LXIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Two copies are intended to be provided for each teacher who wishes to 

 conduct such observations, one to be attached to the school register, so 

 as to be preserved as the property of the section for reference from 3"ear 

 to year; the other to be sent in with the Return to the Inspector, who- 

 will transmit it to the Superintendent for examination, and compilation 

 if desirable. 



'•What is desired is to have recorded in these forms, the dates of the 

 first leafing, flowering and fruiting of plants and trees ; the first appear- 

 ance in the locality of birds migrating north in spring or south in 

 autumn, etc. While the objects specified here are given so as to enable 

 comparisons to be mado botween the different sections of the province, it 

 is very desirable that all other local phenomena of a similar kind be- 

 recorded. Each locality has a flora, fauna, climate, etc., more or less 

 distinctly its own ; and the more common trees, shrubs, plants, crops, 

 etc., are those which will be most valuable from a local point of view in 

 comparing the characters of a series of seasons. 



"Teachers will find this one of the most convenient means for the 

 stimulation of pupils in observing all natural phenomena Avhen going to 

 and from the school, some of the pupils radiating as far as two miles 

 from the school room. The ' nature study ' under these circumstances 

 will be mainly undertaken at the most convenient time, thus not 

 encroaching on school time, while on the other hand it will tend to 

 break up the monotony of school travel and fill an idle and wearisome 

 hour with interest and one of the most valuable forms of educational 

 discipline. The eyes of a whole school daily passing over the whole 

 district would let very little escape notice, especially if the first observer 

 of each annually-recurring phenomenon would have his or her name 

 recorded in the ' Nature Eecord ' book of the school as the first observer 

 of the phenomenon for that year. The c/bservations would be accurate, 

 as the facts would have to be demonstrated by the most undoubted evi- 

 dence, such as the bringing of the specimens to the school when possible 

 or necessary. 



" To all observers the following most im])ortant, most essential prin- 

 ciples of recording are emphasized. Better no date, no record, than a 

 WRONG one or a doubtful one. Sj)orts out of season, due to very local 

 conditions not common to at least a small field, should not be recorded 

 except parenthetically. The date to be recorded for the purposes of 

 compilations with those of other localities should be the first ot the many 

 of its kind flowering immediately after, etc. For instance, a butterfly 

 emerging from its chrysalis in a sheltered cranny by a southern window 

 in January would not be an indication of the general climate, but of the 

 peculiarly heated nook in which the chiysalis was sheltered ; nor would 

 a flower in a semi-artificial, warm shelter give the date required. When 

 these sports out of season occur, they might also be recorded, but within 



