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Societe Provancher d'flistoire
Naturelle du Canada.

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SOCIETE PROVIlNCHER

D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE

DU CANADA

Abbe L. PROVENCHER

I.e grand naturaliste canadien

ERRATA

Pages 26 et 27, Jacques Cartier, enlever le trait-d'union.

f au lieu de 1 ( sur toutes les pages.

Provancher \ \ Provencher -I

[ instead oi J ^ \ on all the pages.

SOCIETE PROVEN CHER

D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE

DU CANADA

Abbe L. PROVENCHER
Le grand naturaiiste canadien

^

SIEGE SOCIAL ;

QUfiBEC, P. Q.

I
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SOCIETE PROVENCHER

D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE

DU CANADA

SOGIETE PROVENCHER D HISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA

BUREAU DE DIRECTION

President Abbe Ph.-J. Fillion, M. A.

ler' vice-president Colonel Oscar Pelletier

2eme vice-president Docteur S. Gaudreau

Secretaire-tresorier. Jos. Matte

Chef de la section scientifique Abbe Alexandre Vachon, M. A.

Chef de la section de propaga?ide

educationnelle Docteur D.-A. Dery

Chef de la section deprotection....C.-E. Dionne, M. A.

Chef de la section d' information

scientifique et pratique Docteur J.-E. Bernier

Directeurs Eug.-G. Audet

Docteur L,-N.-J. Fiset
Capt. T.-P. Gagnon

' SOCIETE PROVANCHER D'HISTOIRE
NATURELLE DU CANADA

Bureau de direction pour 1922

Presidents Colonel Oscar Pelletier

ler vice-president. R. Meredith, N.P.

2€7ne vice-president Docteur A. I>6ry

SecrUaire-iresorier. Jos. Matte

Chef de la section sdentifique.. Abbe Alexandre Vachon, M.A.

Chef de la section de propagande edu-
cationnelle.... Docteur S. Gaudreau

Chef de la section de protection.^ C.-E. Dionne, M.A.

Chef de la section d'information sden-
tifique et pratique. Docteur J.-E. Bernier

[ Docteur L.-N.-J. Fiset

I

Directeurs \ Capt. A. Joly de LotbiniI:re

I

I Capt. T.-P. Gagnon

6

SOCIETE PROVENCHER

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Le premier president

d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA

INTRODUCTION

C'EST dans la pensee de quelques fervents des sciences naturelles,
en position de constater les lacunes de noire organisation pour
la protection du gibier, du poisson et des oiseaux, qii/a germe
Videe d'une association qui travaillerait d'accord avec les pouvoirs
publics a ameliorer cet etat de chose. C'etait en 1918.

Le hon fondionnement et les resultats si heureux ohtenus aux
Etats-Unis par la Societe Audubon, fondee a New-York en 1886 par
le docteur George Bird Grinnell, editeur du "Forest and Stream", et
par >.s nombreuses societes du meme nom, formees dans plusieurs
etats. et qui en 1905 re(,urent une direction unique sous le nom de
'The National Association of Audubon Societies", devaient fournir
les idees directrices d'une organisation similaire chez nous.

Von resolid de se faire incorporer dans ce but, et le 15 (wril 1919
"La Societe Provfncher d'Histoire Naturelle du Canada" obtenait ses
lettres patentes du gouvernement canadien avec des pouvoirs tres eten-
dus.

Notre societe, dont le nom rappellera le souvenir d'un de nos
naturalistes canadiens les plus celebres, voudrait faire aimer Vhistoire
naturelle surtout par les enfants, en se servant de moyens faciles et
agreables, faire mieux connaitre nos ressources naturelles, ameliorer,
par exemple, les modes d* exploitation de nos pecheries, empecher
par tous les moyens en son pouvoir la destruction de notre gibier.

Elle voudrait faire naitre et grandir dans notre peuple Vinstinct
de conservation qui se developpe si bien depuis quelques annees chez
nos voisins americains, grace aux admirables methodes de la societe
Audubon.

Cette societe institua en 1910 sa campagne educationnelle dans
les ecoles avec une energie telle qu'aujourd'hui pres de 600,000 enfants
et 30,000 instituteurs regoivent Vinstruction systematique au moyen
de feuilUs volantes comme ceUes que notre societe a commence ct con-
tinuera a repandre dans la province. Six millions de feuilles ou
pamphlets sont annuellement distribues par cette assodaiion aux
Etats-Unis et dejd au-deld de 8,000 eleves au Canada jouissent de
cette propagaruie educationnelle. Aussi la Societe Aubudon a-t-elle
reussi par son travail a reveiller Vattention du public pour la protec-
tion des especes indigenes et aujourd^hui elle jouit de In confiance
populaire qui se manifeste tous les jours par un appui financier

SOCIETE PROVEN CHER

extraordinaire. C'est ainsi que monsieur Wilcox, en mourant, faisait
en 1906 a V association un don de $336,000. Elle emploie d Vannee
des conferenciers qui instruisent le public et les diverses organisations
au moyen de conferences illustrees. Durant Vete elle donne a ses
frais des cours speciaux aux instituteurs. Elle a un departement
d' ornithologie dont le but est d' encourager les gens a attirer pres de
eur demeure les oiseaux par differents moyens artijiciels, etc.

La SociETE Pro VENCHER d'Histoire Naturelledu Canada
croit que le meilleur moyen de reussir d atteindre son but, c'est dHmiter
cette association, c'est-d-dire crier un grand mouvement educationnel,
et cela par Vecole. C'est en effet la generation de demain qu'elle veut
former.

Par la persuasion, par V enseignement, elle arrivera a perfec-
tionner le mode de protection de notre gibier, elle travaillera a deve-
lopper les pickeries pour que le pays en retire le plus grand profit
possible, elle etudiera les moyens a prendre pour favoriser les especes
indigenes en voie de s'eteindre.

Notre programme peut se resumer com,me suit :

(a) Etudier Thistoire naturelle, specialement du regne animal
et creer un sentiment populaire en faveur de sa vulgarisation;

(b) Cooperer avec les autorites federales et provinciales et les
organisations telles que clubs sportifs, etc., pour favoriser I'etude
et la diffusion des connaissances de I'histoire naturelle dans les
ecoles, convents, colleges et universites et pour la protection et
I'accroissement des animaux indigenes: mammiferes, oiseaux,
poissons, etc. Bien que son but soit de proteger activement la
vie des especes indigenes, la societe reconnait pleinement les droits
des sportsmen et elle n'entend pas causer d'ennui a ceux qui,
legalement, chassent les oiseaux ou animaux gibiers.

(c) Developper nos ressources cynegetiques et nos pecheries;

(d) Promouvoir Fetablissement d'ecoles de pecheries;

(e) Nommer des commissions d'etude;

(/) Louer, acquerir et amenager des reserves et territoires,
creer des champs d'alimentation pour les oiseaux et les gibiers;

(g) Louer ou acquerir des droits pour favoriser la propagation
et I'accroissement des especes en voie de s'eteindre ;

(h) Etudier les lacs, rivieres, fleuves et golfes du Canada aux
points de vue biologique et oceanographique;

(i) Etablir un bureau d'information;

(.7) Publier revues et journaux;

(k) Posseder bibliotheque et musee;

(I) Fonder des chaires d'histoire naturelle;

(m) S'affilier a d'autres soci^t^s et s'affilier d'autres societes
ou organisations tant au pays qu'a I'etranger;

d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA 9

(n) Recruter des membres;

(o) Xommer des conferenciers, donner des conferences piibli-
ques;

(p) Nommer des gardiens speciaux:

(q) Posseder des biens meubles et immeubles.

Nous ne 7ious le dissimulons pas, nous nous imposons une
lourde tdche, mats nous pensons pouvoir Vahorder avec confiance,
comptant d'ailleurs beaucoup sur Vappui des pouvoirs publics, de nos
membres et de nos amis.

Outre cette propagande educationnelle que nous entendons bien
faire, nous aiderons les autorites a faire respecter les lots de chasse
et de peche. Aussi notre societe s'est-elle rejouie des derniers amen-
dements apportes par notre gouvernement a la loi de chasse et elle le
remercie.

En 1916, monsieur James-W. Robertson, dans son rapport sur
la conservation du poisson, disait entre autres chases: "Xous avons le
plus beau champ de peche du monde: le rendement de nos pecheries
est inferieur a la richesse de ce champ; nos methodes de peche sont
anciennes; 7ios pecheurs manquent d' education et d^outillage moderne;
la province de Quebec est en arriere; nous devons prendre Vinitiative
et instruire nos pecheurs. Les autorites nous aideront dans ce sens."

Ces paroles font voir un grand besoin qui existe, une lacune qu'il
faudrait combler au grand avantage des notres.

Notre charte federate nous permet d'operer dans tout le Canada,
mais nous voulons que la province de Quebec soil le champ ou s'exerce
tout d'abord notre activite. Notre societe a dejd re^u un accueil tres
favorable de tons ceux qui ont connu son programme. Elle compte
sur le concours moral et pecunier de ses membres, de ses amis et du
public qui sauront comprendre Vai:uvre importante et pairiotique qu'elle
a consenti a s'imposer.

Le Ph]&sidext

10 SOCIETE PROxVENCHER

MEMBRES FONDATEURS

Adam, Dr. P., specialiste, Quebec.

Ahern, G.-Stuart, Quebec.

Alleyn, C.-E., notaire, Quebec.

Alleyn, R., avocat, Quebec.

AuDET, EuGENE-G., gerant de la Ban que Nationale, Quebec.

Baillarg^, W., naturaliste, Riviere-du-Loup, P. Q.

Beaudoin, Art., pretre, directeur du College de Ste-Anne-de-la-

Pocatiere, P. Q.
Beckett, R.-M., Quebec.

Beetz, Johan, Jolian Beetz Bay (Cote Nord), P. Q.
Bernier, Docteur J.-E., inspecteur des pecheries du golfe St-

Laurent, St-Fabien, Co. Rimouski.
Bernier, Capt. J.-E., explorateur arctique, Levis, P. Q.
BouLTON, A. -R.-M., Quebec.

CoMEAU, Nap.-A., auteur naturaliste, Godbout (Cote Nord), P. Q.
Cote, Georges, pretre, professeur de chimie agricole a I'Ecole

d'Agriculture, Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere, P. Q.
Delage, Hon. C.-F., surintendant du Dept. de I'Instruction pu-

blique, Quebec.
Dery, Docteur D.-A., chirurgien-dentiste, Quebec.
Desrivierbs, H., gerant, Banque de Montreal, Quebec.
Dionne, C.-E., maitre es arts, auteur naturaliste, conservateur du

musee de FUniversite Laval, Quebec.
DoAK, Geo., gerant, Canadian Bank of Commerce, Quebec.
Dobell, Wm.-M., Quebec.

Dumas, Chs., secretaire au ministere de la voirie de la province de
Quebec.

Edge, Docteur Alex., medecin, Quebec.

FiLLiON, Ph.-J., pretre, maitre es arts, membre de la Societe Chi-
mique de Fiance, professeur de chimie a la Faculte des
arts, Universite Laval, Quebec.

FiSET, Docteur L.-N.-J., medecin-laryngologiste, Quebec.

Fortier, Docteur Emile, medecin, Quebec.

Gagnon, Lucien, employe au departement de la voirie de la pro-
vince de Quebec.

Gagnon, T.-P., capitaine de milice, Quebec.

Gaudreau, Docteur S., chirurgien-dentiste, Quebec.

Godbout, A.-A., comptable, Quebec.

Goulet, L.-P., Quebec.

D'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA 11

HuARD, Chaxoixe V.-A., de la Societe Royale du Canada, redacteur

du "Xaturaliste", conservateur du musee de rinstruction

publique de la province de Quebec.
Lagueux, Mgr Robert, cure de St-Roch de Quebec.
Laird. Johx, gerant, Imperial Oil Co.. Quebec.
Laurix, Jos., gerant de la Compagnie Paquet Ltee, Quebec.
Lavoie, Raoul. naturaliste, L'Islet, P. Q.
LeBox, Docteur H., chirurgien-dentiste, Quebec.
Lechasseur, a., gerant, Banque Nationale, Trois-Pistoles, P. Q.
Leclerc, Aurele, notaire, M.P.P., Quebec.
LiXDSAT, R.-F , Quebec.
Maheux, Georges, B^ A., entomologiste du ministere de Fagricul-

ture dela province de Quebec.
Mahox, Fred, Queoec.
Malouix, Alfred, Ex-Gouverneur d'Anticosti, Baie Ste-Claire,

Anticosti.
M ARTEL, EusEBE, Qucbec.
M.vTTE, J.-B.. comptable, Queljec.
jVIatte, Jos., employe au ministere de la voirie dela province de

Quebec.
Meredith, R., notaire, Quebec.
Michaud, Alex., avocat, Riviere-du-Loup, P. Q.
Mitchell, G.-M., courtier, Quebec.

MoxAGHAX, M., B. A., gerant. Mutual Life Ins. Co., Quebec.
Moxtambault, R.-O., comptable, Quebec.
Paquet, J.-H., Quebec.
Payeur. HiLAiRE, notaire, Quebec.
Pelletier, Oscar, colonel, Quebec.

PiCHE, G.-C, chef du service forestier de la province de Quebec.
Robitaille, Arthur, pretre, B. A., professeur de botanique et de

zoologie a la Faculte des arts, Lniversite Laval, Quebec.
Rousseau. J.-H., notaire, Trois-Pistoles, P. Q.
Russell, A. Geo., gerant. Royal Bank of Canada, Quebec.
T.vscHEREAu, Hox. L.-A., Premier Ministre de la Province de

Quebec.

Theriault, Elisee, avocat, M.P.P., Quebec.

Thompsox, S., Quebec.

Vachox, Alexaxdre, pretre, maitre es arts, professeur de chimie,

de geologic et de mineralogie a la Faculte des arts, L^ni-

versite Laval, Quebec.

Wood, Lt.-Col. William, dela Societe Royale du Canada, Quebec.
YouxG, Hermax, Quebec.

12

SOCIETE PROVENCHER

II n'est pas donne a tons d'etre vm savant de cabinet. Le petit
canadien de nos campagnes est bien place pour observer et etiidier
toute cette nature qui I'entoure.

Excitons son active curiosite par Timage et Thistoire de I'oi-
seau regional. Resultat: amusement instructif et protection.

Wapitis dans le pare Buffalo, Wainright, Alberta

LA BECASSINE

"A son tour 1' humble becassine
Vient nous presenter son tribut.
Pauvre oiseau que rhomnie assassine
Et que son fusil prend pour but,
En zig-zag, pres d'un marecage,
Nous fuyons son plomb meurtrier,
Nous, pour qui ce riant rivage,
Etait jadis hospitalier."

A. Marsais

"Lievre je suis, de noble stature,
Donnant plaisir aux nobles et gentils
D'estre leger et vite de nature,
Sur toute bete on me donne le prix."

DU FOUILLOUX

d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA 13

Lettres Patentes Coxstituaxt la Societe Provexcher

d'HiSTOIRE XaTURELLE DU C AX AD A

CANADA

L'HOXORABLE MARTIN BURRELL, SECRETAIRE D'ETAT

DU CANADA

A tous ceux qui les presentes verront ou qu'icelles pourront con-
cerner. Salut: —

Attexdu que, clans et par la premiere partie du chapitre 79
des Statuts Refondus du Canada de 1906, designe sous le nom de la
"Loi des Compagnies" et les lois I'amendant, il est preserit" entre
autres ehoses que le Secretaire d'Etat du Canada peut, par lettres
patentes emises sous le sceau de son office, oct rover une charte a
toutes personnes, au nombre d'au moins cinq, qui, apres s'etre con-
formees aux dispositions de cet acte et des lois Tamendant. deman-
deront une telle charte les constituant elles et toutes autres person-
nes qui pourraient devenir meinbres de la corporation creee par elles
en corporation et corps politique pour aucuns des objets du ressort
du Parleinent du Canada, sauf la construction et rexploitation de
lignes de chemins de fer, de telegraphe ou de telephone, ou les
affaires de banque, ou remission du papier-monnaie, ou les opera-
tions d'assurance ou les operations de compagnies de pret et de
fiducie, apres qu'elles auront etabli a la satisfaction du Secretaire
d'Etat qu'elles ont rempli les termes et conditions imposes par le
dit acte et les lois Tamendant, prealablement a roctroi de la charte;

Et Attexdu que phileas-joseph filliox, pretre, professeur
de chimie a TUniversite Laval; oscar pelletier, colonel; st axis-
las GAUDREAU, DAVID- ALEXIS DERY et HERMAX LEBOX. chirur-

giens-dentistes; charles-eusebe dioxxe, naturaliste, conserva-
teur du musee de I'Universite Laval; charles dumas, secretaire
au ministere de la voirie de la province de Quel3ec;THOMAS-PHi-
LIPPE GAGxox, capitaine de milice; alphoxse-ambroise god-
bout, comptable; robert lagueux, pretre, cure de St-Roch de
Quebec; eugexe audet. gerant de banque: alexaxdre vachox,
pretre, professeur de chimie et de mineralogie a I'L'niversite Laval;
JOSEPH matte, employe au ministere de la voirie de la province de
Quebec; leox fiset, medecin-larj-ngologiste ; charles alleyx,
notaire, tous de la cite de Quebec, dans la pro^^nce de Quebec, et
josEPH-EMiLE BERXiER, inspecteur des pecheries du golfe St-Lau-
rent, de St-Fabien, dans la dite province de Quebec,
ont demande I'octroi d'une charte sous I'autorite dudit acte et des
lois Tamendant, les constituant, eux et toutes autres personnes qui
pourront devenir actionnaires dans ladite compagnie, en corpo-
ration et corps politique sans capital-actions sous le nom de

