160 



nothing has been done with the exception of a few notes embodied in 

 the reports on general zoology. The need of studying this at once, must 

 be evident to you all, as no other class is so influenced by the settling 

 of the country ; species that once were numerous, in a very few years 

 may be reduced to an occasional stray individual. Even now, a paper 

 on any family would, to a great extent, be taken up with detailing how 

 plentiful they were in former years. But while the number of individuals 

 is greatly diminished, the number of species is much less affected. Dr. 

 Merriam in his recent work on the mammals of the Adirondac region 

 mentions 46 sjiecies that occur there, and Dekay, in the report of the 

 New York State government, gives about 50. A list published in the 

 bulletin of the Natural History Society of New Brunswick contains 43 

 as found in that province. In onr neighbourhood we should find the class 

 well represented. It would astonish many of our people were thev aware 

 of the good-sized animals that may be found in the woods they frequently 

 visit, whose size it would be supposed would render them easily visible, 

 but whose habits of life make them wary, and they easily escape the eye 

 of the unobservant. Within very short distances of the city we may 

 expect to fin I the greater number on these lists, while at no very great 

 distance the more ferocious are constantly making their presence known, 

 to the detriment of the farmer. 



One of our first objects then is the systematic study of our mam- 

 mals and the preparation of a pei'fect list. More is required than 

 simply an enumeration of sjjecies, to this should be added whatever in- 

 formation may be gained regarding their numbers, their range, and the 

 fact of their being permanent or only visitors. When this is prepared, 

 then notes and papers on particular families may follow with more 

 advantage. In this study all the information you require may be 

 obtained from "Jordan's Handbook of the Vertebrates," and "Dr. Mer- 

 riam's Mammalia of the Adirondacs." The former is now the genei'allv 

 accepted authority, not only on this, but also on all the classes of 

 vertebrates, and furnishes an excellent working key. In the latter you 

 will find the result of many years observations of a thoiougli naturalist 

 in a region whei^e the Fauna is essentially Canadian. 



The next class, Aves, is one we are very intimate with, our 

 ornitholosrists beincr anions; the most active of our meuibers. The list 



