218 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan. 



not even the commonest object in Nature, that is not worthy 

 of a careful examination. It is a great mistake, but a mistake 

 which is often made, even by scientific men, to suppose that 

 new knowledge can be gathered only from the unexplored 

 fields of science, when, in the most familiar w^alks of life, there 

 are countless riches of truth which the reapers, in the hurry of 

 the harvest, have passed unnoticed, and which will abundantly 

 reward the careful gleaner. The French aptly expres.s this 

 thought in the proverb, 'La Science court les rues' — 'Science 

 runs the streets;' or, more freely translated, knowledge is to 

 be found everywhere, by those who will look for it, for it is so 

 plentiful that it rtins in the very gutters of the streets." 



In conclusion he said: — "Let us, then . . . strive, 

 while working up the natural history of our neighborhood 

 thoroughly, to do so in a popular manner, intelligible to all. 

 I believe we have it in our power to give much happiness to 

 many, by inducing them, by our example and persuasions, to 

 study with us Nature. Its wonders are open to everyone, from 

 the voungest child to the aged man; it offers charms and fas- 

 cinations to all — for all is wonderful and beautiful; and, as 

 nothing makes men so happy as contemplating the beautiful, 

 I consider nothing is so v/ell calculated to make men good 

 and happy as a study of Nature." 



What Dr. Fletcher was as a Leader is recorded, though 

 only in part, in the volumes of Transactions of the Club, which 

 are as a monument to his memory. His "Flora Ottarvaensis" 

 was a feature of the early days of the Club and his endeavor was 

 to obtain as complete a series as possible of our local flowering 

 plants and ferns. 



He drew us all together by the magic power of his sweet 

 personality, by the enthusiasm of his love for Nature all about 

 us, and by the kind words and deeds which he uttered and per- 

 formed even unto the end. 



The secret of his good life lay in the fact that he himself 

 was led by motives and visions of the highest and best ideals. 

 Inspired b}^ a strong desire to see others enjoy Nature as he 

 did, he presented the truths as they were revealed to him in a 

 most delightful and pleasing manner. The simplicity of his 

 remarks even when dealing with difficult subjects, marked him 

 as a clear-sighted and keen observer and a vigorous and suc- 

 cessful lecturer. With what care he described all he saw of 

 interest in the field and forest, on the road or in the street! 

 Oftimes he was called upon to repeat the same facts and truths, 

 but he never wearied of imparting knowledge. In the numerous 

 excursions and sub-excursions of the Club about Ottawa he 

 was the rallying point and centralizing force. In all his ad- 



