it 1^, nu doiibl, Nc'iy i;v.iiLially knuwii tliat one of the 

 principal objects of iiKiuiry conloinplatcd by the founders 

 of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, was the 

 investigation of the Natural History of the Cunadas. In 

 furtlicrancc of this important object, the Class of Natural 

 History was formed, to which all conanunications relative 

 to it are referred. 



In my situation as Cliairinan of the Class, 1 have been 

 rcfjnested to draw up an Adilress, to be circulated through 

 the Province, inviting attention to the subject, and solicit- 

 ing comnujnieations relative to it. 1 cannot but indulge a 

 sanguine hope that the attention of the rising youth of the 

 country in jjarticular, will be directed to this interesting 

 subject ; it is so admirably calculated to occuj)y their leisure 

 hours agreeably and usefully, to embellish and enlarge, as 

 well as to invigorate their understanding: and above all to 

 purify their taste, and to awaken in them a relish for some 

 of the highest enjoyments of which we are susceptible. 



'i'he resources of this great country are so imperfectly 

 known, and its jjopulation is so scattered over its va^-t 

 surface, that it is by the co-oiK?ration only of many indivi- 

 <luals that any approximation to the enil in view can bo 

 obtained ; that insulated and ajiparcntly unimportant facts 

 become valuable when collected and grouped in u common 

 ceutre, by which their relations to each other can be 

 ("■tabli^hed and their anomalies explained. 



'i'lie range of observation is a very wide one, including 



