138 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [June 



questions to which I have referred ; but we are well situated for 

 the useful task of accumulating the necessary data for their 

 settlement. The broad area of the American continent, the wide 

 space occupied by its geological formations, the completeness of 

 the series of its palaeozoic rocks, the unbroken connection of its 

 post-pliocene and modern fauna and flora, the meeting on this 

 continent within recent times of multitudes of indigenous and 

 exotic species of plants and animals, the existence up to our own 

 time of feral and aboriginal conditions which are pre-historic 

 in the Eastern continent, — these are all points of vantage on 

 which we can seize in dealing with these questions ; and if we 

 properly inform ourselves as to what is being done elsewhere, and 

 diligently improve our own opportunities, I see nothing to prevent 

 us from taking the lead of those who in the Old World are 

 pursuing such inquiries in a comparatively narrow field, and 

 under conditions in many respects less favourable. I must insist, 

 however, that this is not to be done by vieing with them in crude 

 speculations and hypotheses, or in building up specious fabrics of 

 conjecture to dazzle the popular eye, but in patient, honest, and 

 careful accumulation of focts. 



We should also bear in mind that in the greater centres of 

 literary and scientific life, there is a strong temptation, especially 

 on the part of ambitious men who have their own fortunes to 

 build up, to deal in that sensation science with which the popular 

 literature of the day is deluged. In our own comparatively 

 obscure field there is little inducement to this or opportunity for 

 its display, and this is so for in favor of a healthy scientific 

 tone, which we should endeavour to preserve and cultivate. Our 

 danger arises from being too ready to follow the extreme views 

 put forth elsewhere, and from impatience with the slow returns 

 for honest and careful work. 