"SOCIEtE PR0\T]NCHER D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE DU

CANADA"

pour les fins mentionnees ci-apres, et ont etabli d'une maniere sa-

14 SOCIETY PROVENCHER

tisfaisante qu'ils ont rempli les conditions et procedures exigees
par ledit acte et les lois I'amendant et etabli la verite et la suffi-
sance des allegues de leur requete, et qu'ils ont produit au minis-
tere du Secretaire d'Etat un duplicata du memorandum de con-
ventions signe et scelle par les requerants, conformement aux dis-
positions dudit acte et des lois I'amendant

Sachez maintenant que je, martin burrell, Secretaire
d'Etat du Canada, agissant sous I'autorite dudit acte et des lois
I'amendant, constitue par les presentes lettres patentes, lesdits

PHILFAS-JOSEPH pillion, OSCAR PELLETIER, STANISLAS GAU-
DREAU, DAVID-ALEXIS DERY, HERMAN LEBON, CHARLES-EUSEBE
DIONNE, CHARLES DUMAS, THOMAS-PHILIPPE GAGNON, ALPHONSE-
AMBROISE GODBOUT, ROBERT LAGUEUX, EUGENE AUDET, ALEXAN-
DRE VACHON, JOSEPH MATTE, LEON FISET, CHARLES ALLEYN et
JOSEPH-EMILE BERNIER,

et toutes autres personnes qui pourraient devenir membres dans la-
dite corporation en corporation et corps politique sans capital-ac-
tions sous le nom de

"sociEtE provencher d'histoire naturelle du

CANADA"

avec tons les droits et pouvoirs conferes par ledit acte et les lois
I'amendant, et pour les fins et dans les conditions suivantes, savoir:

(a) Etudier I'histoire naturelle en general, et en particulier le
regne animal au Canada, en r^pandre le goCit et en vulgariser les
connaissances dans le public, et specialement dans les ecoles, con-
vent, colleges et universit^s ■ et chercher a creer un sentiment popu-
laire favorable a la protection des animaux indigenes, mammife-
res, oiseaux, poissons et a leur propagation;

(6) Explorer et etudier, specialement au point de vue biolo-
gique, le golfe et le fleuve St-Laurent, le littoral, les fleuves, lacs,
rivieres et territoires du Canada, pour y relever les phenomenes
qu'il est utile de connaitre en vue de la protection des especes in-
digenes;

(c) Rechercher et mettre en pratique les methodes les meil-
leures pour assurer la protection, la propagation et I'accroissement
des especes indigenes, le developpement des ressources cynegeti-
ques et les pecheries;

(d) Louer, acquerir et exploiter des reserves et des territoires,
des droits et des privileges pour poursuivre des experiences, faire
des etudes, creer des champs d'alimentation et favoriser la pro-
pagation des especes;

(e) Etablir et diriger des secretariats ou bureaux d'informa-
tion, comit6s, cercles ou succursales en differents endroits du Ca-
nada; publier des etudes, ouvrages, bulletins, revues et journaux;
organiser des conferences et congres; constituer et organiser des
commissions d'enquete, d'etude et d'experimentation; fonder des

d'hISTOIRE XATVRELLE DV CANADA 15

chaires; donner des cours et promouvoir rctablissement d'ecoles
d'histoire naturelle, s'affilier a des societes semblables et recevoir
elle-meme leur affiliation;

(/) Acquerir, posseder et exploiter des biens meubles et im-
ineubles, les loner, vendre et aliener; emprunter et contracter des
obligations; exereer tons les pouvoirs qui appartiennent aux cor-
porations eiviles ordinaires. et specialement ceux qui peuvent I'aider
a atteindre son but et servir a I'execution de ses entreprises; perce-
voir de ses membres des contributions et des cotisations, le tout en
vue des objets ci-dessus;

(g) En general, faire tout ce qui pent etre utile et mettre en
oeuvre tons les mojens d'action propres a la poursuite des objets
ci-dessus, mais en respectant les droits reconnus par les lois de
chasse et de peche des diverses provinces, et pourvu que rien ne
s'y oppose dans les lois federales et provinciales.

La corporation fera affaire dans tout le Canada et ailleurs,

Le bureau principal de la corporation sera en la cite de Quebec,
dans la province de Quebec.

Lesdits Phileas-Joseph Filliox, Oscar Pelletier, Sta-
nislas Gaudreau. Joseph ^L\tte. Alexandre Vachon', David-
Alexis Dery, Charles-Eusebe Dionne, Joseph-Emile Ber-
NiER, Eugene Al det, Leon Fiset et 1 homas-Philippe Gagnon
seront les premiers directeurs ou directeurs provisoires de la com-
pagnie.

II est ordonne et declare que les objets de la corporation seront
poursuivis sans but de gain en faveur de ses membres et que tons
les profits et autres accroissements de la corporation seront employes
pour promouvoir ses objets.

Pourvu toutefois que rien dans les presentes ne soit inter-
prete comme autorisant la construction et I'exploitation des lignes
de chemin de fer. de telegiaphe ou de telephone, ou les affaires de
banque, remission du papier-monnaie, les operations d'assurance,
les operations de compagnie de pret et les operations de compagnies
fiduciaires par la dite compagnie.

Donnees sous mon seing et le sceau de mon ofl&ce, k Ottawa,
ce^quinzieme jour d'avril, 1919.

(Signe) THOMAS MULVEY,

Sons-Secretaire d'Etat.

"Le chasseur prend son tube, image du tonnerre.
II I'eleve au niveau de roeil qui le conduit;
Le coup part, I'eclair brille, et la foudre le suit.

Delille

16

SOCIETE PROVEN CHER

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d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA 17

REGLEMENTS

I — NOM

Cette societe porte le nom de "Societe Provexcher dHis-

TOIRE NaTURELLE DU CaXADA".

II — Bureau d'affaires
Le bureau d'affaires de la societe est a Quebec.
Ill — Objet

Son objet est :

(a) Etudier I'histoire naturelle, specialeinent du regne animal,
et creer un sentiment populaire en faveur de sa vulgarisa-
tion ;

(b) Cooperer avec les autorit^s federales et provinciales et les
organisations telles que clubs sportifs, etc., pour favoriser
I'etude et la diffusion des connaissances de I'histoire natu-
relle dans les ecoles, convents, colleges et universites et
pour la protection et I'accroissement des animaux indi-
genes: mammiferes, oiseaux. poissons, etc. Bien que son
but soit de proteger activement la vie des especes indigenes,
la societe reconnait pleinement les droits des sportsmen
et elle n'entend pas causer d'ennui a ceux qui legalement
chassent les oiseaux ou animaux gibiers.

(c) Developper nos ressources cynegetiques et nos pecheries;

(d) Promouvoir I'etablissement d'ecoles de pecheries;

(e) Nommer des commissions d'etude;

(/) Louer, acquerir et amenager des reserves et territoires,

creer des champs d 'alimentation pour les oiseaux et les

gibiers;
(g) Louer ou acquerir des droits pour favoriser la propagation

et I'accroissement des especes en voie de s'eteindre;
(h) Etudier les lacs, rivieres, fleuves et golfes du Canada aux

points de vue biologique et oceanographique ;
(t) Etablir un bureau d'information;
(j) Publier re\'ues et journaux;
(k) Posseder bibliotheque et musee;
(Z) Fonder des chaires d'histoire naturelle;
(m) S'aflSlier a d'autres societes et s'affilier d'autres societes ou

organisations tant au paj^s qu'a I'etranger;
(n) Recruter des membres;
(o) Nommer des conferenciers, donner des conferences publi-

ques;

18 SOCIBTE PROVENCHER

(p) Nommer des gardiens speciaux;

(q) Posseder des biens raeubles et immeubles.

IV — Subdivision

La societe se div^ise en quatre sections:

(a) section d'etudes scientifiques,

(6) " de propagande educationnelle,

(c) " de protection des especes indigenes,

(d) '' d'information scientifique et pratique.

V — Bureau de direction

Les afifaires de la societe sont administrees par un bureau de
direction elu pour un an a I'assemblee annuelle. II est compose de
onze membres: un president, deux vice-presidents, un secretaire-
tresorier, les quatre chefs de section et trois directeurs. Un nou-
veau membre peut etre nomme a une charge devenue vacante dans
le bureau de direction pour completer I'annee.

Le bureau de direction se reunit aussi souvent qu'il est neces-
saire. Son quorum est de cinq membres.

II a le droit de regler le salaire des officiers et employes de la
societe, accepter des nouveaux membres, destituer des membres,
remplir une charge devenue vacante pendant I'annee, etablir le
montant de contribution annuelle de chaque societe qui sera admise
comme membre actif, etc.

VI — President et vice-presidents

Le president preside toutes les assemblees, voit a I'obser-
vation des reglements, a la convocation des assemblees speciales
et a la direction generale des affaires de la soeiete. II doit faire
rapport a I'assemblee annuelle des travaux accomplis pendant
I'annee.

L'un des vice-presidents remplit les fonctions du president en
I'absence de ce dernier.

En I'absence du president et des deux vice-presidents a une
assemblee, un president interimaire est nomme.

VII — Secret aire-tresorier

a) La secretaire-tresorier tient un registre dans lequel sont
inscrits: lo copie des lettres patentes la concernant, 2o les regle-
ments de la societe et 3o les nom, adresse et profession de chacun
des membres. II tient un autre registre dans lequel il inscrit toutes
les deliberations des assemblees de la societe et du bureau de direc-
tion. II s'occupe de la correspondance et donne avis des reunions
suivant la section 13.

d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA 19

b) II est charge de la perception des contributions annuelles
et de toutes sommes dues a la societe. II tient un livre dans lequel
il inscrit les depenses et les recettes. II ne paie aucun compte sans
I'autorisation du bureau de direction. Tous les fonds per^us par
le secretaire-tresorier sont deposes, au nom de la societe, dans une
banque incorporee et n'en sont retires que sous sa signature et la
contresignature du president ou de Tun des vice-presidents. II
fait im rapport financier a I'assemblee annuelle et chaque fois qu'il
en est requis par le bureau de direction.

VIII — Verific ateur

Un verificateur est nomme chaque annee par le bureau de
direction pour la verification des operations financieres de I'annee.
II fait rapport au bureau de direction.

IX — Chefs de section

Les chefs de section dirigent et surveillent les travaux des
membres de leur section et font rapport au bureau de direction
des travaux accomplis pendant I'annee.

X — Membres
La societe se compose de sept classes de membres:
a)membres honoraires,

b)

bienfaiteurs,

c)

patrons,

d)

a vie.

e)

act if s.

f)

correspondants,

9)

ecoliers.

XI —Admission des membres

Sont admises les personnes et les societes qui ont a cceur
d'arriver a I'objet propose. La deraande d'admission est faite par
ecrit au secretaire-tresorier, avec mention de la classe dans laquelle
I'aspirant desire s'inscrire. Toutefois, pour I'admission des mem-
bres ecoliers, il suffit de I'envoi au secretaire-tresorier, par I'insti-
tuteur ou I'institutrice, d'une liste des membres avec le montant
total des souscriptions.

Toute admission d'un membre est decidee par le bureau de
direction a la majorite des membres presents.

XII — Reunions

a) L'assemblee annuelle a lieu le premier lundi de fevrier;

6) Le president peut, en tout temps, convoquer une reunion

20 SOCIETE PROVENCHER

speciale des membres, a la requete du bureau de direction ou a la
demande par ecrit de trois membres;

c) Le quorum d'une assemblee annuelle ou speciale est de
douze membres;

d) L'ordre du jour de I'assemblee annuelle est le suivant:

1 — Le president declare la seance ouverte;

2 — Lecture et adoption du proces-verbal de I'assemblee pre-
cedente;

3 — Rapport du president;

4 — Rapport financier;

5— Avis de motion;

6 — Motions;

7 — Interpellat ion s ;

8 — Remarques, suggestions et discussion;

9 — Choix de trois scrutateurs;
10 — Election du bureau de direction;
11 — Ajournement.

e) Le president peut, de temps a autre, convoquer une reunion
dans un but d'etude et de discussion;

/) Les chefs de section peuvent aussi convoquer des reunions
de leur section.

XIII — Avis de convocation

Un avis est ins^r^ dans les journaux pour la convocation d'une
assembl6e annuelle, au moins huit jours avant la date de I'as-
semblee. Le bureau de direction est convoque par un avis du
secretaire-tresorier donne a chacun de ses membres par paste ou
par telephone. Les sections sont convoquees par poste ou par
telephone par leurs chefs respectifs.

XIV— Vote

Les membres bienfaiteurs, patrons, a vie et actifs, ont seuls
droit de vote, pourvu qu'ils soient presents a Fassemblee et qu'ils
aient paye leur contribution. Le vote se fait au scrutin secret.

XV — Contributions

L'annee financiere commence le premier Janvier. La contii-
bution devient due a cette date et doit etre payee, au plus tard,
le 31 Janvier. La contribution des membres est d'apres I'echelle
suivant^:

a) Membres bienfaiteurs $ 100 00

b) " patrons 50 00

c) " a vie. 25 00

d) " actifs 1 00

e) " ecoliers 0 10

d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA

21

La contribution des membres bienfaiteurs, patrons et a vie
n'est payable qu'une fois pour toujoiirs. Celle des membres actifs
et ecoliers est annuelle. Les membres eori-espondants n'ont au-
eune contribution a payer. Les societes affiliees sont considerees
comme membres actifs. Leur contribution annuelle est fixee par
le bureau de direction.

XVI — Demissiox

Tout membre actif qui desire cesser de faire partie de la societe
doit en donner a\as par ecrit au secret aire-tresorier avant le premier
de decembre. Dans le cas ou il neglige de donner tel avis il est
tenu au paiement de la contribution pour I'annee suivante.

XVII — Droit de faire des reglemexts

Tout autre reglement ou amendement au present reglement
pent etre fait a une assemblee eenerale des membres par un vote
reunissant au moins les deux tiers des bulletins des membres pre-
sents et pourvu qu'un avis de motion a cet effet ait ete donne a
I'assemblee generate precedente.

La p^che a la ligne est un sport des plus sains, une distrac-
tion de tous les ages; mais vider un lac ou une riviere au filet ou
par la dynamite, est un crime national.

La morue de Caspe a une reputation mondiale

22

SOCIETE PROVEN CHER

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d'hISTOIRE XATIRELLE DU CANADA 23

L'OCEANOGRAPHIE

L'oceanographie ou I'etude systeniatique de la mer ne date
guere que d'urie cinquantaine d'annees. Jusqu'au jour ou on a
trouve les moyens de penetrer dans les profondeurs de Telement
liquide pour y etudier les conditions physiques et biologiques on
avait sur la mer des idees tout a fait erronees. On croyait, par
exemple, qu'a partir d'un millier de pieds, a cause de Tabsence de
la lumiere solaire, a cause de la temperature glaciale et de la pres-
sion enorme qui y existaient, la presence d'eti-es organises et ait
impossible.

L' expedition oceanographique la plus importante fut celle du
Challenger, qui fut dirigee par le savant Wyville Thomson, accom-
pa^gne de Buchanan, de MacClear et de ^loseley. Pendant trois
ann^s et demie, du 21 decembre 1872 au 25 mars 1876, le Challenger
explora les oceans, parcourant I'Atlantique, le Pacifique et les mers
du nord.

Depuis ce temps, on a organise d'autres expeditions impor-
tantes. Le prince de Monaco, voulant satisfaire ses gouts pour la
navigation et pour la science de la mer a parcouru le monde et fait
de nombreuses collections qu'il a consignees dans le Musee Ocea-
nographique de Monaco et a I'lnstitut Oceanographique de Paris.

Les diflferents pa3S ont fonne une vaste coalition scientifique
pour I'exploration intemationale de la mer. Plusieurs congres ont
eu lieu, un bureau central a ete institue a Copenhague, un labora-
toire central a ete fonde a Christiania.

Le Canada possede deux lalwratoires ou on fait une etude
speciale de la mer et de son contenu: I'un est a St. Andrew's, N.-B.,
et I'autre a Nanaimo, C.-A.; on appelle ces laboratoires des stations
biologiques. Ces laboratoires ont ete installes il y a une quinzaine
d'annees. A part les deux stations indiquees on en avait fonde une
troisieme a Go-Home, Ont., pour I'etude des eaux douces, mais,
comme il n'y allait que tres peu de travailleurs elle a ete abandonnee
il y a trois ou quatre ans.

La station biologique de St. Andrew's ouvre au commencement
de juin et ferme vers la fin de septembre. Elle est sous la direction
du Dr Huntsman, de I'Universite de Toronto. Pendant les quatre
mois d'ete les professeurs de differentes universites canadiennes.
invites par la Commission Biologique, se rendent a la station pour
y faire des travaux de recherche. Un bateau, le Prince, fourni
par la Commission, fait, a dates fixes. la visite de differents endroits
determines dont on fait une etude speciale de la flore, de la faune
et de I'eau.

On appelle nekton I'ensemble des animaux vivant a toutes les
profondeurs et se mouvant de leur propre gre, comme la plupart

24

SOCIETE PROVENCHER

des poissons, des reptiles et des cetaces. On nomme benthos les
etres vivant sur le fond: cette categoric se divise en benthos fixe
au sol et en benthos errant; comme les algues et les asteries. Enfin
le plankton est constitue par les etres qui flottent dans I'eau inde-
pendamment de leur volonte, livres aux conditions physiques et
mecaniques, tels sont les diatomees, les copepodes, etc.

Le plankton est suivi dans ses navigations par des animaux
qui s'en repaissent; ces derniers sont suivis a leur tour par des
poissons carnivores, et ceux-ci sont pourchasses par les pecheurs.
Comme le plankton qui mene la marche est a la merci des con-
ditions physiques, chimiques et mecaniques de la mer, on comprend
que ce soit la temperature, la sahnite, la densite et les courants
dont Teconomie est la loi des peches. Les migrations des poissons
sont determinees par les mouvements du plankton qui est lui-meme
soumis aux variations des courants, de la temperature, de la salure
ou de la densite des eaux.

Aux points choisis de la mer, a la surface, a differentes pro-
fondeurs et au fond, a des dates fixes, on recueille par des filets et
des seines de formes differentes tout ce qui est en suspens dans
I'eau, et en meme temps, au moyen d'instruments speciaux, on
prend des echantillons d'eau dont la densite et la proportion de
sel doivent etre determinees avec soin.

