6 4 The Scottish Naturalist. 



In this country, Professorships are almost the only Retvards 

 to which oar young Naturalists can aspire. There are excep- 

 tions in the shape of Directorships of Geological Surveys or 

 Botanical Gardens; but they are very few and far between. 

 University Professorships, moreover, are themselves few : while 

 their attractions — as will appear in a subsequent Paper of the 

 present series — are utterly insufficient to induce any number 

 of our ablest youths to devote themselves to Science ; whose 

 energies are consequently diverted into what are called more 

 " practical " channels, — into the medical or legal professions — 

 the church — the public services — or commerce, — all of which 

 " pay," and provide the means of comfortable livelihood, while 

 Science too frequently offers comparative starvation ! In this 

 view alone — to provide prizes for distinction in the different 

 walks of Science — to attract a greater number of our youth, and 

 a higher class of intellect, to the cultivation of Natural History 

 — it is, as will afterwards appear, desirable, or necessary, that 

 Natural Science Chairs should be multiplied — more adequately en- 

 dowed — and gifted ivith a higher status. 



There can be little doubt that the fundamental qualification 

 in a Professor of Natural Science is a thorough knowledge of the 

 subject to be taught. Now, there are different kinds, as well as 

 degrees, of scientific knowledge. There is, on the one hand, 

 that sort and amount which the student "gets up" from his 

 class or text-book for his " Pass Examination " : or which the 

 schoolmaster acquires from a similar source, when he is called 

 upon to teach the elements of Science in our schools. This is 

 pre-eminently a superficial knowledge : which, while it may 

 suffice for the purposes of elementary schools, — and for the 

 instruction of mere children, — -is of a kind that can command 

 no respect from University students.* Knowledge is likely to 



* There is much truth in the poet's distinction between knowledge and 

 wisdom : — 



' ' Knowledge dwells 

 In heads replete with thoughts of other men : 

 Wisdom in minds attentive to their own. 

 Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass — 

 The mere materials with which Wisdom builds — 

 Till smooth'd, and squar'd, and fitted to its place, 

 Does but encumber whom it seems i 'en rich." 



