4 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



is expected to do it independently of any aid beyond general oversight 

 and direction ; and he is warned that the paper will be of greater 

 value, provided it contain the bibliography of the subject and con- 

 stant reference by page and volume to his authorities. 



11. The preparation of bibliographies is part of a teacher's duty. 

 Moreover, he who has access to a rich and well-appointed library can 

 do a service to the rest of his guild by leaving behind him notes of 

 his bookish experiences. He can in a few words say whether a book 

 is good or bad for a particular purpose, or indicate what part of it 

 contains a valuable discussion, or furnishes useful facts in a subject 

 within the study. For this purpose it has been a great convenience 

 to have little blank-books of ordinary stiff manila paper, six inches 

 by three, with each page perforated like postage-stamps near the butt 

 of the book, so that each page can be torn off smoothly. On this page 

 a book can be entered under a suitable heading, with its exact title 

 and author, and room still be left for a very generous amount of criti- 

 cism or commendation, or for noting the contents of the book. The 

 cards can be laid away alphabetically by subjects in a drawer, and 

 will prove of invaluable aid at many times. Books of which one has 

 heard but never seen, can also be entered with a star, to be erased 

 when a book has been examined. This systematic habit is peculiarly 

 desirable when one is hunting for the facts on a certain subject. One 

 will in this way lose nothing by forgetting where a statement has 

 once been seen. 



In this brief and inadequate way I have attempted to suggest from 

 my own experience what may enable others to avoid difficulties, and 

 possibly to aid in a more rational method of teaching political econ- 

 omy. It is scarcely more probable that what I have said is all new 

 than that others should agree with me throughout in what I have ad- 

 vanced ; nor is it unlikely that other teachers may have many other 

 suggestions to make in addition to mine. If my efforts may call them 

 out and aid in better methods of teaching, I shall be amply repaid. 



LOST COLONIES OF NORTHMEN AND PORTUGUESE * 



By E. G. HALIBUKTON. 



"ATO one can find a "message from the sea," telling of the fate of 

 -L-^l some long-missing vessel, without a feeling of emotion ; but the 

 stray waifs that throw light on the history of lost colonies are of a 

 deeper interest, for they supply missing chapters in the annals of 

 colonization and early maritime enterprise. 



* Abridged from a paper read before the Geographical Section of the British Associa- 

 tion at Montreal. 



