THE 



CANADIAN 



NATURALIST AND GEOLOGIST. 



Volume III. FEBRUARY, 1858. Number 1. 



ARTICLE I. — Things to be observed in Canada, and especially 

 in Montreal and its vicinity. The introductory Lecture 

 of the Popular Course of the Montreal Natuial History 

 Society, winter of 185-7—8. — By the President. 



There are in all places some things which every one sees, and 

 other things which, though equally or more interesting, very few 

 see. Every visitor to Montreal is likely to know something of our 

 public works and buildings, our mountain and its scenery, our 

 rapids, and many other prominent objects, interesting to natural- 

 ists no doubt, but equally so to other men. It is not necessary to 

 refer to such things as these ; and I propose this evening to direct 

 your attention to some more obscure and less noteworthy objects, 

 deserving attention from those among us who love the study of 

 nature. 



In order to receive much pleasure and some advantage from the 

 study of natural history, it is not necessary to be a great natural- 

 ist. In this subject we do not repel the tyro with the harsh 

 warning, drink deep or taste not. We hail every young inquirer 

 as an aid, and are glad to have the smallest contributions which 

 are the result of earnest and well directed inquiry. In truth a 

 large proportion of the new facts added to natural science, are 

 collected by local naturalists, whose reputation never becomes 

 very extensive, but who are yet quoted by larger workers, and 



