1HE BIRDS OF QUEBEC. 



a popular lecture delivered before the natural 



history society, at montreal, 



12th march, 1891. 



Illustrated by Specimens. 



PART I. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 



With your permission we shall spend a social hour, 

 and hold confab with the friends of your youth and of 

 mine — the birds. Nor need you doubt me when I tell 

 you that it is not in the spirit of exact science, but 

 rather with the freedom of an old acquaintance that I 

 shall to-night introduce to you some of the most 

 notable species found near your city. 



Do not expect a highly scientific discourse on ornitho- 

 logy : stray jottings, rambles amongst birds and books 

 — that is all I can promise you to night. 



That branch of zoology which treats of birds is 

 denominated ornithology. It is beyond a doubt that 

 this department of the animal kingdom attracted the 

 attention of mankind in the remotest ages ; several 

 birds, as you are aware, are indicated by name and 

 their peculiarities alluded to in Holy Writ. Mention is 

 frequently made in the earliest and best of books, the 

 Bible, of the soaring eagle, the dismal raven, the tiny 

 sparrow, the grave-looking owl, the migratory stork. 



