i74 The Ottawa Naturalist. [November 



ably crowd around these exhibits, bears testimony to the great in- 

 terest in the subject, not only on the part of the friends ot the 

 exhibitors, but also among the general public; and, besides, it is 

 highly commendable, because they are stimulating the study of 

 branches of knowledge which are now acknowledged to be of the 

 utmost importance, in finding simple means for preventing loss in 

 the crops of the country and thus increasing enormously its reve- 

 nues, as well as, at the same time, the prosperity and happiness of 

 the individual cit'zen. Teachers and students may therefore feel 

 quitejustified in giving the necessary time and thought required 

 in trying to learn the true nature of some of the common natural 

 history objects around them. These to most minds will be 

 found on closer acquaintance to be so attractive that they will sti- 

 mulate further study and engender a craving for more knowledge 

 concerning all similar objects. This will bring with it increased 

 powers of observation and comparison, in short, a scientific atti- 

 tude of mind which strives to see things in their true light, to 

 think correctly, and to understand what is being considered. To 

 do this will require much patience and mental self control, as well 

 as great care to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions. It may be 

 claimed, then, that this work is certainly useful, not only from an 

 educational point of view because it demands close observation and 

 thought, which train the mind and form character ; but also be- 

 cause the actual knowledge acquired is of use in the ordinary 

 walks of every day life. A nature study may be defined as an edu- 

 cational exercise consisting of a careful observation of some com- 

 mon natural history object, together with a conscious mental ef- 

 fort to learn as much as possible of its nature and uses : what it 

 is, what it does, why it does it, how it does it, and what its rela- 

 tion is to man or more directly to the observer himself. In such 

 an exercise it is convenient and often necessary to preserve speci- 

 mens both of the objects under consideration and of similiar and 

 allied forms, so as to have these at all times easy of access for 

 study and comparison. This means to make a collection. In 

 doing this, it is soon noticed that each kind of plant has its own 

 habitat or special locality where it finds conditions most suitable 

 to its highest development, and that, to find it in the best state 

 for study, it must be sought for in those localities. For the 



