352 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Oct. 



A useful purpose will be served in this country, where such things 

 are as yet too little appreciated, by quoting Dr. Hitchcock's esti- 

 mate of the utility of natural history collections. 



" 1. They are indispensable to give students a knowledge of the 

 natural productions of different parts of the earth ; and without 

 which, their views would be narrow, and they would be liable to 

 constant blunders in their literary productions, 



"2. When studied, they help very much to sharpen the discrimi- 

 nation, and teach students how to distinguish between the appa- 

 rent and the real. Indeed, as a means of mental discipline, no 

 branch of knowledge goes before natural history ; though, from the 

 very limited attention usually given to such subjects, this effect is 

 but slightly realized. 



" 3. They are indispensable, also, to give facilities to any stu- 

 dents who have a natural taste and fitness for such pursuits, to 

 qualify themselves for future distinction in them ; and this they 

 can do, if the collections are good, without interfering with recita- 

 tions in other branches, by devoting those leisure hours to the 

 cabinets, which most give to useless recreation or to something 

 worse. 



" 4. They deeply interest and instruct the community sur- 

 rounding a college, and all who visit it, and thus give reputation 

 to it. V^isitors cannot be shown much in mathematics, or in the 

 classics, as they pass through college-halls, unless particularly well 

 acquainted with the subjects, and even large libraries are all seen 

 at a glance. But almost every one will see enough in nature's 

 products to awaken interest, inquiry, and admiration. This 

 explains the fact that as many as fifteen thousand visitors annually 

 have registered their names in the Amherst Cabinets, small and 

 retired as the place is. The College could not afford to lose the 

 influence in favor of the institution thus spread through the coun- 

 try. It turns the attention of many young men to this place ; and 

 when they learn that in all other respects the institution stands 

 high, this feature often brings them here, in spite of the claims of 

 rival colleges. This is not indeed the most important thing in 

 the College ; but we need to combine all the influences that we 

 can to enable the College to maintain the high position it has 

 takeUj and to continue its upward course. 



" 5. These cabinets form an anchor to steady the College in 

 stormy times. Such periods of trial not unfrequently come, when 

 the temptation is to give up the ship, or transfer it to to some other 



