164 BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



sign of a habitation is an occasional white tent, the only sounds the 

 Yoices of woodland songsters, the roar of the wind through innumer- 

 able trees, or the rushing waters through foaming rapids. To be sure 

 it is the sport of salmon or trout fishing, or hunting, that draws so 

 many to these northern streams. A few are tempted to seek rest in 

 the solitude of a wilderness, whilst still fewer go with some scientific 

 purpose in view, such as a better knowledge of our natural history 

 and resources. The members of our Dominion and Provincial natural 

 history surveys have done great service in this direction ; but the re- 

 sults of their observations are contained in reports not sufficiently 

 available for general purposes, and not sufficiently minute to suit the 

 specialist. What is needed is a studied and systematic investigation 

 of our forests, streams, mountains, plants and animals, in order to ac- 

 quire a fuller knowledge of the soil, climate and capabilities of the 

 province. This can be done to a great extent by amateur students 

 trained in our schools and colleges to observe and report accurately 

 upon the phenomena occurring about their own homes. They should 

 be taught to make observations with the barometer and thermometer ; 

 to make weather reports daily ; to study the rock exposures and soils : 

 to make maps on which would be outlined the courses of the streams 

 in their neighborhood, the lakes, cleared and wild lands, mountains, 

 valleys and plains ; to measure the length, course, velocity of current, 

 depth at various points of small streams in their vicinity ; to give the 

 dimensions and depth of lakes ; to measure the height of hills and 

 mountains, thus acquiring an insight into the use of the barometer and 

 level, and incidentally the importance of barometric readings at differ- 

 ent places ; to be able to distinguish at sight and classify the native 

 plants and animals of the vicinity, with observations on their habits, 

 mode of life, uses, appearance, occurrence. To these studies and ob- 

 servations might be added the survey of school grounds and adjacent 

 fields, the dimensions and height of the largest trees in the neighbor- 

 hood, the depth of the snow in the woods in winter, the dates of clos- 

 ing and opening of lakes and streams, the migrations of birds, and 

 other data that I will not here stop to detail, but which would be of 

 the greatest value to science if made with accuracy and regularity. 

 But how is all this to be done, and who is to do it? will be asked. 



Children are born observers and investigators. They will become 

 interested in and readily undertake such observations as I have out- 

 lined above, under proper direction. Such work will not interfere 

 with school work, -it will rather stimulate and encourage a great ei 



