_ Wit 48 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, GEOLOGICAL NOTES. Read at the opening mecting of the Geological Section, November 25th, 1898. BY COL. C. C. GRANT. Although it has been usual at our opening meeting in preceding years to bring to the notice of its members any fresh matter regard- ing the field geology of the district, I have, however, been requested to defer calling attention for a little while yet, for certain reasons, to this subject. The suppression of the matter is only temporary, The silence is enjoined on the writer’s part for a brief period, until necessary arrangements are completed. (The foregoing refers to a recent discovery here of Bog Iron Ore.) A few years ago a small pond (dry in autumn) was deepened and cleared out for the purpose cf holding a sufficient supply of water for the cattle on the farm. In the muddy material thrown aside from the excavation were a few large boulders seemingly, which, on closer examination, proved to be Bog Iron. From the limited extent of the swampy portion of the field the writer considered it was very Coubtful if the deposit could ever be turned to profitable account. The adjoining land has been cultivated for some time, and the natural depressions on the surface, partly filled in, he was unable to form a clear idea of the original extension of the swamp now drained. Near a slight surface depression a considerable heap of apparently Northern boulders—telics of the great Ice Age—had been noticed years ago. Only recently this heap, on closer examination, proved to be Iron Ore, which had been evidently mistaken for erratic rocks and placed there, as is customary here. About two cart loads of the material is now exposed. A more extensive chain of boggy land has been remarked in a forest adjoining. No doubt this contains the mineral also, yet this cannot be positively stated without its being tested. So we may be content to state there are undoubted indications of Bog Iron existing near Hamilton, close to a good stone road and railway. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 49 I find in the Journal of Proceedings for 1882-83 a paper by a member of the Association, A. T. Freed, on Iron and Steel, in which , he alludes to the forges established by the French in Quebec at Three Rivers. Bog iron was used in the foundry at the St. Maurice Forges for a century nearly. In a report to Parliament in March, 1879, he finds it stated: “St. Maurice’s Forges, owned by F. McDougall & Sons, Three Rivers ; using Bog ore ; making a very fine iron with charcoal fuel.” At one period after its discovery about 250 men were employed, and large quantities of pig and bar iron were exported. Almost all the iron axes (or tomahawks) found either in Indian ossuaries or on the surface of ploughed fields in this Province were made at the St. Maurice Forges. The trade mark, you may notice, is a cross within a circle. Mr. Freed mentions when Franquet visited the foundry and forges in 1752, in accordance with instructions from the Intendant of New France (Bigot), the workmen, 180, were employed in stove moulding, and the iron was preferred to the Spanish ore. WINONA AND GRIMSBY. During the past summer a shorter time than usual was spent in collecting along the lake shore and at Grimsby. The residences at “the Park” were vacated at an earlier period than was expected. The Cambro-Silurian Shingle on the Beach presented a few fossils (undescribed as yet probably), and others recently found in Canada, but known previously as occurring in Ohio, U. S. A., described and figured in the States Geology by the late Dr. James Hall. One of the best preserved specimens of an ‘‘ Orthcdesma” I have seen was recently obtained by Mr. Bartlett, at Winona, who paid it a visit since I left the camp. The most interesting fossil obtained by the writer then was a large Patelloid shell, bearing a resemblance to a Crania. It is not Phosphates, so can hardly come under The Discinde. It may perhaps belong to the Order Afremata (Beecher) Super family, Odolacea (Schuchert). I have never seen anything like it figured. A small portion of the shell is concealed by the matrix, but the shape of the Valva can be readily distinguished and the ornamentation is well defined. Few Cambro-Silurian fossils from Lake Ontario’s southern shore at Winona are in better preservation. As a general rule they are difficult to extract there. In the upper ie) THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, case