Ces differents travaux n'ont pas seulemcnt un interet theorique
mais sont destines a avoir un but pratique dans la direction plus
rationnelle de la peche.

Alexandre Vachox, pretre

-o-

"La peche a la liKne retrace a I'enfance ses jeux; a i'age mur, ses loisirs; a la
vieillesse, ses distractions; au coeur sensible, le ruisseau voisin du toit paternel;
au voyageur, le repos tranquille des peuplad<«s dont il a en vie la douce quietude;
au philosophe, I'origine de I'art." — (LAC£p£DE)

D HISTOIRE N'ATURELLE DU CANADA

25

GIBIER SAm'AGE DU GOLFE ST-LAUREXT

ExTRAiT DU RAPPORT ANNUEL DU DF N. LAVOiE, Commandant la
goelette armee "la canadienne", dans le f leave et le golfe
St-Laurent, en Tannee 1871.

Avant de tenniner ce rapport, je crois de mon devoir de dire
quelques mots sur la destruction illegale qui se fait du gibier sau-
vage, au milieu des iles du golfe St-Laurent.

J'ai deja, en diverses eirconstances, attire I'attention du de-
part ement sur ce sujet. mais couime le mal augmente au lieu de
diminuer, je siiis force d'}' revenir. Le vol des oeufs de ces oiseaux
se fait surtout par les goelettes de la Xouvelle-Ecosse : le resultat
est que Ton remarque une giande diminution dans le nombre des
oiseaux frequentant le golfe, et si Ton ne prend pas des mesures
expeditives pour mettre un tenne a ces pratiques abusives, le jour
viendra oii ces oiseaux, autrefois si aljondants, seront complete-
ment disparus.

A part I'air de gaite qu'ils donnent a cette partie aride de la
cote nord, il y a une autre raison pour demander leur conservation,
lis fournissent une nourriture qui ne coute rien, et la vente de la
plume procure a plus d'une famille le moyen de s'acheter les pro-
visions de I'hiver. Lorsque les lois de chasse etaient administrees
par la Division des Pecheries du Bureau des Terres de la Couronne.
''LA canadiennt:" pouvait, sans faire de depenses speciales, ope-
rer un grand bien en chassant ou en apprehendant meme ces vo-
leurs d 'oeufs, venus de la Xouvelle-Ecosse ou d'ailleurs. Depuis la
confederation des provinces, ces lois sont dans le domaine du gou-
vcrnenient local et ne valent guei-e mieux qu'une let t re morte.
Je suis dopinion qu'il est de la plus haute importance de prendre
des mesures afin que I'officier commandant ''la canadienne"
ou les gardes-i^eche locaux re^oivent I'autorisation du gouverne-
ment local, de mettre un terme a cette aveugle destruction; autre-
ment. Textinction complete de ces oiseaux n'est qu'une question
de temps.

Les oiseaux du golfe St-Laurent font I'ornement des cotes et
ont une grande valeur economique.

II est penible de constater que, i^endant exactement un demi
siecle, onn'a prisaucune mesure serieuse pour arreter leur destruc-
tion malgre les nombreuses protestations que cet etat de chose la-
mentable a toujours provoquees. Le resultat prevu depuis long-
temps, comme suite de cette negligence inexplicable, s'est natm-el- i

26 so (I ETE PROVEN CHER

lenient realise. La quantite que Ton rencontre niaintenant ne don-
ne plus qu'une faible idee de ce qu'ils etaient au temps de I'amiral
Bayfield. 8i Ton veut encore conserver les debris de quelques co-
lonies qui ont pu survivre a la guerre acharnee qu'on leur a faite,
il faut, sans retard, y organiser un service de protection present ant
quelque garantie d'efficacite. Les arrangements a faire en vue d'un
tel service sont faciles, le fonctionnement en serait peu dispdndieux
et s'il ne s'appliquait qu'a la conservation des oeufs, il permettrait
d^j^ a 500,000 oiseaux de naitre chaque annee.

LaSociETE Provencher d'HistoireNaturelle du Canada
est au courant des conditions qui existent dans le golfe St-Laurent
et se croit en niesure de fournir certaines suggestions utiles a ce sujet.

NOS OISEAUX DU TEMPS DE JACQUES-CARTIER

Le XXI de May fismes velle ayans vent d'Ouest, et tirasmcs
vers le Nord depuis le Cap de Bonne- veue iusques a I'lsle des Oy-
seaux, laquelle estoit entierement enuironnee de glace, qui toutesfois
estoit rompue et diuisee en pieces, mais nonobstant ceste glace
nos barques ne laisserent d'y aller pour auoir des oyseaux, desquels
y a si grand nombre que c'est chose incroyable a qui ne le void,
parce combien que ceste Isle, laquelle pent auoir une lieue de cir-
cuit, en soit si plaine, ,qu'il semble qu'ils y soyent expressement
apportez et presque commesemez: Neantnioins il y en a cent fois
plus a I'entour d'icelle, et en Fair que dedans, desquels les uns sont
grands comnie Pies, noirs et blancs, ayans le bee de corbeau, ils
sont tousiours en mer, et ne peuuent voler haut, d'autant que leurs
aisles sont petites, point plus grandes que la moitie de la main,
auec lesquelles toutesfois ils volent auec telle vitesse a fleur d'eau
que les autres oiseaux en Fair, ils sont excessiuement gras, et estoyent
appelez par ceux du pays Apponath, desquels nos deux barques se
chargerent en moins de demi-heure, comme I'on auroit peu faire
de cailloux. de sorte qu'en chasque nauire nous en fismes saler
quatre ou cinq tonneaux, sans ceux que nous mangeasmes frais.

Blanc-Sablon est vn lieu oii n'y a aucun abry, du Su ny du
Suest, mais vers le Su-surouest de ce lieu, y a deux Isles I'vne
desquelles est appel^e I'lsle de Brest, et I'autre I'lsle des Oiseaux,
en laquelle y a grande guantite de Godets et Corbeaux qui ont
le Ik'c et les pieds rouges, et font leurs nids en des trous sous terre
comme connils.

Des Isles (le Margaux, et des espcces d^oyseaux et animaux qui sUj
trouuent, de t'lsles de Brion et du Cap du Dauphin: —

Ces Isles estoyent plus remplies d'oyseaux que ne serait un
pr^' d'herlw, les(iuels faisoyent la leurs nids, et en la plus grande
de ('es Isles y en auait vn monde de ceux que nous appellions Mar-

Oiyechus rociferus {.Linn.) Reich. 273

Le pluvier kildir
Kildeer

Canachites canadensis canace (Linn.) N^orton 298c

Le tetras du Canada — {La perdrix de Savane)
Canadian Spruce Grouse

DHISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA

27

gaux qui sont Wanes et plus grands qu'oysons, et estoyent separez
en vn canton, et en I'autie part y auoit des Godets, mais sur le
rivage y avait de ces Godets et grands Apponats semblables a
ceux de ceste Isle, dont nous auons fait mention. Nous descen-
dismes au plus bas de la plus petite et tuasmes plus de mille Godets
et Apponats, et en mismes tant que voullumes en nos barques et
en ussions peu en moins d'une heure remplir trente semblables
barques. (Voyaye de J acgues-C artier au Canada en 153Jf).

Y a une aultre sorte d'oyseaulx qui vont en Fair et en la
mer, qui sont plus petiz, que Ton nomme Godez. qui se ariment et
meptent a la dite isle soulz les plus gi-ands. II y en avoit d'aultre
plus grans, qui sont blans, qui se mettent a part des aultres en vne
partie de I'isle, qui sont fort mauuaiz a assallir; ear ils mordent
eomme ehiens et sont nommez Margaulx.

II y a auffi grand nombre d'oyseaulx eauoir grues, signes, ol-
tardes, oyes sauuages, blanches et grises. cannes, cannards, merles
mauuis, teurtres, ramiers, chardonneaulx, turnis, serins, linotes,
roussignolz, passes solitaires et aultres oyseaulx comme en France.
(Relation originale du voyage de J acques-C artier au Canada en 1534)

'Monseigneur saint Hubert

Et saint Eustache qui fut veneur expert,

Et bien chassant firent a Dieu service."

Gaston Phoebus

\ J^^

Peche fructueuse

28

SOCIETE PROVENCHER

LES VIEILLES COUTUMES

LA MESSE DES CHIENS A CHANTILLY

II exista loiigtemps, au Chateau de Chantilly, un vieil usage
qui donnait lieu a une ceremonie eminemment pittoresque: le jour
de la fete de saint Hubert, les chasseurs assistaient a la messe, dans
la chapelle du chateau, avec leurs chiens.

A cette occasion, la chapelle etait paree comme aux grands
jours de fete et des fleurs jonchaient le chenil, qui occupait une aile
entiere de la seconde cbur circulaire du chateau.

Le plus vieux gentilhomme, monte sur le plus vieux cheval, suivi
du plus vieux chien et accompagne par le plus vieux piqueur, ou-
vrair la marche du cortege des chasseurs et des chiens.

Le tout se passait scion les regies d'une etiquette immuable.
Introduits par ordre de lace, au centre de la chapelle, les chiens,
peignes, brosses, savonnes, etaient ranges de front, d'apres Fage
et le merite devant le tableau de saint Hubert, expose sur I'autel.
Quant tous etaient en place, et les chasseurs a leur banc, et les chiens
silencieux, I'aumonier du chateau commenQait I'office divin.

A I'evangile, il montait en chaire et pronon^^iit le panegyrique
de saint Hubert que les chiens eux-memes devaient ecouter sans
bouger. Les piqueurs etaient la, prompts a rappeler a I'ordre le
pointer qui eut bailie a I'exorde, ou le levrier qui eiit sommeille
sur ses pattes....

Quant au predicateur, la tradition voulait qu'apres avoir
celebre les vertus du patron des chasseurs, il recommandat aux
gentilshommes presents d'efargner les petits oiseaux idiles a Vagri-
cultnre et 'particulierement, le roitelet, la mesange, les bees-fins, les hi-
rondelles qui vivent sous le toil du metayer et font aux la^'ves et aux
chenilles une guerre sans merci...

L'honielie terniinee, on achevait la messe.

Quand le son du cor annongait la fin de la ceremonie, le cortege
quittait la chapelle. Rendus a la liberte, les chiens se repandaient
en aboiemcnts joyeux et prolonges et Ton partait pour la foret
prochaine...

(D'apres les notes conmiuniquees par M. I'abbe Pinel, cure
de Uavanel (Oise)

Colnptes nuratus luteous {Bangs) 412a

Pic dore du nord — {Pivart ou poule de hois)*
Northern Flicker

ai.:..,::-

Otocoris alpestris {Linn.) Bonap. 4^4

L'alouette ordinaire — (Ortolan)
Horned Lark

Los nonis fruncais des oiseaux illustr^s sur planches en couleur soiit
tirfs de I'ouvrage de M. C.-E. Dionne: "Les oiseaux de la Pro-
vince de Qu6bec".

d'hISTOIRE NATl'RELLE DU CANADA

29

LES DIX COMMANDEMENTS DU CHASSEUR

Sans rechigncr tii sauteras,
De ton lit matinalement ;

Dans les champs tii t'echineras,
Jusqu'au soir inclusivement ;

Beaucoup de chasseurs tu verras,
Mais de gibier aucunement ;

L'oeuvre de mort n'accompliras,
Que dans tes reves seulenient ;

Les poulets tu respecteras,
Ainsi que les chats memement ;

Le chien d'autrui tu ne prendras,
Pour un lievre devenu grand ;

Ton camarade tu tueras.
Le mois possible assuiement ;

Ton fusil tu dechargeras.
En revenant soigneusement ;

Vers huit heures-tu rentrei-as,
Aneanti completement ;

Et ne rapportant dans tes bras.
Qu'un moineau mort d'isolement.

SEPTEMBRE, AU LEVER DU JOUR

"C'etait rheure ou les bois s'eveillent aux ramages
Des ruisseaux babillards et des oiseaux sauvages;
Oil, du soleil levant, les radieux reflets
Redonnent leur couleur aux feuilles des forets."

L.-P. Lemay

"La plupart des oiseaux sont nos defenseurs naturels contre
nos ennemis les plus nombreux, les plus invisibles, les plus inacces-
sibles a nos coups. La Providence leur a donne une vue per^ante
qui leur permet de decouvrir, meme a une grande distance, les
insectes les plus petits, des ailes rapides pour les poursuivre, un
bee vigoureux pour les broyer".

A.-E. Brehm

30 SOCIETE PROVENCHER

Temoignons notre reconnaisance a ces oiseaux qui nous rendent
de si nombreux services malgre nos mauvais traitements.

Protegeons de toutes les manieres ces amis que la Providence
fournit aux cultivateurs; procurons-leur principalement des abris
et respectons leurs nids afin de faciliter leur accroissement.

Tout enfant naturellement bon et intelligent protege ra les
oiseaux, mais cela ne suffit pas, il nous faut lui enseigner la maniere
de les aimer. Mettons de cote ces coutumes barbares qui tendent
a faire disparaitre les oiseaux. Quiconque les protege fait acte
d'honnete citoyen en meme temps qu'il obeit aux intentions de
notre Createur. — (L'hon. J.-E. Caron)

"La peche a la trufte est le reve de I'ecolier. le joyeux passe temps du rentier,
une supreme jouissance, un dernier rayon de soleil pour le vieillard, qui retiouve
pour un instant son coup d'oeil, sa vigueur, sa souplesse, quand ce papillon des
eaux bondit hers de son element, s'accroche a son hamegon. Un frisson magne-
tique, reminiscence de ses vingt ans, passe alors dans toutes ses veines. L'oeil
au bout de la ligne qui plonge ou remonte, les mains crispees sur sa perche, le
coeur lui bat plus vite, saisi qu'il est d'une indicible emotion. Avec la resis-
tance, il retrouve une recrudescence d'energie, des forces inconnues se reveillent
en lui, le sang afflue a ses joues, son regard s'allume; le voila debout dans son
canot, raidissant ses bras, se penchant, se relevant, tantot donnant du fil, tantot
en reprenant, guettant, suivant les mouvements du poisson, de gauche a droite,
de bas en haut, absorbe jusqu'au fond de I'ame par ses evolutions. Et la truite
apparait a la surface, montrant ses flancs dores, mouchetes de vermilion et d'azur:
oh! — le beau poisson! II I'amene amoureusement a lui, se penche, I'enleve: il est
dans le canot. Guf! le pauvre vieux s'affaisse sur son siege, essouffle, epuise
rendu; mais il en mourrait qu'il ne se plaindrait pas, car les soubresauts de la
truite agonisante font retentir ik ses oreilles la plus delicieuse harmonie.

C'est la meme truite que les enfants pechent dans les ruisseaux: la mi-
gnonne, la gentille, la folatre petite truite, longue de quatre a cinq pouces; la
gourmande qui happe tout ce qui tombe a sa portee: il suffit de voir comment elle
est peinte et fleurie pour etre convaincu que c'est elle. II y en a de toutes les

?:ro8seur8. Dans un mince filet d'eau elle est petite, dans un remous de pro-
ondeur elle est plus grosse, dans les lacs seuls elle atteindra son complet develop-
pement." A.-N. MONTPETIT

LjI

iH

f

^

^m

(W

HH

w

1

4

r

^^

t

r: ,.-..,.- _

Sitla canadensis [Linn.) 7^S

La siteile du Canada
Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Regulus satrapa (Light.) 74S

Le roitelet huppe
Golden-croMmed Kinglet

Regulus calendula (Linn.) Licht. ^ ^9

L.e roitelet a couronne rubis
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA 31

LA FAUVETTE TRICHAS

(Geothlipis t. trichas)

La fauvette trichas est bien une des plus communes parrai
celles qui sejournent au milieu de nous en ete; en effet, on la ren-
contre dans presque tous les taillis, les bouquets de bois. le long
des haies d'arbustes, etc.

Cette jolie fauvette a toutes les parties superieures d'un vert
olive fonce; cette teinte devient plus intense sur la couronne et sur
le dessus du cou; les ailes et la queue, qui sont d'un brun fonce
uniforme, sont liserees de la meme teinte que celle du dos; toutes
les parties inferieures, ainsi que le bord de I'aile, sont d'un jaune
brillant; ce meme jaune devient plus pale ou blanchit quelque peu
sous le ventre; les cotes du corps sont laves d'olive brunatre; une
large bande noire, bordee en arriere de gris, se voit sur le front .
puis descend sur les cotes de la tete en s'elargissant et en envelop-
pant tout I'ceil; le l^ec et les pieds sont noirs. Sa longueur totale
est de quatre pouces et demi; les ailes et la queue mesurent chacune
environ deux pouces.

Voila pour le male. . Sa compagne a une teinte un peu plus
pale en dessus, et le jaune du dessous du corps est moins vif et plus
resti"eint; elle est sans bande noire au front ni des cotes de la tete,
ce sont les couleurs du dos qui la remplacent.

La fauvette trichas est non seulement commune dans la pro-
vince en ete; mais elle lest encore dans les provinces maritimes,
dans celle d'Ontario, en allant vers le sud jusqu'au New-Jersey, et
a I'ouest jusqu'a la vallee du Mississipi oil elle est remplacee par
une autre dont les teintes sont un peu moins vives.

Quand, dans les premiers beaux jours du printemps, sous I'in-
fluence vivifiante des chauds rayons du soleil, les plantes se reveil-
lent de leur sommeil hibernal, que le gazon reverdit et que les pre-
mieres feuilles ou les chatons des saules se ha tent d'apparaitre, au
moment*enfin ou la nature entiere s'eveille, et que les chantres prin-
taniers sont deja a I'oeuvre pour celebrer par leurs concerts jojeux
I'annonce d'un nouveau printemps, nous apercevons des I'aurore
d'un beau matin, perche sur un arbrisseau, un couple de ces fau-
vettes qui viennent aussi celebrer par leurs joyeux raniages le
retour de la belle saison dans leur nouveau sejour d'ete. Aussi,
voyez avec quel entrain, avec quelle gaiete le male entonne sa chan-
sonnette, qui se confond parfois avec celles des autres chantres de
la nature.

