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HAflDWlCKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



TPIE UTILITY OE THE STUDY OE 

 NATURAL HISTORY. 



WHAT is the useoi studying Natural History ? " 

 How often, sadly often, wlieu the votaries 

 of nature are endeavouring to unfold her beauties 

 to the outside world, is this question pressed upon 

 them, and how often does it act, to use a familiar 

 expression, as a "home-thrust." Sceptical school- 

 boys and quizzical young persons in muslin seem to 

 take an especial pleasure in thus upsetting tlie equa- 

 nimity of the naturalist, who is endeavouring to 

 win them over to his side. Now it behoves every 

 rational being to be able to give a reason for his 

 profession and pursuits, least of all ought the 

 students of nature ever to be found at a loss ; and 

 in point of fact they very rarely are so. All will 

 readily prove their pursuit to be at once a beautiful 

 and an interesting one, but as for the " use " of it — 

 ■why, that is a very different matter, and they stand 

 speechless. Of course in this utilitarian age outsiders 

 immediately leap to the very legitimate conclusion 

 that something is rotten in the study of nature. I 

 trust then that I shall be doing service to this 

 branch of science, in attempting to put down as 

 concisely as possible, at least a few of the points in 

 ■which our favourite pursuits are undoubtedly useful ; 

 perhaps I may thereby make it a little easier for my 

 brotlier naturalists to give a clear answer to any 

 future questions on the score of utility. In the first 

 place, by investigating natural phenomena, we 

 increase the general stock of knowledge, and by 

 increasing this -we elevate the. human race. It may 

 be that discoveries respecting some bird, beast, or 

 insect do not immediately benefit the world at large, 

 but they certainly aid in determining the laws which 

 prevail in the natural kingdom, — laws which, when 

 rightly understood, will make clear as the noonday 

 those dark enigmas that at present cause such 

 anxiety alike to the theologian aud the scientist. 

 No doubt many naturalists are too apt to make a 

 heterogeneous collection of facts, without at all 

 seeking to establish their connection with the 

 system of nature ; but in these days of theories we 

 are fast learning to look more closely into the 

 mysteries of cause aud effect, while we consider each 

 established principle as an isolated link in a chain 

 that has yet to be constructed. So then, in trying 

 to "get at the truth of God's universe," we are un- 

 doubtedly helping on a -work beneficial to the rest 

 of mankind. But it maybe asked— what good does 

 this do us individually ? Much, every way ; for 

 natural history educates body and mind. Eirst, as 

 to corporeal benefits, which of course vary according 

 as birds, plants, insects, Crustacea, fossils, &c., are 

 made the subject of special investigation. Orni- 

 thologists and oologists are in a short time first-rate 

 climbers, and climbing is an exercise that brings 



every muscle of the body into full play, aud accus- 

 toms the brain to preserve its usual steadiness at 

 great elevations. Then, with regard to botany, 

 plant-collectors almost always become excellent 

 pedestrians, and in fact, good walking powers are a 

 sine quel non to a botanist who desires to work up 

 the flora of a neighbourhood. It is also necessary 

 that he should be able to get through rough work, 

 as the exigences of the moment may require ; now 

 climbing a v/all to procure a lichen, now dangling 

 over a precipice to get at a fern ; at one time toiling 

 up a hill-side in the search for gentians, at another 

 wading through a quagmire looking for reeds. As 

 for the insect-hunter, whether he be lepidopterist, 

 coleopterist, or any other specialist, his powers of 

 walking, running, aud general endui'ance are con- 

 tinually put to the test. He has often to walk many 

 miles to his district, and when arrived there, to run 

 many more in pursuit of his insects if they be 

 winged ; if apterous, to search most laboriously over 

 every square yard of ground. If moths are his 

 desiderata, he must often rise at daybreak, or remain 

 in the woods till the small hours of the morning. 

 This Spartan discipline is not, and cannot be, without 

 its good effects on \h.Q. physique of the collector. The 

 naturalist who devotes himself to the Crustacea or 

 moUusca has, like his brethren, no easy task. His 

 search must be conducted in sea-water, in fresh 

 water, and on dry land. The objects of his attention 

 are more than usually varied in form, size, habit, 

 and habitat, and in consequence, his excursions are 

 more than usually erratic. Lastly, what is to be 

 said of the geologist ? His practical ■work consists, 

 for the most part, in digging out fossils from the 

 clay, chalk, and limestone formations,andfossiliferous 

 rocks. To do this well, he needs a sharp eye and 

 a steady hand, not to mention a great deal of 

 patience — a virtue which he shares in common with 

 all other naturalists. Thus much for bodily benefits. 

 The education of the mind is a still broader subject, 

 on which I cannot even attempt to particularize. 

 There can be no doubt that the study of Natural 

 History induces a scientific habit of mind— that is 

 to say, a habit of carefully reasoning out, and 

 correctly deducing conclusions from giveu data ; a 

 habit of looking at debated matters from all points 

 of view ; a habit of throwing aside all prejudice and 

 littleness of mind ; of considering everything 

 honestly, fairly, and temperately. It is needless to 

 point out how increasingly important science is 

 becoming as a matter of education; how many 

 scholarships are yearly awarded at the universities 

 for proficiency in its difterent branches ; or, how 

 difficult it is to keep pace with the spirit of the age 

 without some knowledge of the conditions under 

 which the universe exists. Enough has been said 

 to show that the pursuit of Natural History is full of 

 usefulness, if only we take care to keep the end 

 constantly in view, never placing an undue estimate 



