198 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [i, 5. sept. 1905 



Show the relation of the expanding nation to the peoples to the north 

 and south and the geographic reasons for the position of the final bound- 

 aries established. 



Geography of current events throughout the year. 



THE VALUE OF KNOWING NAMES OF NATURAL OBJECTS 



A Symposium by many Writers 



[Editorial Note. — The question whether there is value in knowing the 

 names of natural objects is easily and satisfactorily answered so far as 

 very common objects are concerned, but it must be obvious to all science 

 and nature-study teachers that as our list of names tends to become ex- 

 tensive it is a question whether memorizing names is valuable. In order 

 to draw out definite statements of opinions from naturalists a circular 

 letter was sent last July requesting brief discussions of the question, " Is 

 it worth while that pupils should learn the names of natural objects?" 

 The answers, in the order received, are given below.] 



In answer to the question " Is there value in knowing the names 

 of common natural objects," I would say that there is a decided 

 value, provided it is not pressed too far. It is a source of satis- 

 faction and hence of additional interest to be able to name things. 

 The only objection that could be made to this kind of informa- 

 tion, so far as I can discover, is that the name may become the 

 end of the investigation rather than its beginning. I like to have 

 my students think of names as necessary appendages to plants, 

 just as names are to individuals whom one meets and wants to 

 know. No one would think that an introduction to an individual, 

 which gives the name, means an acquaintance with the individual. 

 The name, therefore, as I look at it, is the preliminary stage to an 

 acquaintance. John M. Coulter. 



University of Chicago. 



There is a value in mere names. As naturalists we might dis- 

 pense with names and books, but as educators we cannot. Cul- 

 ture and education come chiefly through names, books and the 

 literary concomitants of the subject. I have known many good 

 naturalists — wood-choppers, basket-makers, hunters, trappers, 

 fishermen, farmers — with knowledge of things, but evidently not 

 educated by them. I have known many skilled bird-stuffers, who 

 were far from being good ornithologists. Don't lay too much 

 stress on natural objects alone. We want names, books and other 

 literary and scientific accessories. Edward F. Bigelow. 



Stamford, Conn. 



