Specimen of an adult female Puma (Felis concolor) shot in August, 1887, near Victoria, V. I. One Red Fox (Vulpes vulgaris). One Kit Fox (Vulpes velox) from near Calgary, N.W.T. One young Whooping Crane (Grus Americana) and one adult Franklin's Remarkable colour variety of the Rough-legged Buzzard (Archibuteo lago- BOTANY. On the work in this section during the year, Professor Macoun reports as follows:-"In January, February and March, I was occupied with correspondence and in examining and classifying a very large quantity of miscellaneous cryptogamic matter. "My results have since been submitted to specialists and their partial reports are now in my hands. "The collection of Canadian Fungi, upwards of 600 species, now in the Museum has been named by Mr. J. B. Ellis, of Newfield, N.J. "Dr. Nils Conrad Kindberg, of Lusköping, Sweden, has examined the mosses, and has confirmed, or corrected my determination, and the list of Canadian mosses has been increased to nearly 600 species, many of them new, not only to Canada, but to science. The Hepatice or Liverworts are difficult to determine, but good progress is being made in this work. More than 100 species are now in the hands of Mr. Pearson, of Manchester, who is the highest authority in England on this class of plants. "On the 8th of April I left Ottawa for Vancouver Island, arriving there on the 15th. From that time to the end of August I was occupied in collecting specimens of the flora of the island and in determining the distribution of its forest trees and the character of its soil as indicated by the vegetation. "My researches extended from Victoria to Comox on the east coast, with frequent excursions to points in the interior. Crossing from Qualicum to Alberni I went in a canoe to Cape Beall on the outer coast. The islands in Barclay Sound were examined, and in prosecuting the examination of the country inland the following mountains were ascended : Fifteen hundred species of plants were collected. Feet. Since my return in September I have been fully occupied sorting and determining the specimens collected during the summer, and in writing the fourth part of the Catalogue of Canadian Plants, a portion of which is now passing through the press. During the year 1886-87 there were placed in the Herbarium 4,305 sheets of specimens, as follows: From the herbarium 5,905 sheets of duplicate specimens were distributed either to individuals in exchange for specimens received, or to scientific institutions. Among the latter were the British Museum, McGill and Queen's Colleges in Canada, and the Harvard University herbarium in the United States. Dr. Dawson has brought back from his last summer's field of labor on the Upper Yukon a valuable and interesting collection of plants, and although but a cursory examination has been made of them, they show conclusively that the summer climate there is neither cold nor wet. Mr. J. A. Macoun acts as botanical assistant during the winter and takes care of the herbarium, while during the summer he accompanies one or other of the exploring parties in the field, taking every opportunity to make botanical and zoological observations and collections. Besides the botanical work here recorded, Professor Macoun made valuable zoological collections during the summer which are referred in the report on that section by Mr. Whiteaves. MAPS. British Columbia.-The map of the western part of Vancouver Island and adjacent coast, scale eight miles to one inch, has been published with Part B of the Annual Report, 1886. Mr. Bowman during the year has completed the following maps and plans:- 1. Revised map of the southern interior of British Colum 2. Map of Cariboo district,scale two miles to one inch, about (1.) Little Snowshce and Keithley Creeks, scale 2 inches (2.) Sugar, Hardscrabble and Slough Creeks, 3 inches to 1 mile..... (3.) Antler Creek, scale (about) 26 chains to 1 inch... 28,914 54 49 38 do 27 do do 34 (5.) Lightning Creek do 400 feet do 17 (6.) Grouse Creek, scale do (7.) Island Mountain and Mosquito Creek, scale (about) (8.) Harvey Creek, scale (about) 19 chains to 1 inch....... do North West Territory.-Mr. J. B. Tyrell's map of the country between the Upper Bow and the North Saskatchewan Rivers is engraved and accompanies Part J., Annual Report, 1886; scale 8 miles to 1 inch; area 45,000 square miles. Manitoba ond Western Ontario.-The map of the Lake of the Woods to illustrate Mr. Lawson's report on that region was published early in the year; scale 2 miles to 1 inch; area 3,456 square miles. Mr. E. D. Ingall's map of Silver Mountain and vicinity is engraved; scale 20 chains to 1 inch; area 45 square miles. Also sketch map of Thunder Bay mining region; scale 4 miles to 1 inch; area 3,000 square miles. Mr. Cochrane has continued the revision of sheet 115 in the field from 17th July to the 2nd September, having examined and corrected about 250 square miles. Copies were made of about 55 miles of the plans of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce railway; scale 200 feet to 1 inch, Mr. Coste has a plan of the townships of Madoc and Marmora, county of Hastings, ready for publication. Scale 2 miles to one inch. For two weeks during the summer Mr. Barlow was engaged surveying roads, range lines, &c., to aid in the compilation of the map of Carleton county. Scale 4 miles to one inch. Quebec.-The south east of the Eastern Townships map is completed and will accompany Part J Annual Report, 1886. Scale 4 miles to one inch. Area 4,500 square miles. Professor Bailey and Mr. McInnes are working on sheets, 17 N.E.and 18 S.E. The map of Ottawa and Pontiac counties remains as last reported. New Brunswick. sheet, No. 2, N. W., has been published. Scale 4 miles to one inch. Area 1,512 square miles. Nova Scotla. sheets, No. 4 N. E. and 4 S. E. are being drawn. LIBRARY. Dr. Thorburn reports that 5,075 copies of the various publications of the Survey were distributed during the year, including Annual Reports, special reports and maps. Of these 3,980 were distributed in Canada, the remainder were sent as exchanges to scientific and literary institutions and individuals in the United States, South America, Europe, India, China, Japan, Australia, &c. The number of reports in French sent out was 563. There were received as exchange during the past year 1,027 publications, including reports, transactions, proceedings, memoirs, periodicals, pamphlets, and maps. There were added to the Library during the year 82 publications by purchase, besides 37 scientific magazines and periodicals on geological, mineralogical and natural history subjects subscribed for. The number of volumes bound was 281. The letters received in connection with matters relating to the Library and the distribution of the geological publications were 1,211, whereas those sent out during the same period were 1,315. VISITORS. The number of visitors to the Museum during the year from the 1st of January to the 31st of December was 17,575 or three thousand more than in any previous year. STAFF, APPROPRIATION, EXPenditure and CORRESPONDENCE. The strength of the staff at present employed is 53, viz., professional 36, ordi. nary 17. During the calendar year the following appointments were made to the permanent staff: The amount available for the fiscal year ended 30th June, 1887, was: General purposes Civil-list salaries, appropriation.. ...... ......... $40,650 00 $97,645 32 |