The Scott is Ji Naturalist. 53 



renewed energy, but in a more limited area than you had first con- 

 templated. 



After you have acquired, for example, an elementary knowledge 

 of geology, you will find you must limit your area of investigation, 

 if you are to be thorough and original, to — say the old red sand- 

 stone or the coal formation. In biology, the necessity for sub- 

 division is still more paramount ; entomology for instance, or 

 even a small department of it, such as the coleoptera, lepidoptera, 

 or hymenoptera, have each furnished life-work for many an 

 earnest student. 



Your researches, whatever they are, must be inspired by a strict 

 devotion to truth. What knowledge you acquire may bring you 

 no immediate or even prospective gain beyond the acquisition of 

 it ; but this to the true student is his highest reward. The pur- 

 suit of knowledge and truth has always had foes to contend with. 

 You have not now to dread the persecution of the Church, what- 

 ever your investigations are ; but you will find opposing your 

 progress the all-powerful priests of Mammon. These counsellors 

 will tell you you should not waste your time gathering beetles, or 

 strain your eyes peering through a brass tube at dirty water. 

 " Gui bono} " — what is the use of it? or, " What will it lead to ? " 

 ''You should mind your business, and leave these things to scien- 

 tific people." Far be it from me to wish any man or woman to 

 neglect their social or domestic duties, but if there are any in this 

 Society who are to be influenced by such arguments, I would 

 advise them to leave it. The man who is prepared to sacrifice his 

 intellectual, and even his physical life, for the sake of money- 

 making, can never be a true student ; he should not pretend to be 

 one ; let him stick to his last. 



It may, however, not be amiss to tell the Mammonites that 

 scientific studies are not incompatible with the most active social 

 life. Dr. George Johnstone, of Berwick-on-Tvveed, carried on a 

 large practice as a physician ; he took an active part in municipal 

 and all social matters ; he was for a time Mayor of Berwick-on- 

 Tweed ; and yet he was an earnest biological student up to the 

 day of his death, and left as the result of his labours his " Flora of 

 Berwick-on-Tweed," "Manual of British Zoophytes," "Manual of 

 British Sponges," and altogether about five-and-thirty books or 

 memoirs of great scientific importance and value. 



Sir John Lubbock, more generally known as a statesman, as a 