Parfois cependant, il interrompt son chant, pour venir sautiller
^a et la avec sa compagne, jouer, folatrer, se poursuivre a travers le
feuillage naissant, tout en savourant avec delice I'arome des plantes
que leur apporte le leger zephir.

32 SOCIETE PROVENCHER

Apies avoir fait resonner Fair de ses joyeuses notes cent fois
repetees, on se met en quete de nourriture, chaqiie arbuste, chaque
branche d'arbre est inspectee avec soin et, si un malheureiix insecte
est rencontre, d'lin coup de bee il est bientot saisi et englouti dans
leur petit estomac, puis on procede ainsi jusqu'a ce que le repas soit
termine, alors on se repose. Plus tard, lorsque le soleil darde obli-
quement ses rayons sur la terre, nous les voyons de nouvcau sau-
tiller d'une branche a I'autre, ou se poser a terre, saisir au passage
le pauvre insecte qui s'avanture trop pres de leur bee.

Ainsi quelques semaines s'6coulent a chanter, a folatrer sans
but a travers le feuillage du petit canton que ce couple s'est choisi
Pendant ce temps, la temperature est devenue plus tiede, et sous
son influence, les feuilles se deploient ou atteignent toute leur crois-
sance, les prairies reverdissent, les trilles, les erythrones, les violettes
et autres fleurs printanieres des bosquets et des vallons ouvrent
leur corolle multicolore au souffle bienfaisant des zephirs. La
nourriture est devenue plus abondante, des legions d'insectes four-
millent et se jouent dans I'herbe ou sur les arbres, tout enfin respire
la joie et I'abondance.

C'est alors que ce petit couple semble devenir plus soucieux'
et, pour obeir a Fimpulsion generale de la loi de la nature, qui veille
a ce que chaque espece ne s'eteigne pas, de concert il se met de suite
a la recherche d'un endroit propice ou il pourra edifier un petit nid.

Mais, cortrairement a la plupart des especes de sa famille, ce
ne sera pas sur les branches qu'il le batira, mais bien a terre, sous
les buissons. A cette fin, tous deux examineront attentivement
chaque accident de terrain, chaque declivite du sol, le voisinage de
racines emergeant de terre, et lorsque le local sera trouv^, voyez
avec quelle activite ce petit couple apportera des brins d'herbes, du
crin, de la mousse, etc., qu'il va chercher parfois a de longues dis-
tances et sou vent au prix de beaucoup de fatigues. C'est surtout
la femelle qui eonfectionne le nid; elle lui donne a I'exterieur une
forme plus ou moins circulaire, en partie reconvert en dessus.

Lorsque le nid est termine, elle pond ses quatre oeufs blancs,
taches de brun roux.

Pendant I'incubation, le male apporte souvent des insectes a
sa compagne, ou il la remplace de temps a autre sur le nid, afin
qu'elle puisse se delasser de. ses longs moments d'inactivite ou bien
poursuivre des insectes. Parfois aussi, il se penche sur une branche
a proximite du nid et il entonne sa chansonnette, mais a I'approche
d'un danger quelconque, il va se cacher entre les feuilles, tout en
surveillant avec anxiete, I'objet de ses alarmes; la femelle qui a
egalement partage les craintes de son compagnon, se donne bien
garde de remuer dans son nid, elle s'affaisse davantage, se fait la
plus petite possible et surveille d'un a^il anxieux les mouvements
de cet ennemi commun. Aussitot le danger d^tourne, le male
revient de suite stir sa branche continuer sa chanson, afin de dis-
siper les craintes de sa compagne. II arrive quelquefois qu'il
s'eleve au-dessus des arbrisseaux pour entonner sa chansonnette et

d'hISTOIRE NATURELLE DU CANADA 33

la tenniner sous le feuillec. Son chant qui se compose de quelques
notes peut se traduire par ces mots, sit-su-hiiit, sit-su-huit, qu'il
repete, trois ou quatre fois avec vivacity.

Lorsque les petit s sont eclos, le couple redouble de vigilance
pour derober les chers petits aux nombreux dangers auxquels ils
sont exposes; egalement aussi pour leur procurer de la nom-riture.
Voyez quels soins, quels detours, ils prennent pour arriver a leur
nid si on les observe; ils demeureront souvent bien longtemps avec
une chenille dans le bee qu'ils n'osent porter a leurs petits, dans la
crainte de faire connaitre leur retraite; ils sauteront de branche en
branehe, s'eloignant parfois du nid, et d'autres fois s'approchant
quelque peu de leur ennemi, jetant leur petit cri plaintif de pit, pit,
et cela jusqu'a ce que le danger soit passe.

Aussi lorsqu'ils n'ont plus rien a craindre, avec quelle joie, ils
s'empressent de porter la becquee a ces chers objets de leur ten-
dresse, puis immediatement on se met de nouveau en quete de nour-
riture; les interstices des troncs d'l^rbres sont minutieusement
inspeetes, on examine attentivemeut, chaque feuille sm* ses deux
faces, chaque branche, chaque racine denudee, le brin d'herbe n'est
pas non plus oubUe, car c'est souvent a cet endroit que Ton trouvera
des insectes ou des larves succulentes et molles.

On s'etonne vraiment de voir ce petit couple deployer tant
d'activite pour nourru- et proteger sa progeniture.

Lorsque les petits sont devenus en etat de capturer eux-memes
les insectes, leurs parents les abandonnent: c'est le moment alors
de la separation totale, chacun voltige et cherche sa nourriture
pour son propre compte, et nul ne se reconnait plus.

La fauvette trichas est bien certainement une des plus ter-
restres de sa famille puisqu'on la voit tres souvent se poser et courir
a terre entre les racines des arbres a la maniere des troglodj'tes,
auxquels elle est souvent assimilee lorsque Ton n'j' regarde point de
trop pres.

A Texemple de beaucoup d'autres oiseaux qui animent et
egaient en ete nos forets et nos bocages, aussitot que Tautomne
arrive avec son cortege de frimas et de froid, cette interessante
fauvette s'envole vers le sud, sous un climat plus hospitalier.

C.-E. DioxxE

LE POINTER

Mon chien bondit, s'elance et suit avec ardeur
L'oiseau dont les zephirs vont lui porter I'odeur.
II s'approche, il le voit; transporte mais docile,
II me regarde alors et demeure immobile.
J'avance, l'oiseau part, le plomb que Toeil conduit,
Le frappe dans les airs au moment ou il s'enfuit.

Saixt-Lambert

M

S O C I E T E P R O \" E X C H E R

Orignai

Bison au pare Buffalo, Wain right
Grace i une protection pratique, I'etablissement d'un pare a Wainright, le Canada
peut s'enorgueiilir du fait d'avoir sauve de la destruction complete le buffalo.
D'un noyau de 700 au comnnencement nous en possedons aujourd'hui des milliers.

d"histoire xatfrellf. du CAN" ad a 35

CE QUW FAIT NOTRE SOCIETE

Notre societe, encore a son debut, et toute a son organisation,
n'a cependant pas perdu I'occasion d'agir dans quelques cas ou
I'ui-gence etait evident^. En eflfet, elle a deja a son actif un travail
qui a produit des resultats.

Voici une breve enumeration de ce qui a ete fait.

Au print€aips de 1920, alors que par suite d'une entente entre
les gouveraements du Canada et des Etats-Unis, et de Tadoption
du "Migratorj- Birds Act", la chasse a I'outarde etait prohibee le
printemps, nous avons envoye des circulaires a environ trois cents
chasseurs, pour leur expliquer les nouvelles restrictions de la loi
et les engager a s'y conformer.

Au printemps de 1921, nous avons distribue aux memes chas-
seurs des feuillets illustres sui- I'outarde et foumis par la branche
des pares federaux d'Ottawa. De plus une lettre a ete envoyee
aux cures de toutes les parcisses ou se chasse ce gibier, lui deman-
dant de lire et commenter publiquement une circulaire dans le
meme sens que celle envoyee I'annec precedente. Bien qu'il se
soit produit des abus comme par le passe, ce dont nous ne doutons
pas, nous avons regu des rapports nous demontrant que not re
travail avait porte des fruits.

Le canard eider subit une guerre achamee depuis nombre
d'annees, surtout sur les iles et les rochei-s de la rive sud du Saint-
Laurent. Des braeonniers y enlevent les oeufs par milliers chaque
printemps, employant ainsi le moyen le plus sur d'exterminer un
gibier aussi interessant.

Des la fondation de notre societe trois de ses membres furent
delegues pour faire enquete sur les lieiix, avec mission de se rendre
compte des faits et d'etudier les meilleui-s moj-ens de remedier au
present etat de chose. Comme mesure d'ur^nce pour empecher
ces delits nous avons aussitot fait afficher aux endroits publics:
gares. bureaux de poste, places d'eglise, etc., des placards rappelant
la defense de la loi et les penalites a encourir. Encore la nous avons
pu toucher du doigt les lx)ns effets de cette demarche. De plus
un rapport detaille de cette enquete a ete prepare et une copie a
ete transmise aux autorites federates avec diverses suggestions,
entre autres celle de la creation de sanctuaires de nidification a
ces endroits.

Nous avons aussi signale aux autorites provinciates certains
cas revoltants de massacre de gros gibier.

Nous ne nous sommes pas bonies seulement aux cas actuels et
pressants. Nous nous sommes aussi occupes d'un des articles les
plus important s de notre programme: la propagande education-

36

SOCIETE PROVEXCHER

nelle. Grace au coiicours hienveillant de quelques inspecteurs
d'ecole, nous avons pu faire la distribution de litterature instruc-
tive sur des sujets d'histoire naturelle a plus de quatre mille enfants
de nos ecoles de Test de la province. Cette campagne de propa-
gande educationnelle que nous entreprenons est vnie lourde tache
a assumer; mais nous nous rendons coinpte que le nieilleur inoyen
d'arriver a notre but c'est de former la generation future.

Voila, en resume, notre modeste debut. Et n'eut ete la somme
de travail que demande I'organisation d'une societe comme la notre,
nous aurions certainement pu aboixler plusieurs autres articles de
notre programme, ce que nous espercns faire dans vm avenir r;ap-
proche.

J. M.

Distribuons dans nos ecoles I'image en couleur de nos oiscaux
et leur biographic: protection sera le resultat.

"Quel est celui qui n'aime a voir revenir avec le printemps, au
moment meme oij la nature se reveille, cette multitude de chant res
ailes qui animent nos forets et nos bocages et les egaient de leurs
merveilleux concerts.''

C.-E. DiONNE {Les Oiseaux du Canada)

Canards tues illeKalement au lac Ontario

Aix sponsa (Linn.) Bonap. 144

Le canard huppe — (Le canard hranchu)
Wood Duck

.^i^^h*

j^.-^

■-T-t-

Branta canadensis {Linn.) Bannister 172

La bernache du Canada — (L'outarde)
Canada Goose

D HISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA

37

L'OUTARDE

Infatigables voyageuses
En troupe franchissant les mers,
Siir les plages marcoageuses
Nous deseendons du haut des airs
^'ous, qui de not re bande ailee
Avez si bien trace I'essor,
Merci: je pi-ends ma volee
Vers la terre du Labrador.

A. Marsais

iSn. a/-«ai

Moufflons, sur la route nationale, pres de Banff

Tour attrapper la bete, il faut etre plus fin quelle "

(Vieux proverbe)

'Le bon chien fait le bon chasseur.
Le bon chasseur fait le bon chien."

38 SOCIETE PROVENCHER

"Contribuer par mes ecrits, muses individuels. naturalisation
des sujets a repandre, au sein de notre population, la connaissanee
de nos oiseaux, et servir a lui faire aimer et proteger ceux qui sont
utiles voila un des buts chers de ma vie".

C.-E. DioNXE, {Les Oiseaux de la Province de Quebec)

Par 1 'enfant nous repandrons au fo^^er de la famille les salu-
taiies legons de la science naturelle.

Les oiseaux sont indispensal)les a ragrieulture : ils maintien-
nent I'equilibre dans la serie des etres, ils empechent surtout les
insectes, ces ennemis si petits, si redoutables, de rendre la prepon-
derance. Leur utilite ne peut s'estimer tant elle est grande.

Protection des oiseaux Voila la devise de tout naturaliste,

de toute personne instruite, de tout agriculteur, de tout bon citoyen.

Les oiseaux rapaces purgent nos champs des campa^nols, des
mulcts et des autres petits rongeurs quilesdevastent;ils detruisent
des quantites incalculables de gros insectes nuisibles a nos recolt.es.
Le coucou debarrasse nos bois et nos vergers des chenilles velues
qui les envahissent. Tous les insectivores a bee fin tels que les merles,
les grives, devorent journellement des milliers d 'insectes, de larves,
de vermisseaux. I^es hirondelles chassent les mouches, les fourmies
ailees, les charanQons Les pics-bois font une lutte sans merci aux
ennemis de nos forets Les petites mesanges explorent minutieu-
sement un arbre, un arbuste, du pied a la cime, pour y decouvrir
les chenilles, les pucerons, et les oeufs des insectes de divers
genres. Les etourneaux et les martins font dans les prairies, ce
que les mesanges font dans nos vergers et nos forets: ils fouillent
chaque touffe d'herbe, pour y trouver des sauterelles, leurs larves,
des mordelles, des vers, des limaces. Les oiseaux a bees conique,
tels que les chardonnerets, les pinsons, tout en detruisant les insec-
tes, devorent les graines des plantes nuisibles.

Tous les enfants connaissent les actifs pique-bois qui, de leiu-
bee aigu, mart client constamment le tronc des arbres en en faisant
le tour. Cet oiseau n'agit pas de cette maniere simplement dans
le but de se recreer. Avec son bee aiguise il perce I'ecorce de
I'ai'bre et va chercher en dessous, guide par son instinct, le ver
qui rouge le bois et fait mourir un si grand nombre de nos plus
beaux arbres d'oml)rage.— (L'hon. J.-E. Caron)

Accijnter airicapillus \Wils.) Seehohm o34

L'autour a tSte noire
American Goshawk

/

Dryohates ptibescens medianus (Swainson) Brewst. 394c

Le pic minule du nord
Northern Downy Woodpecker

d'hISTOIRE XATURELLE DU CANADA

39

LA BfiCASSE D'AMERIQUE

"Dans quelqiie savane obscau'c,
Le jour, je reste sans biiiit.
Pour chercher ma nouiriture
Jc sors lorsque vient la nuit.
Si le chasseur tant me prise
Helas c'est pom- mon malheur.
11 trouve ma chair exquise
Et me traque avec ardeur."

A. Marsais

Cerfs de V ironic fChevreuils)

Notre societe doit un cordial merci aux commisisons de Con-
servation et de Geologie du Canada, aux departements du Procu-
reur-General et de la Colonisation de la Province de Quebec,
ainsi qu'ji la compagnie du chemin de fer Pacifique Canadien
pour leur bienveillance d'avoir bien voulu lui preter les vignettes qui
ont servi a illusti*er ce prospectus.

.19...

Le Secretaire,
Societe Provencher d'Histoire Naturelle du Canada^
TJniversite Laval, Quebec.

0 /

J'ai 'pris connaissance des reglements de la SOCIETE
PROVENCHER D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE DU CANADA
et je desire en f aire partie comme memhre (a)

Des que je serai amse de mon admission je vou^ enverrai ma
contribution au mordant de $ .

Nom

Adresse

Profession

(a) Bienfaiteur, patron, a vie ou axAif, suivant Varticle 15 des re-
glement^.

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

OF NATURAL HISTORY

OF CANADA

Rev. L. PROVENCHER

The Great Canadian Naturalist

«

HEAD OFFICE

QUEBEC, P. Q.

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

OF NATURAL HISTORY

OF CANADA

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

DIRECTION BOARD

President _ Rev. Ph. -J. Fillion, M.A.

1st Vice-President _ Col. Oscar Pelletier

Snd Vice-President Dr. S. Gaudreau

Secretary-Treasurer Jos. Matte

Chief of Scientific Research Section .Rev. Alex. Vachon

Chief of Educational Propaganda Sec-
tion Dr. a. Dery

Chief of Protection Section C.-E. Dionne, M.A.

Chief of Scientific and Practical In-
formation Section Dr. J.-E. Bernier

Directors , Eug.-G. Audet

Dr. Leon Fiset
Capt. T.-P. Gagnon

^

PROVANCHER SOCIETY OF NATURAL
HISTORY OF CANADA

Board of Direction for 1922

President Col. Oscar Pelletier

Ist. Vice-President R. Meredith, N.P.

2nd. Vice-President Dr. A. Dery

Secretary-Treasurer Jos. Matte

Chief of Scientific Research section. .Rev. Alex. Vachon

Chief of Educational Propaganda

Section Dr. S. Gaudreau

Chief of Protection Section C. E. Dionne, M.A.

Chief of Scientific and Practical In-
formation Section Dr. J, E. Bernier

Dr. L. N. J. FiSET

Directors { Capt. A. Joly de LoTBiNifeRE

1

i Capt. T. P. Gagnon

6

THE PROVBNCHER SOCIETY

■*

^■T^^^^H

^^^BF^M

I^^H

/^Jn-L-

/J

f r^ U^^'fVt i a ' y^^j

A

i/^^f-^^^'i^^^^^

<j

The first president

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

INTRODUCTION

SOME of our great thinkers who are well versed in the natural
science and whose opinions carry great weight have expressed
their disappointment at the great lack in our organization for
the protection of icild life and fish, and this association has had its
origin to supply the desideratum and to invoke public bodies to co-
operate icith our governments both federal and provincial with the
praiseworthy object of improving present conditions.

The excellent results obtained by that great and well kn^wn insti-
tution in the United States called ^'The National Association of
Audubon Societies'^ and which originated in Xew York in 1886,
biased the way, thanks to the noble initiative of Dr. George Bird Grinnell,
Editor of ^^Forest and Stream''. It only remained for us Canadians
to adapt and put into practice the laws and regulations laid down by
our co-workers in the United States and with the same object in view
the "Provencher Society of Natural History of Canada'' obtained
letters patent from Ottawa, with' very extended powers.