containing characteristic organic remains from lower Silurian drift, etc,, I placed valves of a large AZodiolopsis. On comparing it with ‘‘M. gesnere” Billings (which I thought it might be), it was found to differ in some small matters, and on comparing it with others I found the divergence still wider. It may be a new species, or at least new to Canada. An Orthoceras, or rather a fragment of one, was discovered also at Winona, which, if not new, must be very rare in the lake shore drift. In Dr. Nicholson’s work, ‘‘ Paleeontology in Ontario,” he informs his readers that he recog- nized ‘‘the Endoceras of Hall” by the cross striation of the shell. That is not charcteristic solely of the Cephalopod. The Winona one is marked in the same way, but the strize are closer. Orthoceras Jamesi is similarly ornamented. A specimen of Bucania (Bellerophon) expansa Hall (Trenton) was found and placed in the Museum. ‘This lower Silurian Gaster- opod is very rare in our local drift between Hamilton and Grimsby. The greater part of the shingle along the lake shore was derived from the Upper Hudson River (Bala) beds; this may account for it. Also a wedge-shaped valve of a Lamellibranch (Lyrodesma post- striata), probably, the posterior striation not well dis- played, so one cannot be positive regarding it. .yi- 9) sersbane, @ueensland Muscumpy nee eee eat ee eisoane: (2) New Zealand. New.Zealand Institute!) 2.o44- 400 eV ellis ton, (3) Tasmania. Royal Society tof Pasmaniake sso e 0 2) oe SlObantown: 1881 1882 1885 1885 1885 18386 1887 1887 1887 1890 189gt 1898 1871 1881 1881 1882 1884 1885 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 121 LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. HONORARY. Grant, Lt.-Col. C. C., Hamilton. Macoun, John, H. A., Ottawa. Dawson, Sir Wm., F. R. S., F. G. S., F. R. C. S., Montreal. Fleming, Sanford, C. E., C. M. G., Ottawa. Farmer, William, C. E., New York. Small, H. B., Ottawa. Charlton, Mrs. B. E., Hamilton. Dee, Robert, M. D., New York. Keefer, Thomas C., C. E., Ottawa. Burgesswl- |p Wee: Der. Ras. Montreal: Moffat, J. Alston, London. Carry, Mrs. S. E., Hamilton. CORRESPONDING. Seath, John, M. A., Toronto. Clark, Chas. K., M. D., Kingston. Spencer, J. W:, B. Sc, Ph. D., F. G. S, Savannah, Ga. Lawson, A. C., M. A., California. Bull, Rev. Geo. A., M. A., Niagara Falls South. Frood, T., Sudbury. 188g Yates, Wm., Hatchley. 1889 1891 1891 1885 Kennedy, Wm., Austin, Tex. Hanham, A. W., Quebec. Woolverton, L., M. A., Grimsby. LIFE. Proudfoot, Hon. Wm., Q. C., Toronto. 122 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. ORDINARY. Alexander, A., F. S. Sc. Eager, F. O. Aidous; i) mr kB. A: Edwards, W. H. Adam, Jno. Elliott, W. H., B. A. Aitcheson, W. J. Fearman, F. W. Appleton, L. G. Fearman, R. C. Ballard, W. H., M. A. Findlay, W. F. Ballard, John F. Gadsby, J. Baby, W. A. D. Gaviller, Alex. Baker, A. H. Gaviller i. eas Vie: Balen JE aI: Garrett, A. Baldwin, T. O. Graham, C. O. Barton, Geo. Grant, W. J. Beasley, Thos. Grant, A. R. Beasley, Mrs. Thos. Greene, Joseph Beckett, H. Grossman, Julius Bertram, Jas. B. Hansel, Franklin, D. D. S. Bicknell, H. H. Heddle, J. R. Birrell, Wm. Hemming, yA] Hy Hs Or Saas Black, Geo. Herriman, W. C., M. D. Briggs, Samuel. Holcroft, C. J. Burkholder, J. G. Y. lslOaey |b (Ge Burns, J. M. Husband, Geo. Charlton, B. E. jones, .Geulk Campbell, D. J. Lancefield, R. T. Campbell, Robt. dandy) ele Clark Sse S! Lee, Lyman, B. A. Crawiord;) |; Wisp BAG Lees, Geo. Crawford, A. Leaney, C. A. (Chanlilsay Wg vals NWI dale Leggat, Matthew Clappison, Fred. P. Linger, Jesse Coburn: Ei. P- Logan, W. F. Cummer, Albert. Logan, W. McG., M. A. Cummings, S., M. D. Lottridge, Murray Davidson, Mrs. M. Marshall, Wm. Dickson, J. M. Mills, Edwin Eastwood, John M. Mitchell, W. M. JOURNAL AND Morgan, S. A., B. A., D. Paed. Moodie, J. R. Moodie, Jas. Moore, H. S. Morris, Thos., Jr. Mullin, Arch. Mcllwraith, Thos. McInnes, Hon, Danald McLagan, Alex. McLaren, Col. Hy. McKenzie, Ian McKenzie, A. M. McPherson, F. F., B. A. Neill, A. T. Pothier, C. A. Pottenger, John Patterson, P. Powis, A. Randell, D. Reynolds, T. W., M. D. Roach, Geo. Robertson, R. A. Robinson, W. A. Rutherford, Geo. Sanford, Hon. W. E. PROCEEDINGS. Schuler, J. Scriven, P. L. Sero, J. O. Brant Souter, D. A. Strathy, Stuart Thompson, R. A., B. A. Thompson, W. C. Toye, Walter Trigge, El. A: Tuckett, Geo. E. Furobull; A.C: Turnbull, J. D. Tumer, feb) BoA. yanele, eo Be iG: 2: