AMATEUR NATURALISTS. 125 



season at that time was very severe; we had had a long dry frost, and 

 they were compelled no doubt to seek their food in this way, being unable 

 to find their usual sustenance on the hard stony ground. 



Upjjimjham, October 10th., 1855. 



(To be continued.) 



AMATEUR NATURALISTS. 



BY MK. PASS CALSHAW. 



Pkrhaps no study is more fascinating than the study of Natural History. 

 Apart from the technicalities connected with the systematic and scientific 

 investigation of Nature, how charmingly is time spent when devoted to 

 the examination of the various objects of creation. What lofty emotions 

 can a single insect excite in our breast. With what wonder and astonish- 

 ment will a reflecting mind be filled by the appearance, the existence, and 

 the formation of the meanest of God's creatures. The life in Nature, 

 extending from the huge beast of the forest, down to animalculas so minute 

 as to require the human eye to be aided by intense magnifying power ere 

 they in the least become discernible, is indeed wonderful and past com- 

 prehension, and ought to raise our minds to inquire concerning Him who 

 is the giver of life. The study and analization of such objects are not the 

 work of the Professor at the University alone, neither are they to be 

 confined to the student who sits at his feet. Nature's calls are universal. 

 The flower of the field, the bird of the air, the fish of the sea, the creeping 

 thing that creepeth on the face of the earth, are no respecters of persons. 

 All may study their habits, examine their peculiarities, and admire their 

 beauty. The majestic sun traversing the canopy of heaven, pours forth 

 his genial beams alike for peasant and king, gilds and beautifies the face 

 of creation alike for master and slave. 



We rejoice to see the study of Natural History becoming increasingly 

 popular in the Collegiate Chair and the Lecture Hall. We want, however, 

 to see not only more Professional Naturalists, but more Amateur Natura- 

 lists. We want every working man to have a taste for the sublime and 

 beautiful in Nature. Can we attentively observe in a manufacturing town 

 the operative, as he hurries to the bewildering, and almost brain-turning 

 jar of the factory, without feeling how injurious such confining labour must 

 be, unless counteracted by some other pursuit during leisure hours. What 

 the nature of that pursuit should be is immensely important to the labourer, 

 important physically, important mentally. With pity and disgust we see 

 thousands rush to the gin-shop to recruit, as they madly think, their wasted 

 strength and worn-out frames with the mocking raging cup. It needs no 



