85 



already developed well-defined propensities, too late to be checked if bad ones, too 

 confirmed to be guided into another channel, and most frequently derived from 

 any other source than that every day presented by nature's inexhaustible store- 

 house. It is also true that, with boys somewhat advanced, they, to a certain ex- 

 tent, disdain the first principles of natural science, as only worthy their junior's at- 

 tention : they would, as it were, acquire natural history per saltum, and begin 

 where they should end, in forming or embracing a particular system. It is, there- 

 fore, with the younger classes that a study of this nature is most likely to pro- 

 duce beneficial results, a lasting moral impression, and obviate infallibly many 

 vicious propensities or opinions so much to be deplored in youth, so difficult to 

 correct in after years. The present time is most fruitful in elementary works for 

 the instruction of youth, but they are all founded on subjects too difficult to ac- 

 quire without making a labour of that which may be learned without fatigue in the 

 book of nature ; and there are always opportunities afforded to do so, without the 

 study wearing the appearance of a task. It has been urged tbat, with children, 

 some branches of Natural History could not be taught, as it involves a degree of 

 cruelty incompatible with the benefit attempted to be imparted ; and the child who, 

 in infancy, could deliberately pin a butterfly to a piece of cork, might, at a more 

 advanced age, feel disposed, with the same sang froid, to stab a fellow creature. 

 Bad, indeed, must be the instruction that could lead to such a conclusion — to such 

 a perversion of the first principles of humanity. Let every species of philosophi- 

 cal cruelty be avoided, as it readily may be ; confine the pupil's study to such ob- 

 jects as present a vegetable existence, or are merely of inorganic formation, leaving 

 to the result of time the peculiar taste that may arise for the investigation of other 

 portions of creation when the mind is capable of acquiring information at the 

 smallest sacrifice of humanity, and when such knowledge may conduce to the ge- 

 neral benefit of mankind rather than to the peculiar gratification of any one's 



individual taste. 



C. D. 



UNUSUAL LOCALITY FOR THE NEST OF THE COMMON 

 GALLINULE (Gallinula chloropus). 



I have seen the nest of this bird situated in the upper branches of a middle- 

 sized Portugal laurel, overhanging the water, and at several feet from its surface. 

 I had previously met with more than one instance where it was built in bushes, 

 but never before at so considerable a height from the ground. It would have 

 been interesting to have observed the manner in which the newly-fledged young 

 were conveyed from the nest ; but this, unfortunately, I had not an opportunity of 

 doing. — -N. W. 



