1 903] Nature Study — No. i. 45 



NATURE STUDY— No. I. 



By James Fletcher, Ottawa. 



There is probably no subject which has so suddenly taken 

 hold of the minds of educators, particularly during the last five 

 years, as that which is now known in North America under the 

 name of Nature Study. 



It has been decided by the Publishing- Committee, with the 

 permission of the Editor, that a continuous series of articles upon 

 the common objects of the country should appear this year in The 

 Ottawa Naturalist. It is believed that such articles will be 

 found of value and interest both to our general readers and also 

 to the many teachers and students who read the monthly maga- 

 zine and attend our excursions. The Ottawa Eield-Naturalists' 

 Club is essentially an educational institution, and the officers are 

 always anxious to make use of every opportunity of widening its 

 scope of usefulness. 



Much has been done in the schools of Ottawa by prominent 

 members of the Club to foster a love for Nature. Mr. William 

 Scott, now of Toronto, Dr. Sinclair and Mr. Putman, of the 

 Ottawa Normal School, have always appreciated the great value 

 of Nature Study in the science of teaching. Miss Bolton, Mr. D, 

 A. Campbell, Miss Harmon and Miss Lee, Mrs. Ross, Miss 

 Matthews, as well as Mr. Attwood and particularly Dr. Guillet, 

 all of them experienced teachers, have recently made a special 

 feature of stimulating an interest in school work of all kinds by 

 using the attractiveness of natural objects to create a studious 

 habit. Some of our leading newspapers, having recognized the 

 trend of public opinion, have made arrangements for a special 

 department of Nature Study in their columns. A series entitled 

 " In Field and Wood " has already been begun in the Mail and 

 Empire. 



Nor have the educators in other parts of Canada lagged 

 behind in adopting this important means of arousing interest, 

 enthusiasm, and appplication among the boys and girls who are 

 being trained to be her citizens of the future. In every Province 

 of the Dominion something has been done or some provision has 



