i6 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



This, then, is a magazine of "what I have done and seen," rather than 



"what I have heard and read." 



';^^*m.M ;sp 



EDITORIAL . —r 



OUR INTRODUCTION. 



"Labor with what zeal we will," —it is really surprising 

 how many things remain undone. And yet, for the first number,— 

 well here it is, without editorial eulogy or apology. 



The best explanations of what we propose to do will be 

 found in this and succeeding numbers, and we hope the best eulo- 

 gies will be the comments of our readers. 



As to apologies, we have none, though they may be 

 needed. Words are not the only means of atoning for short- 

 comings. 



PERSONAL. 



My presidency of The Agassiz Asso- 

 ciation and my editorship of its official 

 magazine, "The Guide to Nature," is 

 neither a profession nor a business. It 

 is a labor of love. It is not accompanied 



by salary, nor by remuneration of any 

 kind other than the joy of doing good 

 work, but in this I am well paid. 



Every cent received is used to pay the 

 society's bills, whereby it and its work 

 are made better. No salaried officer is 

 connected with the Association. Every 

 one gives time or money or both to ad- 

 vance and improve the work. This and 

 much more is fully explained in the 

 Manual of the Association, a copy of 

 which will be mailed to any address on 

 receipt of ten cents. 



The following announcement was 

 made to contributors in the Prospectus : 



"From the first issue "The Guide" 

 will pay for contributed articles and il- 

 lustrations. The rate, at first moder- 

 ate, will be gradually increased with the 

 prosperity of the magazine. Reports, 

 letters, inquiries or matter of personal 

 nature will, of course, not be paid for, 

 but original articles and illustrations that 

 may be available will be bought." 



The amount offered will be small, and 

 it is hoped that even this will be used 

 in purchasing membership, subscriptions, 

 or contributed directly to the work of the 

 Association. I firmly believe that a 

 magazine with the ideals and scope of 

 "The Guide" is needed and never more 

 so than at present. I invite your co- 

 operation. 



"WHAT'S THE NEWS?" 



Every little village, even if of only a 

 few hundred inhabitants, has one or 

 more newspapers to chronicle the latest 

 happenings. If Groceryman James 

 paints his store, if Farmer Brown buys 

 a new horse, or if Miss Jenkins from 

 the great city is visiting her Aunt Matil- 

 da, it is duly set forth in type. As even 

 the little village has its disseminator of 

 news, so has every organization, politi- 

 cal party, guild, church and lodge. If 

 High Mighty Mogul Mosper makes a 

 speech at the installation of certain 

 officers, or if he is the chairman at the 

 banquet of the Ancient Order of Cave 

 Men, his words are heralded far and 

 near in the lodge journals. 



But let a polar bear die in a zoological 

 garden, a toad of uncertain age be found 



