'has been made towards the solution of this great question tliat we 

 ^are at this moment no farther advanced in it, than was the human race 

 6,000 years ago. Of this much only are we certain : the road to it lies 

 through Natural History. The more widely this science is diffused, 

 the greater the host of observers, the nearer we shall be to the desired 

 end. Man has nearly all his friends and foes in the animal, vegetable 

 and mineral kingdoms. Some furnish him v/ith shelter, others with 

 xjlothing, food, or cures for his ailments ; while still others destroy 

 continually his subsistence, rob him of his labours, or with their poi- 

 sons slay him. It is useful knowledge to recognize our friends from 

 our foes, and such is simply the knov/ledge of Natural History. For 

 these, and a host of similar reasons that might be stated, we conceive 

 that the objects of the proposed new^ journal are at least good. There 

 is no part of the world in the same latitude more rich in Natural History 

 objects than Canada ; but from a pretty extensive examination of the 

 subject we are satisfied that these have not been as fully explored and 

 laid open to the reading world as their importance demands. It would 

 be difficult to point oat more than thirty published papers of any value 

 in the scientific journals upon this subject, so far as it relates to Can- 

 ada^ and these are most of them not easily procured by the general 

 reader. In the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist an attempt will be 

 taade not only to collect, review and compile all the information 

 hitherto published concerning the material productions of these Pro- 

 vinces, but also to give an account of many new discoveries not yet 

 placed before the scientific w^orld. 



Every exertion, we are assured, will be made to insure accuracy, 

 and it is therefore hoped that the work will be found useful to all who 

 desire to make themselves acquainted with the Natural History of this 

 part of the continent. 



In addition to the observations contained in the above paragrapli, it 

 may not be out of place for me to remark that those who have laboured so 

 successfully m order to gain for this young and flourishing colonyj the 

 high reputation it bears abroad for the abundance and excellence of its 

 economical resources, would, no doubt, rejoice could it also become as 

 favourably known for the devotion of its people to the cultivation of science. 

 This name cannot be well gained unless we make contributions of new 

 truths to the stock of human knowledge already acquired. It is not enough 

 that we diligently study the sciences perfected by the labours of others, 

 but we should endeavour to add something — the fruit of our own researches. 

 Otherwise, it cannot be said that we have accomplished anything towards 

 the advancement of learning, but only contented ourselves with following 

 in the wake of those more industrious. There is not a square mile of the 

 whole surface of this Province which docs not contain a greater or less 

 number of scientific truths yet remaining to be developed, any one of which, 

 if properly brought to light, would be highly prized by the " savans" of 

 Europe. There is not a Township in which a noble museum of Natural 

 History could not be collected. If there were in each county a few young 

 men sufficiently advanced to classify the specimens of their immediate 

 neighbourhoods, such collections would soon make their appearance ; but 

 without much preparatory instruction, this very desirable state of things 

 cannot be expected. I have learned by some personal experience that the 