Our society, whose name will recall the remembrance of one of our
great Canadian naturatists, a man of esteemed celebrity, should stimu-
late our interest in the study of natural history and thu^ perpetuate
among our children especially a study fraught with so many beneficient
and idilitarian advantages such as the protection of our wild birds
and animals and the various modes of developing and preserving
our fisheries.

It has for its object the creation among our people, young and old,
of that noble instinct of preservation which has been nurturred and
developed for many years with our American neighbors, thanks to the
admirable methods pursued by the Audubon Society.

This society started in 1910 its educational campaign in the
schools with such energy and forethought that to-day 600,000 children
and 30,000 teachers receive systematic instruction by means of folders
such as our own Society are now circulating in this Province. Six
million folders or pamphlets are annually distributed by this Asso-
ciation in the United States and well-nigh 8,000 pupils in Canada
are the recipients of this educational propaganda. In this way
has the Audubon Society succeeded in awakening the attention
of the public for the protection of the indigenous species and to-day it

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

enjoys the popular confidence manifested from time to time by great
financial support. As a case in point we may mention the princely
gift of $336,000 conferred on the Association at his death by Mr-
Wilcox. The Society employs by the year lecturers to instruct the
public and the different organizations by means of illustrated lectures.
During the summer it gives at its own expense special courses to these
instructors. It has an ornithological department, the object of which
is to encourage people to attract near their dwellings, by different
artificial means, wild birds, etc.

The "Provencher Society of Natural History of Canada'^ believes
that the best means for arriving at this goal is to imitate this American
Association by creating a great national movement through our educa-
tional institutions. It is, in a word, the generation of to-morrow that
our national institution wishes to inform.

Coy instruction and by persuasion it will improve the mode of
protection of our wild life, it will aim at the development of our fisheries
with the object of gaining the greatest profit possible for the pvblicj
it will study the best means or preserving the indigenous speci^sJ Our
programme may be abridged as follows : —

(a) To study the natural history, specially of the animal
kingdom, and to create a sentiment in favor of its extension;

(6) To cooperate with the federal and provincial authorities
and with organizations like sporting clubs, etc., to promote learning
and diffusion of knowledge of natural history in schools, colleges*
convents and universities, and for the protection and the increase
of native animals, mammifers, birds, fishes, etc. Although the object
is the protection of the native kind, the society does not reject to
the sportsman the right of hunting birds and other species of wild
fowl;

(c) To expand our cynegetic resources and our fisheries;

(d) To promote the establishment of schools of fisheries;

(e) To appoint investigating commissions;

(/) To let, acquire, and manaee land, organize ground of
alimentation for birds and game;

{g) To let or acquire the rights to promote the propagation
and the increase of the species which are decreasing;

{h) To study the lakes, rivers, streams, and gulfs of Canada in
connection with biology and oceanography;
{i) To found an information bureau;
ij) To publish magazines, newspapers, etc.;
{k) To possess libraries, museums;
if) To found professorships of natural history;

=^

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

(m) To get affiliated with other societies of this countrj- and
of foreign countries;

(n) To recruit members;

(o) To appoint lecturers, and to give public lectures;

(p) To appoint special game-wardens;

(q) To possess moveable and immoveable properties.

We do not intend to dissimulate, we are taking on our shoulders a
heavy task, hut we believe we can assume it with confidence, counting
on the support of our public bodies and on individual generosity.

Besides this educational propaganda which we intend to undertake
we will petition the government to see to it that the laws are respected
both as regards wild birds, animals and fish. Hence it is a source of
satisfaction to our Society to record the amendments recently enacted
by our government to protect our game. In 1916 Mr. James W.
Robertson in his report testifies among other matters that "IFe have
the finest fisheries in the world, but our methods are archaic. Our
fishermen lack education and modern equipment. The Province of
Quebec is backward; we ought to begin and instruct our fishermen.
The authorities are only too imUing to give us a helping hand".

These words are illuminating and describe the situation to our
advantage. Our federal charter permits us to carry on our work
throughout Canada, but ice would first make of the Province of Quebec
the field of our activities. Our society has already received a very
favorable reception from all acquainted with our programme. It
relies on the moral and financial support of its members, of its friends
and of the public in general who will no doubt appreciate the important
and patriotic work, ickich will comply with a national need.

The Presidext

%

10 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

PROMOTERS

Adam, Dr. P., Specialist, Quebec.

Ahern, G.-Stuart, Quebec.

Alleyn, C.-E., N.P., Quebec.

Alleyn, R., Advocate, Quebec.

Audet, Eug.-G., Manager, La Banque Nationale, Quebec.

Baillarg6, W., Naturalist, Riv.-du-Loup, P. Q.

Beaudoin, Rev. Art., Director of the College of Ste. Anne-de-la-
Pocatiere, P. Q.

Beckett, R.-M., Quebec.

Beetz, Johan, Joan Beetz Bay, (North Shore), P. Q.

Bernier, Dr. J.-E., M.D., Inspector of the Fisheries of Gulf of
St. Lawrence for the Federal Government, St. Fabien, Co.
Rimouski.

Bernier, Capt. J.-E., Arctic Explorer, Levis, P. Q.

BouLTON, A.-R.-M. Quebec.

CoMEAU, N.-A., Author, Naturalist, Godbout (North Shore), P.Q-

Cote, Rev. Geo., Professor of Agricultural Chemistry, Agriculture
College, Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere, P.Q.

Del AGE, Hon. C.-F., Superintendent of the Dept. of Public In-
struction, Quebec.

Dery, Dr. a.. Dentist, Quebec.

Desrivieres, H., Manager, Bank of Montreal, Quebec.

DiONNE, C.-E., M. A., Author, Naturalist, Curator of the Laval Uni-
versity Museum, Quebec.

DoAK, Geo., Manager, Canadian Bank of Commerce, Quebec.

DoBELL, Wm. M., Quebec.

Dumas, Charles, Secretary, Roads Dept., Provincial Government
Quebec.

Edge, Dr. Alex., Quebec.

FiLLioN, Rev. Ph. -J., Master of Arts, Member of "LaSociete Chi-
mique de France;" Professor of Chemistry, Arts Faculty,
Laval University; Secretary of the Laval University of
Quebec.

FisET, Dr. L.-N.-J., M.D., Laryngologist, Quebec.

Fortier, Dr. Emile, Quebec.

Gagnon, Lucien, Clerk, Dept. of Roads, Quebec.

Gagnon, Capt. T.-P., Quebec.

Gaudreau, Dr. S., Dentist, Quebec.

Godbout, A.-A., Accountant, Quebec.

Goulet, L.-P., Quebec.

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA 11

HuARD, Rev. V.-A., Canon, Member of the Royal Society of Canada
Editor of "Le Xaturaliste"; Curator of the "Museum of the
Provincial Government of Quebec.

Lagueux, Mgr. R., Parish Priest, St. Roch, Quebec.

Laird, Johx, Manager, Imperial Oil Co., Quebec.

Laurix, Jos., Manager, The Paquet Co., Ltd., Quebec.

Lavgib, Raoul, Naturalist, L'Islet, P. Q.

Lebon, Dr. H., Dentist, Quebec.

Lechasseur, a. Manager, La Banque Xationale,Trois-Pistoles,P.Q.

Leclerc, Aurele, Notary, M.P.P., Quebec.

Lindsay, R.-F., Quebec.

Maheux, Georges, entomologist of department of Agriculture,
Quebec.

Mahon, Fred Quebec,

Malouin, Alfred, Ex-Governor of Anticosti, Baie Ste. Claire,

Anticosti. .
M artel, Eusebe, Quebec.

^Iatte, Jos., Clerk, Roads Dept. of the Prov. of Quebec.
Matte, J.-B., Accountant, Quebec.
Meredith, R., Notary, Quebec.
MicHAUD, Alex., Advocate, Rivi^re-du-Loup, P. Q.
Mitchell, G.-M., Broker, Quebec.

^MoNAGHAN, M., B.A., Manager, Mutual Life Ins. Co., Quebec.
Montambault, R.-O., Accountant, Quebec.
Paouet, J.-H., Quebec.
Payeur, Hilaire, Notary-, Quebec.
Pelletier, Colonel Oscar, QuesJbec.
Piche, G.-C., Chief ForestrA- Engineer, Prov. of Quebec.
RoBiTAiLLE, Rev. Art., B.A.. Professor of Botanj' and Zoolog}',

Arts Faculty, Laval University of Quebec.
Rousseau, J.-H., Notary, Trois-Pistoles, P. Q.
Russell, A. Geo., Manager, Royal Bank of Canada, Quebec.
Taschereau, Hon. L.-A., Prime Minister of the Province of

Quebec.
Theriault, Elisee, Advocate, M.P.P., Quebec.
Thompson, S. Quebec.
Vachon, Rev. Alex., M.A., Professor of Chemistry-, Geologj^ and

Mineralogy, Arts Faculty, Laval University, Quebec.
Wood, Lt.-Col. AVilliam, F.R.S.C, Quebec.
Young, Herman, Quebec.

12

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

OUTDOOR

'I love to see a man forget.

His blood is growing cold.
And lead, or swim, or gather flowers,

Oblivious of his gold,
And mix with children in their sport,

Nor think that he is old."

*I love to see the man of care
Take pleasure in a toy;

I love to see him row or ride.

And tread the grass with joy.

Or throw the circling salmon fly.
As lusty as a boy."

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA 13

SOClfiTf: PROVENCHER D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE DU

CANADA

Public Notice is herebj' given that under the First Part of
chapter 79 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1906, known as
"The Companies Act" and amending acts, letters patent have been
issued under the Seal of the Secretaiy of State of Canada, bearing
date of 15th. day of April, 1919. incorporating Phileas-Joseph
FiLLiox, priest, professor of chemistry- at Laval University, Oscar
Pelletier, colonel; Stanislas Gaudreau, David-Alexis Dery
and Herman Lebon, dentists; Charles-Eusebe Dionne, natura-
list, keeper of Laval University Museum; Charles Dumas, secre-
tary of the Department of Public Roads of the Province of Quebec,
Thomas-Philippe Gagnon, captain in the Militia; Alphonse-
Ambroise Gobdout, accountant; Robert Lagueux, parish priest
of St. Roch of Quebec; Eugene Audet, bank manager; Alexandre
Vachon, priest, professor of chemistry and mineralogy at the
Laval University; Joseph ^L\tte, emploj-ed in the Department of
Public Roads of the Province of Quebec; Leon Fiset, physician
and larj-ngologist ; Charles Alleyn, notary-, all of the city of
Quebec, in the Province of Quebec, and Joseph-Emile Bernier,
physician, fisheries inspector for the Gulf of St. Lawrence, of St.
Fabien, in the said Province of Quebec, for the following purposes,
viz : —

(a) To study the natural history generally and in particular
the animal kingdom in Canada; to develop the taste therefor and
to popularize the knowledge thereof among the public and espe-
cially in schools, convents, colleges and universities, and to try to
induce people to protect native animals, mammals, birds, fish and
propagate same;

(6) To explore and study, especially at a biological point of
view, the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, the coasts, rivers, lakes,
streams and lands in Canada to find phenomena which it may be
useful to know in connection with the protection of native species;

(c) To research and utilize the best methods for the protection,
propagation and increase of native species and the development of
the hunting and fishing resources of Canada ;

(d) To lease, acquire and operate reserves and areas, rights
and privileges, for experimental purposes; to studj', establish
feeding grounds and to encourage the propagation of species;

(c) To establish and conduct secretariats or information
bureaus, committees, clubs or branches in different parts of Canada;
to publish sketches, works, circulars, magazines and newspapers;
to organize lectures and meetings; to constitute and organize com-
mittees of inquirs', of studj- and of experimentation; to create pro-
fessorships, to give public lectures, and to promote the establish-
ment of schools of natural history; to amalgamate with similar
societies and to accept their aflSliation;

14

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

(/) To acquire, own and exploit moveable and immoveable
property; to lease, sell and alienate the same; to borrow money and
issue bonds or obligations; to exercise all powers pertaining to or-
dinary incorporated companies and more especially those which
may be conducive tc the attainment of its objects and which may
be necessary for the carr3dng out of its undertakings; to collect
contributions and subscriptions from its members, the whole for
the attainment of the above object;

(g) Generally to do all acts and things and carry on all business
which may be conducive to the attainment of the above object or
any of them, subject to all the rights conferred by the provincial
hunting and fishing laws and regulations, and provided that nothing
contained and expressed herein shall be contrary to federal and
provincial laws in that behalf.

The operations of the company to be carried on without share
capital throughout the Dominion of Canada and elsewhere by the
name of "Societe Provencher d'Histoire Naturelle du Canada",
and the chief place of business of the said corporation shall be at
the city of Qliebec, in the Province of Quebec.

Dated at the office of the Secretarv of State of Canada, this
22nd day of April 1919.

THOMAS MULVEY,

Under-Secretary of State.

{The Canada Official Gazette, Vol. LII, No. 43, p. 3309, April
26th. 1919)

u '-ur

i^ iMifiiliiBiiiHfellHMI^

i

f^^^iiSim^^PP^^^K '

JOLLY SPORT

'Oh! not in camp or court
Our b«st deliehts we find>
But in some loved resort
With water, wood, and wind;
Where nature works.
And beauty lurks,
In all her craft enshrined".

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CAXADA 15

REGULATIONS

I — Name

This society is denominated The Provencher Society of
Natural History of Canada.

II — Head Office

The head oflfice of the r^ociety is at Quebec.

Ill — Object

(a) To study the natural history, specially of the animal
kingdom, and to create a sentiment in favor of its exten-
sion;

(6) To cooperate with the federal and provincial authorities
and with organizations like sporting clubs, etc., to promote
learning and diffusion of knowledge of natural histoiy in
schools, colleges, convents and universities, and for the pro-
tection and the increase of native animals, mammifers,
birds, fishes, etc. Although the object is the protection of
the native kind, the society does not reject to the sportsman
the right of hunting birds and other species of wild fowl;

(c) To expand our cj-negetic resources and our fisheries;

(d) To promote the establishment of schools of fisheries;

(e) To appoint investigating commissions;

(/) To let, acquire, and manage land, organize feeding ground
for birds and game;

(g) To let or acquire the rights to promote the propagation and

the increase of the species which are decreasing;
{h) To study the lakes, rivers, streams, and gulfs of Canada

in connection with biologj'^ and oceanography;
(0 To found an information bureau;
(j) To publish magazines, newspapers, etc.;
(A) To possess libraries, museums;
(/) To found professorships of natural historj-;

(m) To get affiliated with other societies of this country and

of foreign countries;
(n) To recruit members;

(o) To appoint lecturers and to give public lectures;
(p) To appoint special game-wardens;
(g) To possess moveable and inunoveable properties.

16 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

IV — Direction Board

The affairs of the society are managed by a direction board,
appointed at the annual meeting for one year. There are eleven
members: one president, two vice-presidents, one secretary-treas-
urer, four chiefs of section and three directors. A new member
may be appointed to a post if there is a vacation, before the end of
the year.

There is a meeting of the direction board when it is necessary.
The quorum consists of five members. It is their duty to fix the
salaries of the officers and clerks of the society, to accept new
members, to dismiss members, to fill any office which may become
vacant during the year, to fix the annual amount for the contribu-
tion of each society admitted as active member, etc.

V — Subdivision

The society is divided into four sections:

(a) Section of scientific studies,

(6) " of educadional propaganda,

(c) " of protection,

(d) " of practical and scientific information.

VI — President and Vice-Presidents

The president presides over all meetings, supervises the ob-
servance of the regulations, has the general direction of the business
of the society, and convokes special meetings. He must make a
statement of what has been done during the year.

One of the vice-presidents acts as president in the absence of
the former.

When the president and the two vice-presidents are absent, a
temporary president is appointed.

VII — Secretary-Treasurer

a) The secretary -treasurer enters in a register: 1° a copy of
the letters patent by which the society is established and of all
letters patent in reference to it; 2° names, addresses and occupation
of each member. He enters in another register all the proceedings
of the general meetings and of the direction board meetings. He
looks after the correspondence and he advises members of the
meetings according to section thirteen.

6) He must collect annual fees and all the sums due to the
society. He enters in a book all receipts and expenses. He never
pays a bill without the authorization of the direction board. All

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA 17

the money collected by the seeretarj'-treasurer is deposited, in the
name of the society, in an incorporated bank and it cannot be drawn
out without the signature of the secretar\'-treasurer and the counter-
signature of the president or of one of the vice-presidents. He
makes a financial statement at the annual meeting and when it is
requested by the direction board.

VIII — Auditor

An auditor is appointed even,' year by the direction board for
the auditing of the financial operations of the year. He reports to
the direction board. v

IX — Chiefs of Section

The chiefs of section guide and supervise the studies of their
respective section and they make a statement of what has been
done during the year.

X — Members

The society is composed of seven classes of members :

a) honorarj' members,

b) benefactor members,

c) patron members,

d) life members,

e) active members,

/) correspondent members,
g) school members.

XI — Admission of Members

Persons and societies which are desirous of comphung with and
qualifying for the aims of the society are admitted. The applica-
tion for reception is filled in writing and sent to the secretarj^-
treasurer specifying in whatever class the candidate is desirous
of being inscribed. However, for the admission of school members,
a list of the members with their total amount of subscriptions sent
to the secretaiy -treasurer by the schoolmaster or the schoolmistress
will be accepted. The admission of each member must be ap-
proved by the majority of the members present to a direction
board's meeting.

