2 THE STUDY OF NATURAL HTSTORY. 



favour propagation of the feathered tribes, but notwithstanding this drawback, 

 the book of nature is not a blank, and subjects of interest are not wanting 

 to those possessing taste and inclination to seek after them. A life of 

 industrial occupation leaves few opportunities for recreation, the theatre for 

 the study of Natural History being essentially that of the fields and woods ; 

 with a mind at ease and in full command of time, few individuals 

 engrossed in business find themselves in possession of these advantages, 

 and until within the last few years such has been my situation. 



Our immortal bard, in one of his never-to-be-forgotten soliloquies, has 

 pourtrayed the life of man in seven ages. In my case five have passed; 

 not all of them, it may be observed, in the same characters described by 

 him, and however varied these may be according to position and occupa- 

 tion, the next admits of pretty general application. — 



"The sixth age shifts 

 Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon." 



It is at this period of life that the greatest of all temporal blessings, 

 Health, is best appreciated as the only means of alleviating the pains 

 attending that inevitable disease, old age, and beneficial as the investigation 

 of nature is, at all seasons, it is never attended with greater advantages, 

 than in this, the autumn of our existence. I have chiefly to thank the 

 "Naturalist" and the charming freshness prevailing through the communi- 

 cations of its various correspondents, for inspiring me with a taste for, 

 and inclination to follow this delightful pursuit. And here let me embrace 

 the opportunity of earnestly recommending everybody, particularly those 

 who, like myself, have passed the best portion of their lives absorbed in 

 business occupations, to cultivate acquaintance with natural objects, and to 

 lose no opportunity of studying the book of Nature. In so delightful a 

 study the mind finds perfect relaxation, every page of this inexhaustible 

 volume being full of interest, and pleasing reflections attend every line. 

 Here is no complex subject to speculate upon and unravel; no difficult 

 problem for solution; no doubtful proposition to argue, to the strain upon and 

 exhaustion of the mental powers. On the contrary, natural presentations, 

 simple and interesting, are replete with pleasure and satisfaction, cheerfulness 

 waits upon every reflection, and every step leads to happiness, even 

 winter, frowning winter, when as Thompson says, — 



"How dead the vegetable kingdom lies! 



How dumb the tuneful! Horror wide extends 



His desolate domain." 



And as Dr. Johnson beautifully expresses it, — 



"Xo music warbles through the grove, 



No vivid colours paint the plain, 

 No more with devious steps I rove, 



The verdant paths are sought in vain." 



