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meet us at every step in the anatomy and the reproduction of these
creatures； and in the chemical and mechanical functions which they
fulfil in the great economy of our planet； we cannot wonder at
finding that books which treat of them carry with them a certain
charm of romance； and feed the play of fancy； and that love of the
marvellous which is inherent in man； at the same time that they
lead the reader to more solemn and lofty trains of thought； which
can find their full satisfaction only in self…forgetful worship；
and that hymn of praise which goes up ever from land and sea； as
well as from saints and martyrs and the heavenly host； 〃O all ye
works of the Lord； and ye； too； spirits and souls of the righteous；
praise Him； and magnify Him for ever！〃
I have said； that there were excuses for the old contempt of the
study of Natural History。 I have said； too； it may be hoped；
enough to show that contempt to be now ill…founded。 But still；
there are those who regard it as a mere amusement； and that as a
somewhat effeminate one； and think that it can at best help to
while away a leisure hour harmlessly； and perhaps usefully； as a
substitute for coarser sports； or for the reading of novels。
Those； however； who have followed it out； especially on the sea…
shore； know better。 They can tell from experience； that over and
above its accessory charms of pure sea…breezes； and wild rambles by
cliff and loch； the study itself has had a weighty moral effect
upon their hearts and spirits。 There are those who can well
understand how the good and wise John Ellis； amid all his
philanthropic labours for the good of the West Indies； while he was
spending his intellect and fortune in introducing into our tropic
settlements the bread…fruit； the mangosteen； and every plant and
seed which he hoped might be useful for medicine； agriculture； and
commerce； could yet feel himself justified in devoting large
portions of his ever well…spent time to the fighting the battle of
the corallines against Parsons and the rest； and even in measuring
pens with Linne； the prince of naturalists。
There are those who can sympathise with the gallant old Scotch
officer mentioned by some writer on sea…weeds； who； desperately
wounded in the breach at Badajos； and a sharer in all the toils and
triumphs of the Peninsular war； could in his old age show a rare
sea…weed with as much triumph as his well…earned medals； and talk
over a tiny spore…capsule with as much zest as the records of
sieges and battles。 Why not？ That temper which made him a good
soldier may very well have made him a good naturalist also。 The
late illustrious geologist； Sir Roderick Murchison； was also an old
Peninsular officer。 I doubt not that with him； too； the
experiences of war may have helped to fit him for the studies of
peace。 Certainly； the best naturalist； as far as logical acumen；
as well as earnest research； is concerned； whom England has ever
seen； was the Devonshire squire； Colonel George Montagu； of whom
the late E。 Forbes well says； that 〃had he been educated a
physiologist〃 （and not； as he was； a soldier and a sportsman）； 〃and
made the study of Nature his aim and not his amusement； his would
have been one of the greatest names in the whole range of British
science。〃 I question； nevertheless； whether he would not have lost
more than he would have gained by a different training。 It might
have made him a more learned systematizer； but would it have
quickened in him that 〃seeing〃 eye of the true soldier and
sportsman； which makes Montagu's descriptions indelible word…
pictures； instinct with life and truth？ 〃There is no question；〃
says E。 Forbes； after bewailing the vagueness of most naturalists；
〃about the identity of any animal Montagu described。 。 。 。 He was a
forward…looking philosopher； he spoke of every creature as if one
exceeding like it； yet different from it； would be washed up by the
waves next tide。 Consequently his descriptions are permanent。〃
Scientific men will recognize in this the highest praise which can
be bestowed； because it attributes to him the highest faculty … The
Art of Seeing； but the study and the book would not have given
that。 It is God's gift wheresoever educated： but its true school…
room is the camp and the ocean； the prairie and the forest； active；
self…helping life； which can grapple with Nature herself： not
merely with printed…books about her。 Let no one think that this
same Natural History is a pursuit fitted only for effeminate or
pedantic men。 I should say； rather； that the qualifications
required for a perfect naturalist are as many and as lofty as were
required； by old chivalrous writers； for the perfect knight…errant
of the Middle Ages： for （to sketch an ideal； of which I am happy
to say our race now affords many a fair realization） our perfect
naturalist should be strong in body； able to haul a dredge； climb a
rock； turn a boulder； walk all day； uncertain where he shall eat or
rest； ready to face sun and rain； wind and frost； and to eat or
drink thankfully anything； however coarse or meagre； he should know
how to swim for his life； to pull an oar； sail a boat； and ride the
first horse which comes to hand； and； finally； he should be a
thoroughly good shot； and a skilful fisherman； and； if he go far
abroad； be able on occasion to fight for his life。
For his moral character； he must； like a knight of old； be first of
all gentle and courteous； ready and able to ingratiate himself with
the poor； the ignorant； and the savage； not only because foreign
travel will be often otherwise impossible； but because he knows how
much invaluable local information can be only obtained from
fishermen； miners； hunters； and tillers of the soil。 Next； he
should be brave and enterprising； and withal patient and undaunted；
not merely in travel； but in investigation； knowing （as Lord Bacon
might have put it） that the kingdom of Nature； like the kingdom of
heaven； must be taken by violence； and that only to those who knock
long and earnestly does the great mother open the doors of her
sanctuary。 He must be of a reverent turn of mind also； not rashly
discrediting any reports； however vague and fragmentary； giving man
credit always for some germ of truth； and giving Nature credit for
an inexhaustible fertility and variety； which will keep him his
life long always reverent； yet never superstitious； wondering at
the commonest； but not surprised by the most strange； free from the
idols of size and sensuous loveliness； able to see grandeur in the
minutest objects； beauty； in the most ungainly； estimating each
thing not carnally； as the vulgar do； by its size or its
pleasantness to the senses； but spiritually； by the amount of
Divine thought revealed to Man therein； holding every phenomenon
worth the noting down； believing that every pebble holds a