see, most fascinating, and easy of access ; promising, too,, 

 because so rich, in interest and varied in character; and 

 fraught with even financial values to the country, which none 

 can afford to despise . 



Secondly — I do it as an attempt to meet, in part at least, 

 the demand for information by present or would-be students 

 of Nature here. There is a clamour for information regard- 

 ing the natural sciences — metliods of work, and for literature 

 bearing upon the geology, flora, fauna, etc., of this country, 

 which augurs well for the future of these branches. It is 

 hoped that this paper, and especially perhaps the list of au- 

 thorities and works to be hereto appended, may prove a use- 

 ful contribution to supplying the present need. 



Lastly — I am led to tliis subject by a personal interest 

 in [N'ature-study ; which has afforded me so much of both 

 sincere pleasure, and genuine profit, that I would fain entice 

 others to enter this domain, that they, too, may taste the de- 

 lights of the enchanted land. Given a love of jSTature, quick- 

 ened powers of observation, with a keen sense of the beauti- 

 ful ; and of the all-pervading presence of Him "who hath 

 made all things beautiful in His time" — and I know no re- 

 creation that will so truly recreate, and yield such unalloyed 

 and elevating pleasures, as can be found in the pursuit of 

 some branch of ISTature-study. 



It is a great delight to all lovers of ISTature to note the 

 attention being given to iSTature-study in our public schools. 

 Whatever else it may do, it cannot fail to impress some young 

 minds for life ; and to beget in them a passion for Nature, 

 which shall inspire them to research and labours profitable to 

 this great Dominion, and win for them the honour and 

 esteem of a grateful people. 



The Sciences to be reviewed are as follows : — Meteor- 

 ology, Geology, Botany, Zoology, Ornithology and Entomo- 

 logy, with their several branches. I shall give, first, a brief 

 history of the work done in the past in Manitoba and the 

 Northwest, more especially, perhaps, the former. Indicate, 

 secondly, what is now being attempted ; and, thirdly, what 

 special lines of study seem to call for particular and early at- 

 tention. 



I. As to the first, it is clearly impossible in our limited 

 space to do more than glaiu e at the labours of the earlier 



