100 



THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



a portion of his leisure to the study of Natural 

 History is " sport." — we appreciate his en- 

 thusiasm when he enters the woods with insect- 

 net in hand — he has no mercenary objects in 

 view, but a love of study. The student of 

 Geology, Conchology and Botany, and the 

 man who rambles through the fields to procure 

 something to instruct his brother does good 

 and enjoys " sport." Then, in the name of all 

 that is human, why should the word " sport" 

 be associated with such unnatural proceed- 

 ings as cock-fighting, killing salmon to take 

 their progeny from them ; injuring high-bred 

 horses by racing, or gambling in any form, be 

 encouraged in Canada. 



The first volume of The Canadian Sports- 

 man and Naturalist, the only journal in 

 Canada devoted to the lovers of the rod and 

 gun, suffices to illustrate what we intend to 

 follow up, and despite whatever opposition we 

 may receive hereafter from pseudo Canadian 

 Sporting papers, the pages of our periodical 

 will not be contaminated by productions that 

 are not fit to be read by the most fastidious 

 man or worn an. — C. 



ing tor trout, or playing the noble salmon, 

 afford opportunities for the display of more 

 manly qualities than a novice is apt to suspect. 

 Patience and judgment, as well as a certain 

 degree of skill, are requisite to success ; and 

 who will say that these are not equally essen- 

 tial in other pursuits in life ? A love of nature 

 is usually combined with a love for sport ; the 

 wanderer in the forest becomes attached to her 

 solitudes, he derives instruction as well as 

 amusement from a contemplation other works, 

 while the prosecution of bis sport affords him 

 at the same time that invigorating exercise so 

 necessary to the enjoyment of health. 



Wallace. 



THE INFLUENCE OF SPORT. 

 To those who are not in the habit of using 

 the gun or fishing-rod it may appear strange 

 that a certain number of their fellow beings 

 have such a fondness for the pleasures of the 

 chase. By some the amusement may be con- 

 sidered childish, by others cruel ; yet there is, 

 perhaps, no pastime more calculated to develop 

 a manliness of character than the art of shoot- 

 ing or fishing as practised by a lover of these 

 sports. That, which at one time was the prin- 

 cipal occupation of our forefathers, has now 

 become a popular diversion, indulged in by all 

 classes from the peasant to the peer ; royalty 

 itself has not been proof against its attractions, 

 and the pleasures of court have been forsaken 

 for the excitement of moor. We need not 

 wonder at the fascination which the forest has 

 for the hunter, or the river or brook for the 

 disciple of " Walton." The pleasures of cast- 



THE PETER REDPATH MUSEUM. 

 This handsome building which will be here- 

 after looked on with pride by the inhabitants 

 of Montreal, is situated a short distance from 

 McGill University, to which it is attached for 

 museum educational purposes. The college 

 collection of specimens, in a geological and 

 paleontological view, are extensive, and when 

 arranged in the new building, will be seen to 

 advantage. The Carpenter collection of shells 

 will also form a grand feature of interest both 

 to student and visitor. Dr. Dawson, we are 

 told, will add his own private collection, and 

 a large donation of specimens will be added «s 

 soon as the museum is ready for occupation. 

 Montreal will then have a thorough educa- 

 tional museum of Natural History, and the 

 only one in Canada that can compare with 

 some of the Collegiate Museums of the United 

 States. It is expected to be open by the time 

 the American Science Association meets here 

 in August. 



What will the Natural History Society of 

 Montreal do when the Peter Redpath Museum 

 opens free to the public ? Will they be able 

 to keep up their establishment on the present 

 nominal public charge of admission, a small 

 membership, and a poor government grant? 

 We doubt if they can, and being aware that 

 they were at one time willing to amalgamate 



