O  O 
     
    
   
   
    
     The First Year 
     
     of the Prince Edward Island Natural 'Hi'stoEy Society . 
     
    
   
   
    
     In the absence of an existing society and in response to public 
     
    
   
   
    
     pressure "... a meeting was held at the Education office on Tuesday 
     
     the 26th of March (1889) for the purpose of instituting a natural 
     
     history society for P.E.I. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Present — Hon. D. Laird 
     
     Dr. Dawson 
     
     Dr. Lemming 
     
     John Newson 
     
     John McSwain 
     
     D. Montgomery." 
     
     (Natural History Society Minute Book) 
     
    
   
   
    
     On April 1, 1889, a second meeting was held at the Education 
     
    
   
   
    
     office and the following list of members was read and approved: 
     
     "1. David Laird — Charlottetown 
     
    
   
   
    
     . Malcolm McLeod - do 
     
    

    
     . D. Montgomery - do A 
     
    

    
     . J. Hunter Duvar - Alberton 
     
    

    
     . Edward Bayfield — Charlottetown 
     
     . Dr. Leeming — do 
     
    

    
     . Dr. Dawson - do 
     
    

    
     . John Newson - do 
     
    
   
   
    
     9. Francis Bain — North River 
     
    
   
   
    
     10. Geo. E. Robinson - Charlottetown 
     
     11. Thomas May - do 
     
    

    
     12. Wm Mc N. Simpson — Hamilton, Lot 18 
     
     13. John McSwain — Charlottetown 
     
    

    
     14. D. Ferguson — do 
     
    

    
     15. Dr. Johnston - do 
     
    

    
     16. Fr. C. Harris — do 
     
    
   
   
    
     17. Neil McLeod - Summerside 
     
    
   
   
    
     (Natural History Society(N.H.S) Minute Book) 
     
    
   
   
    
     A subcommittee was appointed for "a plan of work for the society" 
     
     and on April 27, 1889 they made the following report: 
     
     "... each member take up some special subject relating to the 
     
     work of the society and promote its objects by giving a summary 
     
     of the principles of some department of Natural History or by 
     
     collecting specimens, identifying them, and giving information 
     
     as to their habits and habitat... 
     
    

    
     In pursuance of this plan papers have been promised by - 
     
     Col. Duvar: on the Fishes of the Island coast 
     
     Dr. Leeming: on entomology, with special reference to 
     
     Island specimens. 
     
     our Ferns and how to identify them." 
     
     (N.H.S. Minute Book) 
     
    
   
   
    
     John McSwain: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The embryonic society went public on July 2, 1889 at McLeod's Hall. 
     
    
   
   
    
     On 
     
     in 
     
    
   
   
    
     "The first public meeting of the Natural History Society was 
     
     held this afternoon at 4 o'clock, the President (Hon. D. Laird) 
     
     in the chair. There were present His Honor the Lieut. Governor 
     
     J.J. McDonald and Mrs. McDonald, R.R. Fitzgerald, the Rev. Mr. 
     
     Gordon, the Rev. Mr. Lloyd and several other ladies and 
     
     Gentlemen. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The president gave a short address explaining the objects 
     
     of the society. He was followed by Mr. Bain who read a very 
     
     instructive paper on the study of Island Botany. After a 
     
     short discussion, a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to 
     
     Mr. Bain." (N.H.S. Minute Book) 
     
    
   
   
    
     Nov. 14, 1889, the fourth public meeting of the society was held 
     
     the Philharmonic Hall and the following minutes were recorded. 
     
    
   
   
    
     "The attendance was large. Amongst those present were - 
     
     Ex-Governor McDonald, Hon. Mr. Bentley, Charles Palmer, 
     
    

    
     Chas. Gardiner, Dr. McLeod, Dr. Beer, Dr. Leeming, M. McLeod, Q.C., 
     
     Rev. Mrssr. McDonald (St. Dunstan's College), Gregory McDonald 
     
    

    
     and Cahil, A.A. Bartlett and Mrs. Bartlett.