12 Things to be observed in Canada. 



known to others the utterances which have broken on his own 

 inner ear, and rejoice in being able to add his mite to the treasury 

 of our knowledge of nature. 



I might here speak of the facilities which this city presents in 

 access to books and collections. They are small in comparison 

 with those in many cities of the old world. Yet they are not 

 despicable. The collection of the Geological Survey, the collec- 

 tion and library of this Society, and those of our educational insti- 

 tutions, offer many aids to the student, as well as many objects 

 deserving of farther study and explanation. The meetings oftlm 

 Society also afford a valuable means of improvement and profit- 

 able intercourse; and our Journal, the Canadian Naturalist, has 

 for one of its objects the introduction of inquirers to profitable 

 fields of research. Already, in the two volumes published, there 

 are valuable summaries of the facts most necessary to the student 

 in many of the departments referred to in this lecture. 



It is scarcely necessary to add that such, studies as those which 

 I have recommended, even if they afford no new fact? or prin- 

 ciples, are in themselves capable of yielding much rational plea- 

 sure ; and that in this aspect of the subject the field of inquiry is 

 much more extensive than in the former; since here we are not 

 restricted to the absolutely unknown, but may find for ourselves 

 quite as much interest and novelty in ground previously trodden 

 by others, but new to us. 



In conclusion, I may say on behalf of all those members of this 

 Society engaged in the pursuit of any department of Natural His- 

 tory, that they will welcome with pleasure any inquirer fired with 

 the true ardour of a naturalist; and that they will most thank- 

 full}' avail themselves of, and honourably acknowledge any aid 

 that they may receive in collecting the material of their investiga- 

 tions. Nor need this statement be limited to Montreal. My subject 

 being local, I have confined myself chiefly to things and persons in 

 our city ; but there are men in other parts of Canada, and beyond 

 its limits, working at these subjects ; and while it is desirable that 

 here we should rival them in these pursuits, no reason exists to 

 prevent our emulation from being accompanied by mutual and 

 friendly aid. In this spirit I close by asking pardon, if, in the 

 above remarks, I have unwittingly omitted or done injustice to 

 any labourer in the departments of science to which I have ad- 

 verted. 



J. W. D. 



