4 Anniversary address 



There are books and books innumerable, many of 

 them finely illustrated and costly, on the three divisions 

 of natural history I have named, but many of these 

 are written by mere compilers, clever bookmakers. Such 

 books as the latter lovers of natural history generally 

 avoid, for they quickly detect the want of practical 

 natural history experience and keen observing power 

 that all writers on such subjects should possess before 

 venturing to publish what they write. But, on the 

 other hand, we have a host of splendid authors, 

 many of them possessing genius, who charm us with 

 their books on these subjects ; authors who carefully 

 and industriously observe for themselves, who glory in 

 their work, and delight the world with it. Such authors 

 as Macgillivraj^ Gilbert White, Knap, and Alexander 

 Wilson, are fair and good examples of an almost countless 

 number of careful observers and writers on natural 

 history. The reading world may well be, and is proud 

 of them. The enjoyment and the knowledge imparted 

 by these, and such writers as these, to millions of our 

 race, no one can estimate. Many of them, however, 

 have both our gratitude and love. But though many 

 a member of this Club, and of other similar societies, 

 knows that in the appreciative perusal of the writings 

 of the most correct, enthusiastic, and almost exhaustive 

 observers, great though the charm be, a really more 

 satisfactor}^ enjoyment comes to him when in field or 

 forest he, from patient and careful observation, ])ersonally 

 learns something definite of the many deeply interesting 

 ways and movements of birds, insects, and plants. 



But as lovers of nature we by no means confine our- 

 selves to the study only of such subjects as I have 

 named. When afield, we seldom fail to note and admire 

 the beauty and grandeur of the scenery around and 

 above us, the fine revelations of earth and sky. There 

 is, for instance, an unspeakable charm for us in our fine 

 grass-OTeen Border hills, either when sun-bri<;ht or in 



