CONCLUSION. 411 



kaving wandered together over many a reef and bay, 

 and skirted the great plains of Philosophy, traversed 

 by many foot-sore pilgrims who beckon us to follow. 

 We have caught some glimpses of the marvels and 

 delights which await us in every rock-pool ; and we 

 have seen how a mere amusement will naturally lead 

 us into the solemn temples of Philosophy. 



The naturaHst may be anything, everything. He 

 may yield to the charm of simple observation ; he 

 may study the habits and habitats of animals, and 

 moralise on their ways ; he may use them as starting- 

 points of laborious research ; he may carry his newly- 

 observed facts into the highest region of speculation ; 

 and whether roaming amid the lovely nooks of Nature 

 in quest of varied specimens, or fleeting the quiet hour 

 in observation of his pets — whether he make Natural 

 History an amusement, or both amusement and serious 

 work — it will always offer him exquisite delight. Prom 

 the schoolboy to the philosopher, all gi^ades find in it 

 something admirably suited to their minds. It brings 

 us into closer presence of the great mysteries of Kfe ; 

 and while quickening our sense of the infinite marvels 

 which surround the simplest object, teaches us many 

 and pregnant lessons which may help us through our 

 daily needs. 



In suojo-estive but untranslatable verse, Goethe asks 

 what higher aim can we have here on earth than to 

 trace the revelation of the Divine in Natm-e ; how 

 Fact becomes etherealised into Thought, and how 

 Thought in turn becomes incorporate in Fact — as 



