The custom of collecting is now greatly on the increase, and the 

 result, or perhaps the cause, is the increase of the noble study of 

 nature ; yet it is often to be regretted that the collection is com- 

 menced too vaguely, and without duo consideration ; in which case 

 much of the labour is usually wasted, or at least misdirected, or 

 even (which is not uufrcquent) it is given up in disgust. Let us 

 try whether we may not suggest the cause of this failure, and some 

 rules for its avoidance. 



« Some half century ago Collectors and Museums were almost 

 universally laughed at ; and, I fear, in many cases most justly. A 

 museum of that day (I speak, of course, not of the few collections 

 of tho truly learned, but of their unworthy imitators,) appears 

 usually to have been a collection of heterogeneous objects, whose 

 only interest consisted in their rarity, and the only pleasure con- 

 templated by the possessor, was, the being able to say that he had 

 got such and such things which others had not. 



In these days happily a better taste is shewn ; and Collectors 

 now bring together objects, not for the mere sake of the possession, 

 but with a view to the assistance which may be obtained from them 

 in the study of nature. Now as more errors arise, probably, from 

 mistaking the means for the end, than from any other known cause, 

 let us constantly bear in mind that the end — the only end worth 

 aiming at — is, the increasing our lovo and reverence to the source, 

 the Creator of all nature, by gaining an additional degree of know- 

 ledge of Him through His works. One of the means to acquire this, 

 is tho study of any branch of nature to which our opportunities or 

 our inclination may most dispose us, and one of the best means of 

 pursuing this study, is the forming a collection which may enable 

 us to familiarize our minds with its objects. 



Commenced with this -view, a collection becomes a matter of the 

 noblest interest ; while if commenced from the mere desire of posses- 

 sion, without any definite end, although it may, and often does, lead 

 to study, yet until, or unless, it does so, in what degree is it superior 

 to the practice of the tame magpie, who collects any objects which 

 he considers curious, and with much the same end in view. Why 

 should we wonder, then, when we see many who have begun without 

 a definite object, throwing up their collections in disgust ? 



But if a collection is to be commenced solely as a means to assist 

 ourselves and others — in the study of which ever of the wonderful 

 and beautiful branches of nature we may select for our object — the 

 more we can keep the end in view the more satisfactory is it likely to 

 be. There are indeed few who can resist some degree of triumph or 

 pleasure in the possession of a rare species, even though the species 

 — barring its rarity — may bo the least interesting of its genua ; and 

 this is to a certain degree desirable, inasmuch as it tends to ensure 

 tho preservation of the specimen ; but a true student will guard 

 carefully against the excess even of this feeling. 



In forming a collection of any kind, we should begin by consider- 

 ing which of two great objects wo prefer, and then make our selection 



