The Cjipp Spoj^tsmah and N/tuijali 



No. 8. 



MONTREAL, A I Gl si 15th, [881 





NATURAL HISTORY IN SCHOOLS. 

 Wc have had some experience in the way of 

 explaining singular questions asked by young 

 people relative to points of Natural History, 

 The cause <>1 this in easily explained. Books 

 on Geology, Zoology and Rotany, are gener- 

 ally expensive, and in many cases not within 

 the reach of every ambitious young man or 

 woman. We would advise beginners who are 

 fond of zoological studies not to dabble in more 

 than two branches of the science at one time. 

 The study of Geology, Mineralogy and Crystal- 

 ography combine and will not place the student 

 in a quandary. The Mammalogy of this country 

 constitutes a subject of great interest, and there 

 are some instructive discoveries to be yet made, 

 especially among the small rodents. The stu- 

 dent who can take up this subject will find 

 plenty of new facts to add to the present human 

 knowledge. Ornithology and Oology go 

 together, and although the natural history of 

 birds have been pretty well worked up, still 

 there is the interesting and almost new study 

 of Oology from which it is probable to obtain 

 many embryological features new to science. 

 Again, there are probably some reptiles and 

 fishes of whose ceconomy we know little or 

 nothing. We remember about thirty years ago 

 communicating with the late celebrated Natur- 

 alist, Louis Agassiz, relative to a viviparous 

 fish (Cyprinoid) which we discovered on the 

 south side of Lake Ontario. A short time after 

 this Savan discovered another species belong- 

 ing to the same genus in California. Such in- 

 stances alone should suffice to instill into the 

 mind of the student acuteness and energy. By 

 perseverance, many new things can be obtained. 

 Moreover, it invariably occurs that the discov- 

 ery of a new form is followed by that ot ano- 

 ther closely allied. It was only the other day 

 }hat we had brought to us, a rare bat ( Vespt r- 

 tillio Novaboracensis), a pretty little creature, 



whose body is covered with reddish brown I 

 It was caught a! Lancaster, Out. 

 York hat is rare in Canada ; we I 

 in daylight at Toronto, in 1 - 16. I 

 pended by its feet from a branch of a low 

 in the Hon. .Mr. Allan'-, Moss Park. This 

 cimen was sent to the late I'r< 

 who informed us that the OCCUrren 



species at Toronto corrected a font 

 ment of .his regarding the geographical . 



of the animal, which was placed at a 1 

 southern latitude. The delightful stud 

 Entomology in which great progress has 



made of late years in the in.; 5 and 



Canada, can be combined with Botai 

 it is necessary that the Entomologist Bhould 

 have some knowledge of the plants growii _ 

 his neighborhood. It is therefore important 

 that these branches of Natural History shonld 

 be taught in our Common Schools, at leael the 

 rudiments should be instilled into the mil 

 the young at a time when it can be enjoj 

 a pleasant change in their daily exercises. AVe 

 contend that a man cannot properly or intel- 

 ligently fill the position of Judge, Barr - 

 Professor, Poet or Editor without seine k 

 ledge of Zoology. Many news writers can 

 discuss and give clear and profound dial, 

 on subjects interesting to the general public in 

 a secular way, but we believe that the additional 

 knowledge of this nature would enable them to 

 propound and elucidate matters which would 

 produce the best results among the multitude. 

 Why follow the old bum-drum system of educa- 

 tion? The wide views of this progressive 

 calls for reform, therefore extend the advanced 

 knowledge to the rising generation. Why 

 should the systems ot a semi-intelligent age be 

 continued when better results can be attained ? 

 (iive the young a knowledge of all new phen- 

 omena o\' nature that they may understand it. 

 and become better men and women. Paj E 