Vernon, Elias, M. D. Walker, A. E. Wallace, W. White, Wm. Wilson, T. Wilson, Wm. Witton, H. B. Witton, H. B., Jr, B. A. Witton, W. Woddell, J. E. Young, J. M. ae co THE LATE REV. WM. ORMISTON, D. D., LL.D. Obituary. The late Rev. Wn. Ormiston, D. D., ZI.D. Dr. Ormiston, whose death took place in April last, was one of the earliest Presidents of our Association. He became Pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of this city in 1857, and was a. promi- nent factor in the religious, intellectual and scientific life of the city until 1870, when he removed to New York, where he entered upon that distinguished career which made his name a household word all over this continent. Previous to coming to Hamilton he had been for 4 years Mathematical Master and Lecturer in Natural Philosophy and Chemistry at the Normal School, Toronto. We are not surprised, therefore, to find that, as scon as he settled in this city, he connected himself with the Hamilton Association and took a very active interest in its welfare, and contributed in no small degree to its SUCCESS. He had all the necessary qualifications for this. His versatile scholarship and scientific tastes, combined with his. strong natural character and pure sympathy, revealed themselves in the scientific or literary meeting as well as in his pulpit ministrations. He was pre- eminently a man of genial manner, and all his utterances in the meetings of the Association, while marked by logical. force, emphasis and fervor, were nevertheless gentle withal. He was an Honorary Member of the Association, and con- tributed a paper on “The Natural History of California” after his removal to California in. 1890, he having to resign his charge in New York in that. year on account of ill-health. The greater portion of the late years of his life has been spent in California, where he died about the end of March this year. Though so few of the present members of this Association had the pleasure of his friendship, yet we mourn his loss, for it is the breaking of another link, uniting us of the present with the past eminent men who founded and sent down to us our organization with the inspiration of their names and deeds. THE LATE JOHN ALEXANDER MULLIN, M. D, Obituary. Fobn Alexander Mullin, A. D., a past Vice-President of the Hamilton Association, died February the 21st, 1899. Dr. Mullin was born June roth, 1835, in the City of New York, U. S., but his parents, in his early childhood, removed to Upper Canada, and settled on an uncleared farm in the vicinity of Hamilton. His early youth was spent on his father’s farm, and after the necessary preparatory training at the common and grammar schools of that day, it was decided that he should study medicine under the well known Dr. Rolph. ‘That decision was carried into effect, and young Mullin, under Dr. Rolph’s tuition, graduated in medicine at Victoria University College in 1859, and the next year became a licentiate of the Ontario Medical faculty. After profes- sional hospital experience in New York, he entered on the practice of medicine in Hamilton, where he had a large clientage, and where he died. For nearly thirty years he was an active medical advisor of the Canada Life Assurance Company, a position of trust and re- sponsibility. In his youth Dr. Mullin imbibed a love for literature, which nothing in after years impaired, but which waxed fresher and more vigorous to the end of life. Assiduously devoted to the exacting duties of his profession, he strove to keep abreast of the biological discoveries of the time, and watched with keenness those modern experiments which have thrown light on the life history of micro- scopic organisms. Dr. Mullin was endowed with an acute intellect, and a sincere sympathetic nature which endeared him to a large circle of friends. Tolerant of the opinions of others, he was not indifferent to main- tenance of his own convictions, which by tongue and pen he had the faculty to expound and defend with fluency, precision, and grace. OFFICERS FOR 1899-1900. CQLSESGIO President. T. W. REYNOLDS, M. D. ist Vice-President. 2nd Vice-President. A. E. WALKER. J. M. DICKSON. Corresponding Secretary. THOS. MORRIS, ur. Recording Secretary. S. A. MORGAN, B. A., D. PAED. Treasurer. * Curator. P. L. SCRIVEN. ALEX. GAVILLER. Council. W. H. ELLIOTT, B. A. WM. C. HERRIMAN, M. D. ROBT. CAMPBELL. W. A. CHILDS, M. A. W. A. ROBINSON. Auditors. ~H. S. MOORE. F. 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