Autobiography of John Macoun, Canadian explorer and naturalist, 1831-1920

by John Macoun

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361 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1922

About the author

John Macoun was an Irish-born Canadian naturalist.

Reviews

[Bill Leach · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Macoun (1831 - 1920) was an early explorer with a great interest in botany. He participated in five survey expeditions to western Canada, and was a frequent commenter on the potential of various parts of Canada for agriculture. In 1881 he was appointed "Botanist to the Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada.

Macoun was a keen observer. He was known to botanize "on-the-fly": "While driving along at a rapid pace he would order a stop, when he gathered some comparatively inconspicuous plant from the grass and proceeded.".

While he specialized in the plants, he also studied birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and all other forms of life. He gave attention of the various ecosystems and studied the interactions in them. He evaluated many areas for their agricultural potential, including the Palliser Triangle.

The book is primarily a story of his travels, but includes stories of the many incidents that occurred. It provides insight of the conditions and barriers to travel, and also characterizes the various people he met.