XII — Meetings

a) The annual meeting takes place the first Monday of Feb-
ruary;

h) The president may, at all times, convoke a special meeting
of members by request of the direction board or by request of three
members ;

18 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

c) The quorum of an annual or special meeting is of twelve
members ;

d) The order of business of the annual meeting is the following :

1. — The president declares the meeting opened;

2. — Reading and approving the minutes of the previous
meeting ;

3. — Report of the president;

4. — Financial report;

5. — Notice of motion;

6.^-Motions;

7 . — Interpellations ;

8. — Remarks and debates;

9. — Selection of three scrutineers;
10. — Election to directoin board;
11. — Adjournment.

e) The president may, at all times, call a special meeting for
study and debate ;

/) The chiefs of section may also call meetings of their sections.

XIII — Notice for Meetings

A notice is published in the newspapers for the calling of the
annual meeting, at least eight days before the date of the meeting.
The directors' meeting is called by a notice of the secretary-treasurer
given to each member by telephone or by mail. Sections are
notified by mail or by telephone by their respective chiefs.

XIV— Vote

Benefactor, patron, life and active members are entitled to
vote, provided they havQ paid their contribution. The vote is by
ballot.

XV — Contributions

The financial year commences the first of January. The contri-
bution is due at that time and must be paid before the 31st of Janu-
ary, The scale of contributions is as follows:

a) Benefactor members $ 100 00

6) Patron members 50 00

c) Life members 25 00

d) Active members 1 00

e) School members 0 10

There is only one contribution for benefactor, patron and life
members. For the active and school members, the contribution
is annual. Correspondent members have no contribution to pay.
Affiliated societies are considered as active members. Their annual
contribution is fixed by the direction board.

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

19

XVI — Resignations

An active member desirous of resigning must give written
notice of his intention to the secretary-ti-easurer before the first of
December. If he neglects to give that notice he is obliged to pay
his annual contribution for the following year,

XVII — Right to make Regulations

Other regulations or amendments to these regulations must be
approved at a general meeting of members by a vote of at least two
thirds of the votes of members present, and provided that a notice
of motion has been given at the previous meeting.

the old bass ground

'Our boat was a clumsy, leaky scow, made from an old barn door;
Our poles were long and springy canes, bought at the village store;
And the bait? Well sir, there's nothing that Bob and I ever found
To equal a lively meadow frog on the Old Bass Ground.

I recall the whooping "Bronzeback" I hooked after dark one night.
He pulled like sixty, thrashed about, and after an awful fight.
Got of! Gee! What a big one! I knew by the pull and sound
But we could'nt coax him out again from the Old Bass Ground.

You don't mean it. Bob! The Bass is still there? In that same quiet spot?
The bend of the little river, down by the old back lot?
To morrow is June? Hang business! I'll go with you, for I'm bound
To find the grizzled "Bronzeback" I lost in the Old Bass Ground."

20

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

0 Ic 0
"0 •" »•"

5 ji

"S "*' >

■- o «""

6 " c •
2-* «>"£

X 3 g-J
u 0 0 h
fgX-

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0 0

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c.t^fi^ntsiitsJ.ij.

Philohela minor {Gmel.) Gray 228

La becasse d'Amerique
American Woodcock

Gallinago delicata (Ord.) A. (). U. Linle 230

La becaasine de Wilson
Wilson's Snipe

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

21

WOODCOCK (Philohela minor)

The woodcock, another member of the royal family among
game birds, is practically the exclusive property of the American
people to deal with as they list. It is true that a greater or lesser
number of woodcock cross our northern frontier to breed, but the
bulk of the species never leave our own borders. As a requisite
to its presence the woodcock requires soft, moist earth in which
to probe for earthworms, and its range may be said to be largely
determined by the presence or absence of its favorite food. Study
him at what season you will, meet him whei*e you may, the wood-
cock is always an interesting bird. His spring-flight song, given
as the" hours of darkness approach — for the woodcock is chiefly of
nocturnal habits — is unique among the long-billed, long-legged
fraternity, and the many details connected with- his housekeeping
are well worth attention. And what music so sweet to the sports-
men's ears as the silver}- whistle of the woodcock's wings when the
bird, suddenly roused from his snug shelter beneath bush or
bracken, mounts upward through the silver birches! Nor is any
other prize among game birds dear to the sportmen's heart as this
many-hued denizen of swamp and hillside when brought to bag in
fair sportsmanlike fashion. All the more keenly then must sports-
man and bird lover regret the fact that the woodcock is passing.
While there is no present danger of extinction, spring and summer
woodcock-shooting should be abohshed as a crime against a fine
game bird and fair sportsmanship.

(Henry W. Henshaw)

Pale students, who consumes the night
With learned vigils till the light ;
Merchant, *vho toils in city street
Through all the sumnners fervid heat;
All ye tired sons of gold and gain.
Turn from your weary task of pain.
And haste to wood, and bay, and stream.
Where health, and joy, and sunshine beam.

GEXIO SCOTT

22

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

PRAYER

'Give me, Great Father, give me strength and health,

A liberal heart, affections kind and free;

My rod, my line, be these my pride, my wealth!

They yield me present joys, they draw my soul to Thee."

(IssAc Walton)

RATTLING RUN, ST. JOHN RIVER, NORTH-SHORE

"Ye rivers, so Jiaunted with myriads of flies,
Whose flashes of salmon breaks gladden the eyes;
Scenes where the seals their gambolings make ;
When shall I tread your fair precincts again ?
When kindle my camp-fires over your plain ?
When again cast my line and my flies,
Charming my senses, feasting my eyes V

THE BROOK TROUT

"When the tangled willowy thickets lave
Their dropping taasels within the wave.
There lies a deep and darkened pool,
Whose waters are crystal clear and cool.
It is fed by many a gurgling fount.
That trickles from upland pasture and mount.
And when the deep shadows fall dense and dinit
Th« speckled trout delight to swim."

OF NATUKAL HISTORY OF CANADA 23

WILD LIFE SANXTUARIES

(Lt.-Col. William Wood, Quebec)

Animal sanctuaries are places where man is passive and the
rest of Nature active. A sanctuarj' is the same thing to wild life
as a spring is to a river. In itself a sanctuarj' is a natural "zoo".
But it is much more than a "zoo". It can only contain a certain
number of animals. Its surplus must overflow to stock surrounding
areas. And it constitutes a refuge for all species whose lines of
migration pass through it. So its value in the preservation of
desirable wild life is not to be denied. Of course, sanctuaries
occasionally develop ♦troubles of their own; for if man interferes
with the balance of nature in one way he must be prepared to
interfere in others. But all experience shows that an easilj' worked
sj'stem will ensure a maximum of gain and a minimum of loss.

Up till quite recently Nature had her own animal sanctuaries
in vast and sparsely settled lands hke Labrador. But now she has
none. There is no place left where wild hfe is safe from men who
use all the modern means of destruction without being bound by
any of the modern means of conser\'ation. And this is nowhere
truer than in Labrador, though the area of the whole peninsula is
equal to eleven Englands, while, even at the busiest season along
the coast, there is not one person to more than every ten square
miles. Since the white man went there at least three-quarters of
the forests have been burnt, and sometimes the soil burnt too.
Wild life of all kinds has been growing rapidly less. The walrus is
receding further and further north. Seals are diminishing. Whales
are beginning to disappear. Fur-bearing animals can hardly hold
their own much longer in face of the ever increasing demand for
their pelts and the more systematic invasion of their range. The
opening up of the countrA' in the north will mean the extinction of
the great migrating herd of barren-ground caribou, unless protec-
tion is enforced. The coast birds are going fast. Some verj'^ old
men can still remember the great auk, which is now as extinct as
the dodo. Elderly men have eaten the Labrador duck, which has
not been seen alive for thirty years. And young men will certainlv^
see the end of the Hudsonian and Eskimo curlews verj^ soon, under
present conidtions. The days of commercial "egging" on a large
scale are over, because eggs of the final lay were taken like the rest,
and the whole bird life was depleted below paying quantities.
But "egging" still goes on in other waj's, especially at the hands
of Newfoundlanders, who are wantonly wasteful in their methods,
unlike the coast people, who only take what the birds will replace.
The Newfoundlanders and other strangers gather all the eggs they
seei^put them into water, and throw away ever>' one that floats.
Thus many more bird lives are destro3'ed than eggs are eaten or
sold, because schooners appear towards the end of the regular laying

24 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

season, when most of the eggs are about to hatch out — and these
are the ones that float. But even greater destruction is done when
a schooner stays several days in the same place. For then the
crew go round, first smashing every egg they see, and afterwards
gathering every egg they see, because they know the few they find
the second time must have been newly laid.

Many details were given of other forms of destruction, and some
details of the revolting cruelties practised there, as in every other
place where wild life is grossly abused instead of being sanely used.
All classes of legitimate human interest were dealt with in turn;
and it was shown that the present system — or want of system — was
bad for each one: bad for such wild life as must still be used for
necessary food, bad for every kind of business in the products of
wild life, bad for the future of sport, bad for the pursuits of science,
and bad for the prospects of wild "zoos".

BLACK DUCK (Anas rubripes)

It is a favorite object of pursuit by sportsmen, and in the
struggle to maintain existence has learn edits lesson so well that it
is still comparatively numerous in localities where less wary species
would long ago have been exterminated. Originally a diurnal
feeding species, like most ducks, persecution has taught the black
duck to seek safety on the broad ocean during the hours of daylight,
and to resort to inland ponds for the, purpose of feeding only after
sunset. In order to protect this and other waterfowl one of the
regulations under the federal migratoiy bird law forbids shooting
after sunset and before sunrise, and the enforcement of this regula-
tion will probably do more for the preservation of the black duck
than any other provision that could be devised. That protection
for this species is sorely needed appears from the fact that through-
out its range, except in a few localities, the black duck has of late
years steadily diminished in numbers.

(Henry W. Hexshaw)

Prime kinds of fishes are, and have for some j^ears been, in the
cities of this country, expensive articles of diet. It was so in
Ath^nes, in the earlier centuries.

Xenarchus says in the Purple. (400 years B, C.)

''^ T -4

Anas obscura {Gn^eL] /-i"

Le canard noir
Black Duck

Qiierquedula discors (Linn.) Stephens I40

La sarcelle a ailes bleues
Blue Wintted Teal

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

25

•"as <
^^^'^

5.' S

Mr. Nap. Comeau, who has had over sixty years practical experience within the
Labrador area, the well known authority on wild-life conservation in Eastern Canada,
Author of "Life and Sport on the North Shore."

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA 27

A VOICE FROM NORTH SHORE

GODBOUT, April 30tb. 1921.
To the Secretary,

Societe Provencher d'Histoire Naturelle du Canada,

Quebec, P. Q.

Dear Sir:

I feel highly honored in being able, as a member, to join hands
with you in promoting increased knowledge of our animals, birds
and fishes in the Province of Quebec. The subject deserves care-
ful study if we wish to arrive at sensible legislation. Regulations,
that were considered adequate years ago, are not so at present.
In 1905, following a convention of the Fish and Game Clubs of
the Province of Quebec, I suggested manj' changes in our game
laws, which I am sorr\' to say were considered as too far advanced
ideas! Most of these, however, were adopted a few years ago by
the Provincial Government and later on by the Migratory Birds
Convention at Washington. The advance of civilization, increase
in population, widespread use of fire arms, cutting and burning of
our forests by the settlers and the lumbermen, wanton killing by
so-called sportsmen (happily few in our Province), market gunners,
ignorant foreigners who shoot at everj'thing in sight and seem
to be imbued with a sense of destruction, all these are factors that
have driven the game out of its former haunts. In some cases
changing the conditions so much, that certain species of birds have
entirely disappeared, notably the passenger pigeon. Other species
have decreased so much as to be threatened with extermination;
in this class we have the wood duck, harlequin duck, eider duck,
curlew and golden plover, etc. The United States gunners and
egg collectors for commercial purposes, are the most to blame for
the extermination of the Labrador duck and the passenger pigeon,
for the wholesale destruction of the wood duck for its feathers, used
in fly making. Many states had no game laws at all and all our
migratory- birds, game or non game, were shot in or out of season.
It was only when the American Ornithologists Union and other
scientific societies raised an outcr>^ that proper legislation was
enacted. So far as Canada was concerned, especially in the Prov-
ince of Quebec, we had adequate protection. Ihe quantity of
geese brant, black duck and allied species killed in our Province
(Quebec) by shooting, is a mere drop in a bucket of water. I can

28 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

count on the fingers of one hand the sportsmen that kill a dozen
geese in a season in the counties of Chicoutimi and Saguenay.
The ''Migratory Birds Convention Act" has been of immense
benefit to the United States, because all their game birds breed in
our territory, but I fail to see what Canada gains by it. In my
humble opinion we rather lose, on account of unnecessary and use-
less protection afforded to injurious birds, for what reasons other
than sentimental, no one seems to know. I call this misplaced
sentiment. Every year large sums of money are spent on fish
hatcheries and fish protection, freezing plants and cold storage for
bait, to be used in times of scarcity, and here comes this Act pro-
tecting,, for a period of ten years, a whole lot of injurious fish
eating birds, lake the merganser, for instance, an abundant duck,
breeding along all our rivers and lakes, a very prolific bird, feeding
mostly on the salmonidae. oons come next, similar in its choice
of breeding grounds and food. Gannets, cormorants, murres, gulls,
etc., are all in the same category, differing only in feeding on all
kinds of fish, according to habitat. A bird in one section of the
country may not cause much damage, while in another he may be
a regular pest. The eider duck, at one time very abundant,
breeding on nearly every island in the St. Lawrence, has been for
some years now, showing a considerable decrease. A wise regula-
tion has been passeVi, affording absolute protection for a period of
five ytears; but why afford the giill family, its worst enemy, a pro-
tection of ten years. The black backed gull, common everywhere
in the gulf of St. Lawrence, will feed indiscriminately on fish, eggs
and young birds. The jaegers or stercorarae are regular pirates.
None of these birds are in danger of extermination. The prohibi-
tion of taking the eggs of these birds is more than stifficient protec-
tion. The nesting sites of many of these birds are inaccessible
cliffs, very much similar to the Bird Rocks, Perce Rock, etc. There
are hundreds of these around Baffin Land, Hudson Straits and the
Labrador Coast. One loomery at Cape. Wolstenholme, western
entrance of Hudson's Strait deserves special mentioh. It is of
considerable extent, a high perpendicular cliff, full of fissures and
ledges, totally inaccessible to man or beast. When a shot is fired
from a boat at its base, the birds, mostly murres and dovekies
(lesser auk) fly out in dense masses and the droppings from the
birds falling on the water look like a rain squall. ' Icebergs in and
out of the straits and along the Newfoundland and Labrador
coasts are often covered with birds resting on them. Every
traveller or navigator in these northern regions cannot help to
observe them and be astonished at their countless numbers.

For some unknown reasons, possibly scarcity of bait, (sand
eels and other small fishes) there occurs now and then a southern
migration of these murres and dovekies in a starving condition.
Thousands drop dead along their line of migration as they proceed.
In the fall of 1912 there was such a migration it lasted for over two
weeks, the duration of the flight each day, morning and evening,
was about six hours. Several days in succession I sat for an hour,
counting the flocks as they passed a prominent point of laud,

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA 29

trying to form a correct estimate of their numbers, and the lowest
was about one hundred thousand birds an hour. Xo need foJ
bird sanctuaries in these regions; there are abundance of natural
ones. In populated districts it may be necessarj' to protect certain
species, the eider duck, for instance, and reser\'e some specially
Reeled islands where one or more guardians would have to reside.
By proper management these sanctuaries would give in a few
years sufficient revenue to pay all expenses.

I refer you to my open letter to the Honorable Minister of
Colonization published in the Chronicle in January-, 1906. I
considered then and still do so, that the only means of con-
trolling the transportation or sale of game was by issuing
licenses to everyone using firearms for sporting purposes. The
present coupon system without a license number leaves too many
doors open for fraud and illegal shooting of large game especially.

I would be pleased to write you more at length on many other
subjects, but it would take a small volume to cover all the ground
properly.

In the meantime if you desire to use or publish any part of
this letter, you are free to do so.

Sincerely yours,

NAP.-A. COMEAU

WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)

Wilson's snipe is a bird of fresh-water swamp and meadow,
in which it finds concealment among the grass or grassy tussocks.
It is particularly fond of places where the soil is boggj- enough to
permit probing with its sensitive bill, for it finds much of its food
beneath the surface in the shape of succulent worms. Owing to
the nature of its haunts and its secretive habits, the snipe is familiar
to but few outside the guild of sportsman. Even nature lovers
know the bird chiefly by its sharp "scaip scaip," as it flushes sud-
denly among the grasses. So quickly does the snipe get under
way that one is apt to catch only a glimpse of a brown and black
body at it cuts the air on powerful wings with many a twist and
turn. It is this particular flight that endears the snipe to the
sportsman, since a steady hand and a quick eye are needed to stop
the bird when bent on escaping from a dangerous neighborhood.
No one, however, who has marked the steady decline in the number
of snipe that migrate across our territor\^ can doubt that the con-
tinuance of spring shooting means the extinction of this highly-prized
game.

(Henby W. Henshaw)

30

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

Wild silver fox skins

Bonasa umbellus togala (Linn.) Ridgw. 801a

La grelinotte du Canada — (Perdrix de hois franc)
Canadian Ruffed Grouse

Zenaidura macroura (Linn.) Ridgw. SI 6

La tourterelle de la Caroline
Mourning Dove

Eclopiales migratorius (Linn.) Swains. SIT)

Le pigeon voyageur — (Tourte)
Passenger Pigeon

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

31

RUFFED GROUSE (Bonasa umbellus)

This, the partridge of the northern woods may well Ise termed
the prince of American game birds. Its high position, however,
is likely soon to be vacant and its place taken by some lesser mem-
ber of the game bird galaxy unless vigorous efforts are made to
check its decrease. Possessed of a vigorous constitution which
enables the bird to brave the northern winter and defy all ordinarj^
vicissitudes of weather, vigilant and shy where much persecuted,
strong of wing and skilled in mam- a while bj- means of which to
elude the sportsman and his keen-scented dog, our partridge is
well equipped to make a brave fight for existence. And how
bravely it faced its fate ! Though usualh' a resident of forested
tracts it is amazing how long the ruffed grouse will continue
to live is leafy swamps of a few acres, or on little wooded
islands, mere relics of its former domain. Gun and dog, natural
diseases, sleety storms, and unfavorable breeding seasons are most
potent for harm, while the high price placed on its flesh in the market
is having its natural effect. In much of its range little time remains
in which to save it. It is non-migratory, and hence only the States
in which it lives can avert its impending doom. That the bird can
be propagated in confinement is much in its favor, and a little of
the money spent in attempts to introduce foreing game birds
would go a long way toward rehabihtating the partridge. No sound
that echoes through our woods has quite the effect on the wayside
stroller as the martial summons of the ruffed grouse, and it will
be thrice pity if future generations must miss the spring and fall
roll call of this woodland drummer.

