18 



and country seats which lay at our feet or in the dim distance, pointed 



oiileverything of interest and explained every seeming diffici;lty, so 



that two hoin-s passed away in the most pleasant and profitable manner. 



The party now grouped themselves and an amateur photographer 

 took pictures of the various parties. These were developed later in the 

 summer and distributed to the variovis membei'S. After this we divided 

 into two parties, one of which was to return to Croydon by train, th& 

 other to walk across country through lanes and by-paths to Croydon, a 

 distance of over 12 miles. My friends choose to walk and I perforce 

 accompanied them. The remembrance of that walk will live in my 

 memory as long as life lasts, for in it I made the acquaintance of English 

 country sceneiy and Englishmen out for a holiday. It is not my pur- 

 pose to describe English scenery, nor to enter into details concerning 

 its beauties, but to point out the difference between Englishmen and 

 ourselves, when on an excursion. 



'i'he average Canadian loves a pic-nic and delights to ride in a 

 waggon along dusty roads to a point eight or ten miles away, eat a 

 hearty lunch, take a short stroll, eat again, get into the conveyance, 

 drive back to the city and talk about t^^e Field -Natviralists* 

 Excursion. The above h our plan. Can we not improve on 

 this, and although we may ride out as usual, could we not 

 do more walking and collecting and arrange for at least the active 

 members of the Club making all-day excursions by going out ten or 

 twelve miles from the city by rail or waggon and retui-ning across 

 country on foot. 



While I do not wish to condemn ourselves for our want of desire 

 to walk in the hot sun, I cannot help praising the Englishman for his 

 enthusiasm in entering upon these excursions with a characteristic zest. 

 If the excursions organized by us be fair examples of what is done in 

 other parts of our country I should advise a new departure and strongly 

 urge on the active members of the Club to form an inner circle and 

 have excursions of their own where they can explore and investigate 

 new districts and gather additional material for more fully elucidating 

 the Natural History of our district. 



The love of Natural Histcry, which is self-evident in England, 

 must arise from the familiaiity of both young and old of all classes 



