ARTICLE I. 
NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY AND PHYSIO- 
GRAPHY OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 
By W. F. Ganong. 
8i. — New Brunswick Animals and the Animal 
Romancers. 
Read by title December 1, 1903, and in full March 1, 1904; re-written Jan., 1905.. 
The last quarter of a century has seen a remarkable develop- 
ment in that form of literature which consist of charming popular 
writings about animals and their doings. A leader of this 
movement in America was John Burroughs, whose work com- 
bines literary grace with scientific truth to a degree not surpassed 
by that of any other modern nature-writer, and there are several 
others of similar spirit. Recently, however, there have arisen 
somewhat suddenly into prominence three writers on nature sub- 
jects whose works enjoy a popularity far surpassing that gained 
by any of their predecessors or contemporaries. These three are- 
Mr. Thompson Seton (earlier known as Seton Thompson), Mr. 
W. J. Long and Mr. C. G. D. Roberts. Of the former, I know 
little, but since the two latter have written extensively of New 
Brunswick animals I have been much interested in their works,, 
and I propose to make some comments upon them from the point 
of view of New Brunswick natural history. 
In examining the books by these graceful writers, two- 
questions naturally arise : first, as to the cause of their surpassing- 
popularity, and second, as to their worth as natural history. The 
cause of their popularity is, I believe, easily evident. It does not 
lie primarily in their literary charm, for in this they do not so far 
surpass other nature books, but it consists in this, that it tells 
about animals not as they are, but as people like to think they are.. 
Ample evidence of this is found in the fact that the warm praise 
awarded these books for their fidelity to nature, their accuracy 
*<y >t Zoology 
OCT 22 1940 
Library 