(Henry W. Henshaw)

Young Antelope in Buffalo Park. Wainright. Alberta

32

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

SPRING

"With Winter's, frown let sadness cease,
And cankering care,
And o'er the brow sweet smile of peace

Wreathe garlands fair;
From joyous Nature catch the smile,
And every weary h<Hir beguile

From care and pain.
Join, join with bird and flowing stream
In shoothing forth the rapturous theme,
"Tis Sprin again,
"Tis Sprin again."

THE BEAVER

Their abundance and their higfh value exercised an unparallel influence on the
early exploration and development of North America. Beaver skins were the one ready
product of the Nevtr World which the merchants of Europe were eager to purchase. As
a consequence competition in the trade for these skins was the source of strong and
bitter antagonism between individuals and companies, and even caused jealous rival-
ries among nations.

The pursuit of beauty tooof ten leads tocruelty, and some of the methods i of securing
pelts are quite revolting. Demand for objects of beauty, wholesale destruction, popular
indignation, conservation, and scientific development: these are the stages through
which the gathering of furs and feathers has progressed. Now the acquaintance of
even the fearsome skunk is cultivated in order that beauty may be perpetuated.

E. W. NELSON

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

33

WHAT OUR SOCIETY HAS DONE

Our young society, still under organization, has had to act in
several emergency cases. In fact it has to its credit practical
work that produced good results.

Here is a short enumeration of what has been done.

In the spring of 1920, after an entente between the Govern-
ments of Canada and the United States, and the adoption of the
"Migrator^' Bi ds Act", the hunting of Canada Goose in the spring
was prohibited We have sent personal letters to three hundred
hunters, explaining there strictions of the law and inducing these
people to comply with them.

In the spring of 1921, we have distributed to the same hunters
illustrated leaflets of the Canada goose furnished to us by the
Dominion Parks Branch. Moreover a letter was sent to all the
cures of the parishes where these birds are hunted, asking them
to read and comment publicly on a circular in the same sense as
that sent the previous year.

Although the new regulations have been violated in several
parts of the country', we have received reports showing us that
the work done has borne good fruits.

A real war has been perpetrated against the "eider duck" for
several years, especially on the islands and rocks of the South
Shore of the St. Lawrence, where people have been picking up
the eggs by the thousands every spring, taking the surest way to
exterminate a most interesting bird.

After the foundation of our society, three of its members were
delegated to make an investigation on the spot with authority to
examine the facts and study the best means of improving the
present conditions. As a first step to prevent this kind of infrac-
tion of the law, we have posted in pubhc places: railway stations,
post oflices, church places, etc., public notice reminding^ those
interested of the prohibition of the law and its penalties.

There also we could see clearly the good effects of our work.
Moreover a detailed report of that investigation was prepared and
a copy was sent to the federal authorities with several suggestions,
one of which was the creation of breeding sanctuaries in those
places.

We have also drawn the attention of the provincial authorities
on instances of savage slaughter of big game.

34

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

We have not limited ourselves to the immediate and most
urgent cases, we have begun the work on one of the most important
articles of our programme. I'hanks to the kind help of some
school inspectors, we have been able to distribute interesting
literature on natural history subjects to over four thousand children
in the schools of the East of the Province.

That educational campaign we have undertaken is a very
heavy task to assume; but we consider that the best way to reach
the point aimed at, is to form the future generation.

Here is in short our modest beginning, and had it not been
for the great amount of work required by the foundation of a
society such as ours, we could certainly have worked on several
other articles of our programme, which we hope will be carried on
in a very near future.

J. M.

THE SPORTMAN'S CREED
(Abbreviated)

I believe that a sportsman should

1. Never in sport endanger human life.

2. Never kill wantonly or needlessly or brutally.

3. Obey the laws of State and Nation, work for better laws, and uphold the
law-enforcing: authorities.

4. Respect the rights of farmers and property owners, and also their feelings.

5. Always leave seed birds and game in covers.

6. Never be a fish-hog.

7. Discourage the killing of game for commercial purposes by refusing to pur-
chase trophies.

8. Study and record the natural history of game species in the interest of science.

9. Love Nature and its denizens and be a gentleman.

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

35

PASSENGER PIGEON (Ectopistes migratorius)

On September 1st, 1914, aged twenty years, departed this life
the sole surviving passenger pigeon. This brief obituarj' records
the disappearance from earth not only of the last sunnvor of a
notable American game bird, but, what is infinitely sadder, the
passing of a species. The history- of the passenger pigeon from
the first settlement to and including our own times reads like a
romance, but a romance tinged on everA' page with man's cruelty,
rapacity, and shortsightedness. Early accounts of the enormous
numbers of this pigeon that migrated from section to section read
like fables, but they are too well attested to be doubted. Wood's
account of the passenger pigeon (1629-34) is so quaint I subjoin
part of it :

"These birds come into the countrj-,. to go to the North parts
in the beginning of our spring, at which time (if I may be counted
worthy to be believed in a thing that is not so strange as true) I
have seen them fly as if the Ayerie regiment had been pigeons;
seeing neither begining nor ending, length or breath of these
Millions of Millions"

Audubon states that he rode through a winter roosting-place
in Kentuckj^ which was more than forty miles long and three miles
wide. It may be doubted if in the prime daj'S of this pigeon its
number were ever equalled by am- bird either in the Old World
or the New. Only its great numbers enabled it to survive the assaults
of its enemies as long as it did. Then came the market netter,
and everywhere the hapless pigeon was taken in season and out
of season with eggs in their bodies ready for the nest and nests full
of youngs. While neither the netter nor the sportsman is respon-
sible for the extermination of the last passenger pigeon, it is never-
theless true that b}' the combined assaults of the two, the species
was i-educed to such a low webb that it could not recover. Pro-
tective legislation was too late.

(Henry W. Henshaw)

36

THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

Group of the Barren Groung Caribou {American Museum of Natural History)

ROAMING "MONARCH OF THE PLAIN"

A remnant of the veritable sea of wild life that surged over American soil before
the dilces of civilization compassed it about and all but wiped it out.
Timely conservation has saved that species from extinction.
Thanks to Canada.

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

37

THE POACHER

''Bill Blossom was a nice young man^
And drove the Bun' coach;
But bad companions were his bane,
And egged him on to poach.

"Once, going to his usual haunts.
Old Cheshire laid his plots;
He got entrapped bj' legal Berks,
And lost his life in Notts."

HOOL

THE BLACK BASS

'Amid the Thousand Isles that gem

St. La\«rrence like a diadem,

Where winds are soft, and waves are calm.

And pine-vfoods steep the air with balm,

Piscator floats the calm abyss
'Mid scenes of most transcendent bliss;

Wafted across that teeming flood.

His heart o'erflows with gratitude."

38 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

"But as to fishmongers,
They are an inventive race, and yield to none
In shameless conduct. For as modern laws
Forbid them now to water their stale fish,
Some fellow, hated by gods, beholding
His fish quite diy, picks with his mates a quarrel.
And blows are interchanged. Then when one thinks
He's had enough, he falls and seems to faint,
And lies like any corpse among his baskets.
Some one calls out for water; and his partner
Catches a pail, and throws it o'er his friend
So as to sprinkle all his fish, and make
The world believe them newly caught and fresh."

— (Yonge's translation)

THE SALMON LEAP

"And when the Salmon seeks a fresher stream to find.
Which hither from the sea comes yearly of his kind;
Ar he tow'rds season grows, and stems the watery tract
When Tivy falling down, makes a high cataract,
Forc'd by the rising rocks that there her course oppose.
As tho' within her bounds they meant her to inclose-
And finds that by hie strength he does but vainly strive.
His tail takes in his mouth, and bending like a bow
That's to full compass drawn, aloft himself doth throw.
Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand.
That bended end to end, and started from man's hand,
Far off itself doth cast; so does the Salmon vault
And if at first he fail, his second somersault
He instantly essays, and from his nimble ring.
Still jerking, never leaves until himself he fling
Above the opposite stream.

OF XATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

39

THE GAME FISHES OF QUEBEC

At the head of the list of game fishes of the Province of Quebec
must be placed the different species of the salmonidae, those highly
favored, clean living denizens of our waters, which in the shape
of an adipose fin, bear the badge of royalty among fishes.

The Salmon

Facile princeps among these is Salmo salar, the Atlantic salmon
of our coastal streams, formerly most abundant in the St. Lawrence
and its tributaries as far as the head of Lake Ontario, but now
never found above Quebec and very scarce in any of the waters
west of the Saguenay. It is still fairly abundant in some of the
tributaries of the last mentioned river and also in nearlj'^ all the
rivers flovsdng into the St. Lawrence from the Saguenay to the
sea on both sides of the river, as well as into the Baie des Chaleurs.
In some of these rivers, as for instance in the Cascapedia, the
Ristigouche and the Moisie, it has been known to attain a weight
of over fifty pounds.

The original home of the salmon must have been in fresh
water, for here it is born and here also it returns from its lengthy
s6jcm-n in the sea to reproduce its kind. Spending the greater
part of its life in the sea it feeds voraciously there on herrings,
sand-eels, young haddocks and other small fish and Crustacea
and marine worms. Spawning instincts cause it to seek the river
in which it was born, which it usually ascends, in this province,
late in May, more often in the first part of June and sometimes
as late as July. It surmounts the heaA-iest currents and rapids
and successfully breasts waterfalls of a few feet in height, and thus
painfully, and at times. necessaril\', somewhat slowly, finds its
way to suitable spawning grounds near the upper waters of the
river, where it seeks suitable shallow and sandy or graveUy stretches
of water in which to deposit its eggs. The female, with her tail,
assisted by the male with his hooked lower jaw, opens drills in
the river bed a few inches deep, in which the female deposits her
eggs, generally from 900 to 1,000 in number for everA' pound of
her own weight. The male, following after her, impregnates the
ova with his milt and then the gravel is carefully pushed back
over the drill to cover up the eggs. Too often, however, many of
these eggs are destroyed by sea trout which follow the spawning
salmon and devour the dainty morsels, and often the later spawning
salmon in making recept-acles for their eggs, root up the carefully
deposited ova of previous spawners, which are quicklj- devoured
by trout and manj' species of water birds such as kingfishers,
cormorants and wild ducks, especially shelldrakes and other
mei^ansers.

After spawning, the salmon are much exhausted and emaciated,
and are then known as foul salmon and unfit for food. Only
when they have descended to the sea, where they feed very rave-
nously, do they recover their strength and wonted condition.

40 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

Hatching of the salmon eggs takes from 90 to 135 days. The
"alevins" or young fish, over half an inch in length, are furnished
with a large bag of yolk, on which they live, lurking among the
gravel for from four to six weeks longer, when they begin to feed.
This stage is reached in spring, usually in April or in May. The
young salmon, over an inch in length, is light brown, with from
ten or twelve to fifteen transverse dusky bars, and a number of
black and orange spots, and its tail is forked. In this troutlike
stage it is called a "parr," "samlet", or "pink". It lives and
feeds in the river generally for about, two years, when it assumes
the silvery dress of a "smolt". The smolts descend in spring,
and early summer, when they are about seven inches in length
and so rapid is their growth in the sea that they may return in a
few months as "grilse", weighing pounds instead of ounces; but
many are believed not to return until a longer interval, or in the
following year. The upward runs of grilse take place in summer
and autumn, earlier than the fullgrown salmon, and they become
sexually mature, and spawn with the latter, after which they des-
cend again to the sea as grilse kelts. Growth continues rapid:
one of six pounds maj' weigh ten or even sixteen pounds after five
months in the sea.

The great diminution of recent years in the stock of salmon in
Canadian waters is due to various causes, foremost among which
may be mentioned the killing of the fish upon their spawning
grounds and other illegal methods of capture, the pollution of rivers
by sawdust and other mill refuse, and the barring of them by
dams.

The Ouananiche

The ouananiche, or fresh water salmon of many of our inland
waters, which is found chiefly in Lake St. John and its tributary
streams, differs little in structure from the true salmon, but seldom
exceeds 6 to 7 pounds in weight and aveiages two to four pounds.
It is one of the gamest of fishes, and its habit of frequently leaping
from the water when impaled on the hock causes it to be highly
prized by sportsmen. Up to the commencement of the present
century it was most abundant in the discharge of Lake St. John
and of some of its tributaries. Since that time the large increase
of settlement in the Lake St. John country has led to a considerable
decrease in the number of these fish. It is found in some of the
rivers flowing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the north shore,
where it has sometimes been mistaken for grilse. In late summer
and autumn and at the approach of the spawning season, the oua-
naniche, like the Salmon, loses much of its silvery sheen and has
a rusty brown appearance. In some of the lakes of this province
where salmon fry have been planted, the fish which have reached
the adult stage have been taken for ouananiche; for when hooked
upon the fly they often leap out of the water like this latter and
do not usually grow to a larger size than that of the ouananiche.
This is because they cannot run down to the sea and return to
the inland waters where they have been planted, by reason of
impediments in the way. For the same reason they fail to breed
there.

I

OF NATURAL HISTORY OP CANADA 41

The Sea Trout

Next to the salmon and ouananiche, the so-called American
brook trout is the cleanest fish that swims, and like the salmon it
will often, if the sea be near, partake for some time of a salt water
habitat, quickly growing lusty and strong on the abundance of
sea food found in the proximity of some estuarj', and rapidly
putting on the bright liverv' of silver which so distinguishes a freshly
run salmon. So brilliant is the new coloring, and so vast the
increase in size that it is difficult indeed to persuade the anglers
who have seen and captured these sea-run trout, that they are not
a distinct varietj*. Yet the difference is only in the mere immaterial
matters of size and coloring and in the acquired habit of anadromy;
so that these gorgeously arrayed sea-trout of the estuaries of some
of our rivers appear to bear the same relationship to the brook
trout of our inland waters that the Atlantic salmon does to the
ouananiche — a fresh-water species that has acquired the sea-going
habit. While specimens of these fish retain some of the brilliant
tints of jontinalis, others which have remained longer in brackish
water or have been further out to sea in search of richer food
acquire the silvery brillianc}' of the salmon and ouananiche. These
fishes are more or less plentiful in and off the mouth of the Saguenay
and also in and near the estuaries of many of our salmon rivers,
notably the Moisie, the Trinity, the Godbout, the Cascapedia, the
Ristigouche and others. Storer, in the Boston Journal of Natural
History in 1850 gave the name Salmo immaculatus to the sea trout
of the Lower St. Lawrence and others call it salmon trout. But
though its size, beauty and gameness may entitle it to a distinctive
name, the titles above menticned were preempted by others, and
what is really the sea run form of fonlinalis, — our well-kno^Ti
brock trout, — will probably never be given a more generally
accepted popular name than that of sea trout.

The Brook Trout

The so-called American brook-trout — Salvelinus fontinalis —
is — strange to say — not a trout at all, but a charr. The charrs are
distinguished from the true trout by the arrangement of the teeth,
on the vomer or little triangular bene in the roof of the mouth.
The true trout have the vomer usually well covered with teeth.
In the charrs, en the other hand, the teeth are found only on the
head of the vomer. It has been well said that "no higher praise
can be given to a salmonoid than to say it is a charr," for the
charrs are hy far the most active and handsome of this genus,
and live in the coldest, clearest and most secluded waters. It is
not easy to imagine a more beautiful object than the brook trout
with its richlj' vermiculated olive green back, often silver}' sides
and deep red belh' in the case of spawning males, the sides usually
spotted with crimson, purple and gold, and the duskj- lower fins
edged with white. Fontinalis has a wide geographical distribution
and quite an infinity of forms and coloring. These remarkable
variatioas tempt many observers to insist upon dividing them into
sub-species and varieties.

42 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

There are undoubtedly, however, many local races of trout,
the same stream often containing dissimilar forms and varieties of
coloration; those affecting life in the more rapid water having
lithe, trim bodies and long, powerful fins, those found on the shal-
lows with gravel bottoms being brightly colored, while those
frequenting deep, dark, shaded holes, taking on the darker colors
of their surroundings, — nature's protection of them from easy
discovery by their many foes.

The speckled trout has its home between latitude 3i)J/^° and
55°, in the lakes and streams of the Atlantic watershed, near the
sources of a few rivers flowing into the Mississippi and Gulf of
Mexico, and in some of the southern affluents of Hudson Bay.
It is abundant in almost every part of the province of Quebec, and
some of the largest specimens known to science have been taken
in lakes Batiscan and Jacques Cartier, sometimes more than twelve
pounds in weight and quite exceeding the record weights of the
famous Nepigon river fish.

1 hey do not thrive well in water warmer than 68" Fahrenheit,
though they have been known to live in swift-running water at
nearly 75°. When the temperature of the water is below 36° the
fish are torpid and refuse to feed.

When trout have no access to the sea they still contrive
to avoid a change of temperature with the seasons. In midsummer
they lie in the bottoms of lakes coded by springs, in the channels of
streams, or in deep pools, lurking behind rocks and among roots. In
spring and early summer they feed industriously among the rapids.
At the approach of cold weather in autumn they hasten to the clear
shallow water near the heads of the streamlets. It is at this time
that they deposit their eggs in little nests in the gravel which the
mother-fish have shaped with careful industry, fanning out the
finer particles with their tails, and carrying the large ones in their
mouths. After the eggs are laid, the parent fish covers them with
gravel, and proceeds to excavate another nest. The same nests
are said to be revisited by the schools year after year. It will
thus be seen that the spawning habits of trout are very similar to
those of the salmon.

