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scientific work, as microscopical investigation. Few depart- 

 ments of work are so well calculated to make a man careful 

 and thoughtful. The microscopical observer is constantly 

 discovering and constantly correcting the discoveries he has 

 already made. He cannot progress without continually 

 learning new things, and correcting what he has already 

 learnt. And if he is a thorough microscopist, he will be as 

 careful not to publish too soon the results of his own obser- 

 vations, as he is not to lean too much upon the demonstra- 

 tions of authorities until they have been confirmed by others. 

 What prolonged training is required before a student can 

 become an accurate observer ! How slowly the microscopist 

 progresses, and how patiently must he have worked before 

 he is able to contribute observations which shall materially 

 advance his department of science. The report of the work 

 of the real observer only begins when the new facts upon 

 which his conclusions are to be based have been positively 

 demonstrated. In these days, however, many a man having 

 scarcely any experience sits down to his work and very soon 

 comes to the conclusion that he has discovered a fact that 

 was not known before. He makes his drawings and pub- 

 lishes at once the results of his investigation. But the real 

 observer proceeds in a very difierent manner. After having 

 demonstrated a fact which he supposes to be new, he waits, 

 consults authorities, and carefully thinks over what has been 

 done before his time, and exactly what has been done by him. 

 Then he proceeds to ascertain if the new conclusion is to be 

 confirmed by investigations upon species of animal or plant 

 difierent from the particular one examined by him. Only 

 when he feels quite sure he is right does he begin to make 

 drawings and arrange his facts for publication. This seems 

 slow work for these days, but, as you will observe, of exactly 

 the kind to correct the errors of the times in which we live. 



