Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton gave a lecture on "Modern Methods and Views in Field Natural History" last evening, in the New Lecture Hall, under the auspices of the Natural History Society.
In animals, Mr. Seton said, we find the beginnings of the power of reasoning. For example, the wolves of North America adapted themselves to their new surroundings after the advent of civilized man. Cattle-rangers in the West undertook a systematic extermination of the gray wolves which molested their herds, until in 1889 all seemed to have vanished. Gradually, however, the wolves learned to avoid the poisoned baits and traps, and communicated this knowledge to others. Adaptation to new conditions brought safety, and wolves are now almost as numerous as ever.
After giving an exposition of modern methods of observation and investigation in the field, Mr. Seton told many interesting stories of animal traits, imitating and interpreting the cries of wolves and hunting dogs with wonderful realism.
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