I'rout eggs are usually three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter,
although varying greatly, and are colorless, red, or orange-hued.
The quantity yielded by a fish is in direct proportion to its size,
being from 500 to 1,500 per pound weight of the mother. I'hey
will hatch in one hundred and sixty-five days with the mercury
at 37°, one hundred and three at 41°, eighty-one at 44°, fifty-six
at 48°, forty-seven at 50°, thirty-two at 54°, etc. After the eggs
are hatched the yolk sac is absorbed in from thirty to eighty days,
and the young fish begin to lead an independent life. Now the
rate of growth is determined by the amount of food consumed.
Some two-year-old fish weigh a pound, some half an ounce. 1 hej^
are strong and dainty feeders, and at times quite voracious. Worms
washed out of the banks of lakes and rivers, small fish and fresh
water crustaceans, water insects, larva, grasshoppers, flics of various
kinds and the eggs of fish alike furnish them with food. Their
daintiness, shyness, cunning and mettle render them favorites of
the angler, who lures them into his creel by many sly devices.

OF XATTRAL HISTORY OF CANADA 43

Overfishing has unfortunately very much reduced the supply
of the speckled trout in many of our waters and has rendered
re-stocking operations extremely desirable.

The Mabston Trout

Another verj' beautiful though somewhat rare chan-, closely
connected with fontinalis, is found in some of our waters and is
scientifically known as Scdveltnu^ marstoni. Specimens of this fish
have never been taken so far as known, much over a pound in
weight. Their distinguishing features are a marked fork in the
caudal fin, almost as prominent as that of the Namaycush, a body
more slender than the brook trout, and an extremely deep red
coloring on the lower part of the sides as well as the belly of the
spawning male.

Mr. John W. Titcomb, Chief Fish Culturist of New York
State, calls it the Canadian Red Trout and says: "The red trout are
found in Lake Saccacomi and three 'Red Lakes' adjacent to
Saccacomi, all in the township of St. Alexis des Monts, Maskinonge
County, Province of Quebec. These four lakes all contain the brook
trout, S. fontinalis. and in Saccacomi the brook trout attains a
weight of five or six pounds. In two of the Red Lakes there are also
found the yellow perch (not an unusual thing for trout lakes in
the Province of Quebec). Lake Saccacomi is not connected with
the Red Lakes, although from the topography it might have been
connected in some earlier 8ge. The Red Lakes are all connected
and flow in a different direction from Saccacomi. Evermann says
the red trout bears a close ressemblance to the Salvelinus aiireolus,
from Little Averill Pond, Vt., and aureolus from Flood's Pond,
Maine, and may be identical with Carman's S. marstoni. It has
also been pronounced identical with a "red trout'' f rom Decalonnes
Township, Quebec, and with the auredu^ of Sunapee Lake, X. H."

Speaking of this fish in 1902, before the,North American Fish
and Game Protective Association, the writer of this paper said
that 'Tt was his impression that the distribution of this fish was
very much more extended throughout northern Canada than
generally supposed". He had seldom heard of it rising to the
angler's flies, and its deep water habitat made it diflScult to dis-
cover. Still within the last few years quite a number of different
specimens of what he believed to be the same fish had passed
through his hands. Some of these he had sent to the late Mr.
A. N. Cheney, and some to Professor Samuel Garman of the
Museum of Comparative Zoologj^, Cambridge, Mass. Some of
these specimens came fr^m lakes in the vicinitj' of Rimouski, P. Q.,
and were given to him by Messrs. Sampson and Jordan of the
Quebec Piscatorial Association, which leased the lakes in question.
Another came from a lake on the Tourilli tract, and was given
him by Mr. Carter Harrison, Mayor of Chicago, who had caught
it, in company with his friend, Mr. Graham H. Harris. Mr. C.
Panet Angers cf Quebec had bix)ught him another of these fishes,
which he had taken cut of a lake on the territory of the Lauren-
tides Fish and Game Club of Quebec. A description of what
appears to have been the identical red trc ur, or rather charr, known

44 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

as Marston's, or supposed to be its very close congener, was des-
cribed forty years ago by Professor Hind, who found it in the
head-waters of one of the higher tributaries of the Mcisie, in the
interior of Labrador".

The Great Lake Trout

Cristivomer namaycush or Salveliniis namaycush, the great lake
trout, known to some people as grey trout and to others as touladi
or queue fourchee, grows to an enormous size in Canadian waters.
Specimens have been taken from Lake Superior weighing nearly
eighty pounds, and from Lake Metis in Matane county and Lake
St. Joseph, in Portneuf county, weighing over thirty poiinds. It
grows to an enormous size in Lake St. John, as well as in Tscho-
tagama, Lac-asJim, Mistassini, and, in fact, in nearly all the lakes
of the Labrador peninsula. It is almost invariably captured in
deep, cool water, and, in fact, can survive in no other in the hot
summer months. Of all the species of Salvelinus it requires a
habitat of lowest temperature. It is usually taken by deep water
trolling with a live or phantom minnow or spoon, though in the far
north it is taken by Indians for food on night lines. A few cases
are en record where the namaycush has taken the fly, but this
only occurs during the first few days after the break-up of the ice,
when it is cold enough to enable these fishes to remain near the
surface. At that season they sometimes chase shoals of young
fish to the surface of the water, the frightened little creatures in
their haste to avoid their pursuer, often springing in hundreds out
of the water and falling on the surface like a shower of hail. When
this phenomenon is observed, an attractive fly carefully dropped
a little below the surface will sometimes coax the lake trout; one
of sixteen pounds having been thus taken in the early nineties of
the last century, in Lake St. Charles, by the late Mr. Lacon Welch
of Quebec. In deep trolling a copper wire line is often used and
is sometimes heavily weighted with lead sinkers. Ihe Montagnais
Indians know this fish as kokomesh. By the Indians of Lake Nepi-
goh, where it is plentiful, it is called b}' the name Namaycush
which has been selected for it by science.

Ihe Rainbow Trout

The Rainbow Trout, Salmo irideus, is so called because of a
supposed resemblance of the more or less distinctive longitudinal
stripes of merging colors on its sides to the hues of the rainbow.
The central and more prominent of these stripes is usually red,
but not of so deep a shade as that upon the belly of the spawning
brook trout and Marston trout. This is a western or Pacific
slope fish which has reached Quebec waters chiefly by way of the
United States, where it has been brought east by fish culturists.
It is now abundant in some of the preserved waters of Long Island,
and from these many millions of eggs have been from time to time
procured under the direction of the present writer and hatched
and planted in some of the waters of this Province, especially in
lakes and streams contiguous to the United States, and in some

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CABADA 45

other provincial waters, where lack of shade, owing to the disap-
pearance of the forest has rendered them less suitable to the native
brook trout. The rainbow thrives best in warmer water than that
preferred by the last mentioned species. Where abundance of
food exists it is of verj- rapid growth and attains a weight of six to
eight pounds. An erroneous impression long prevailed in the west
that the Rainbow was simply the undeveloped young of the steel-
head of the Pacific slope. TTie Rainbow is a hard fighter when
hooked and affords good sport to the angler.

The Black Bass

Tlie Black Bass has been described by Dr. Henshall "as the
gamest fish that swims," a claim which is not always admitted by
those who have formed the acquaintance of the salmon, the oua-
naniche and the trout in northern Canadian waters. The name
Micropteriis from the Greek micros, small, and pteron, fin, was
given to this fish by Lacepede through a curious misapprehension;
the dorsal fin in the tj-pical specimen sent him having been injured,
its posterior rays detached and bitten off short, were taken bj- him
for a separate fin. The two species of North American bass,
Micropterous dolomieu or the small-mouthed black bass, and
Micropterous sahnoides, the large-mouthed black bass, were intro-
duced to Europe several years ago. In the large-mouth the upper
jaw extends far behind the eyes, in the other to a point below it.
The large-mouth has from sixty-five to seventy rows of scales
between the gill-opening and the base of the tail, instead of seventy-
two or more while on the cheek there are about ten oblique rows
instead of seventeen. There are other distinctions, such as the
absence in the large-mouth of scales on the bases of the dorsal and
anal fins, the smaller number of rays in the pectoral fins (there
being thirteen or fourteen instead of sixteen or seventeen), and
the lesser height of the spinous dorsal. Numerous as have been
the zoological names, they are outnumbered by the popular names
still in use in different localities. Father Charlevoix, the Jesuit
missionary who explored Canada in 1721, mentions a fish called
"Achigan", which is thought to have been the large-mouth. An
earlier allusion to this species, which in the Southern States is still
called "Trout", occurs in the writings of Rene de Laudonniere,
who describes the incidents of the first Huguenot expedition to
Florida in 1652, under the command of Jean Ribault. The large-
mouth is known in the Great Lake region, especially in Northern
New York, as the "Oswego Bass". ITiis name should not be con-
founded with "Otsego Bass", a local name for the common white-
fish. In Kentucky it is called "Jumper"; in Indiana, "Moss
Bass"; in the Southern States, generally, "Trout", though on the
Tar River of North Carolina it is called "Chub," and on the Neuse
"Welshman." The Small-mouth shares with the Large-mouth in
the Southern States the names "Jumper", "Perch", and "Trout",
and in Alabama, according to Professor Jordan, it is called the
"Mountain Trout". Both species are very widely distributed over
the Atlantic slope of the continent east of the Rocky Mountains,
and their range is probably much wider than is now supposed,
for many of our far northern waters are unexplored. The

46 THE PROVENCHER SOCIETY

Large-mouth and the Small-mouth dwell together in the Great
Lakes, and in the upper parts of the Saint-Lawrence and Mississippi
basins. The small-mouth is found north to latitude 47° and west
to Wisconsin, while southward it ranges to latitude 33°.

Ihe species usually found in the Province of Quebec is the
small-mouthed bass. It exists in many localities in the St.
Lawrence and its principal tributaries, especially the Ottawa,
and is common in Lake St. Louis, the Lake of Two Mountains,
Lake St. Peter, etc., as well as in many of the more inland lakes
such as Thirty-Two mile lake. Blue Sea lake, LakeBrome, Lake St.
Joseph, etc. In some of these lakes it exists together with the
speckled trout, but it is an undoubted error to plant the two species
in the same waters. If the bass does not entirely exterminate the
trout it certainly keeps down their number, except in very large
bodies of water, by devouring the young.

The eggs are much smaller than those of a trout, and, beilig
heavier than the water, rest on the bottom within the limits of
the nest. About seventeen thotisand have been found in a Large
mouth weighing two and one-half pounds. The rate of growth is
easily determined by experience in artificial ponds. In Granby,
Connecticut, four-pound fish were taken in 1874, the progeny of
two hundred and fifty fishes placed in the pond in 1868. The egg
require two or three weeks to hatch. The parents watch them.
In September the young are about two inches long; when well fed
they grow to four inches the first season. At two years of age
they weigh about a pound, few caught in the North weighing more
than four pounds. Leaving the egg in June, they grow to two or
three inches before cold weather begins* — trim, sprightly little
darters, with black bands across the bases of their tails. Another
twelve months finds them in the garb of maturity, eight or nine
inches long, and with their organs swelling in preparation for the
act of spawning, which they are said to undertake at the age of
two years, and when less than a foot long. The ordinary size of
the adult fish is two and one-half to three pounds, though they are
sometimes taken in the North weighing six or seven pounds.

Fish-culturists have made many efforts to hatch the eggs of
the Black Bass, and have never succeeded. One reason for their
failure, perhaps, lies in the fact that while in the shad, salmon
and trout the eggs fall from the ovaries into an abdominal cavity,
whence they are easily expressed, in the bass and other spiny
rayed fishes they are retained until the parent fish are ready to
deposit them. This failure is the less to be regretted since the
young bass may easily be transported from place to place in barrels
of cool water, and, when once introduced, they soon inultiply,
if protected, to any desired number.

Both the nests and the young fish are carefully guarded bj'^
the parent bass. It is interesting to note the pertinacity with
which they guard their precious charges, and the vigor with which
they drive away depredators and intruders of all kinds. They
will frequently allow a boat to pass over them, scarcely six inches
above their backs, and obstinately keep their ground. Sutifish
and such like are impelled to keep their distance.

OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA 47

The Maskinong^

The Maskincnge, which is an inhabitant of the great lakes
and the St. Lawrence, and is found in the Ottawa river and in lakes
St. Louis and St. Francis and several of the inland lakes of the
Province of Quebec, is the largest of the American pikes, and a
much more gamj- fish than the ordinan- pike or pickerel, Lucius
lucius or Esox lucius. The Maskinonge. {Ductus masquin<Mgy
of Mitchell and Esox nobilior of Thompson) derives its name from
the Indian mashk (1) (deformed) and kinonje (a pike), and was
appUed to the Esox nobilior bj' the Indians, because it appeared to
them a deformed or different kind of pike from that to which they
had been accustomed. ITie river of the same name that flows
into Lake St. Peter, which name had been extended to the town
built at its mouth, and to the count j' of which it is the chief lieu, was
doubtless so called from the number of these fish taken in or near
its estuarj'. Considering that the popular name of this fish has
come to us from an Indian source in the earliest daj-s of the countn'
it is unfortunate that an apparent desire to get awaj' from French
orthography has produced a confusion of names, similar to those
applied by American writers and lexicographers to the ouananiche,
which the}' anghcanize as "wannanishe" or "winnanishe" ! They
similarh' use the forms ''mascalonge", "muscalonge", or "mus-
kellonge" for maskinonge. However, the^' are "ouananiche", and
"maskinonge" in the statutes of Canada and of the Province of
Quebec, and such are the forms that will survive in the homeland
of the fish in question.

This magnificent fish has been known to reach a length of
eight feet according to Jordan and Evermann, and to weigh as
much as a hundred pounds.

The Pike

The pike Esox hicius or Lucius luAnus is one of the commonest
fishes in manj- of the lai^er lakes and rivers of the province of
Quebec, and perhaps because it is so common is less esteemed as a
game fish here than it is in England. It is the wolf of fresh water
and pre5's upon am- hve thing that it can swallow, not only fish of
all kinds, but even water rats, mice, j'oung ducks, frogs, etc. Spec-
imens up to fifty pounds weight have been taken in the Peribonca
river. The name pike is generally apphed, though erroneously, in
the L'nited States, to the pike-j)erch or dore, and the true pike is
there called pickerel, which is the name always appUed in England
to a small pike and was given by the early English-speaking settlers
in Canada and the United States to the dore.

Pike Perch or Pickerel

The Pike Perch or Pickerel, or wall-eyed Pike. Stizostedion
vitreum, is known to French-Canadians as the Dore, probably on
account of its golden bronze sides; though of course it is quite a
different fish from the European Dore. Its dorsal fins are well

sur

(1) Mpr Lafleche, a former missionary to the Indians in the "Rapport
les missions du diocese de Quebec", no 12, April 1857, p. 102.

48 THE PROVEN CHER SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CANADA

separated, the first or spinous dorsal having high spines, while the
second is nearly as long as the first but soft and scarcely erectile.
Though often taken in nets, it affords good sport on a troll, and not
infrequently rises to the angler's flies. It is very common in
Quebec waters and numerous in the great lakes and attains a weight
of 8 to 12 pounds.

Fish Culture

Nature, with that admirable wisdom and foresight which
characterize all her processes, provides many species of spawning
fish,^ — trout among the number,^ — with more than a hundred fold
as many eggs as are intended for purposes of procreation, thus
making full provision for the use of many of such eggs as food fpr
other living creatures of fur, fin and feather. Under natural con-
ditions Nature cannot of course be improved upon. But when, in
addition to the natural loss of 90 to 95 and even to 99 per cent of
spawn in certain cases, large quantities of mature fish are taken
for sport or food, then Nature's balance is upset and artificial
propagation becomes necessary. Hence it cannot be too well
understood how very much it is to the interests of fish and game
clubs to have the assistance of hatcheries in increasing the natural
output of young fish in their waters.

The provincial Government hatcheries return, in the shape
of fry, ten per cent of the eggs which they take from any club
waters, and which is many times more than is usually hatched by
nature. As a matter of fact. Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, a leading
authority, and a former State Fish Culturist of New York, asserts
that while "a mere fraction" of one per cent of all the eggs naturally
deposited ever become mature fish, the percentage of loss in hatch
ing by artificial propagation has been reduced to trifling propor-
tions. Professor Prince, LL.D., admits that it is easy to hatch 90
per cent of eggs in a hatchery, while Sir Humphrey Davy estimated
that not six per cent of the eggs deposited on the breeding grounds
by parent fish come to perfection, and Stoddard — a prominent
Scotch authority — held that only four or five fish fit for the table
were the result of 30,000 ova on the spawning grotmds.

E. T. D. Chambers

WHAT GOOD IS THE ROBIN?

"Everybody knows the robin. A boy came along the road
with a .22 rifle, saw a robin sitting there, and killed it. I went
over and picked the robin up. Two cutworms were squirming on
the ground; the robin had had them in his beak. I held the bird
up, and two more fell out of his mouth. Remember, one cutworm
will cut down five tomatoe plants in a night. The cutworm does
his work and then hides under the soil; Mr. Robin comes hopping
along, picks in there and pulls him out — and turns him into a robin.
If anybody tells you that a robin will destroy one hundred cut-
worms in a day, take it from me that it is true." (Jack Miner)

TfttKiriSt^

Passerinn nivalis (Linn.) Vieill. 534

Le plectrophane de neige — (L'oiseau blane)
Snowflake

Merula migratoria (Linni) Svminson 761

Le merle d'Amerique
American Robin

.19^

The Secretary,
Societe Provencher d'Histoire Naturelle du Canada,
Universite Laval, Quebec

I have read carefully the regulations of the SOCIETE
PROVENCHER D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE DU CANADA
of which I desire to become a (a) member.

• As soon as advised of my admission I will foncard the amount
of my contribution, $

Name

Address .

Profession

(a) Benefactor, patron, life or active, as per art. 15 of regulations