54 J. E. nARTING — STUDY OF XATUEAL niSTOKY 



age offers no more wholesome training, both moral and intellectual, 

 than that which is given by a taste lor outdoor physical science. 



HaA-ing learnt, then, what are the requirements of a naturalist, 

 let us proceed to consider the pleasures and advantages which 

 proceed from such a profession. 



How many there are who take a walk as they would take a 

 draught or a pill, merely for the benefit of health ; and how many 

 others there are who refrain fi'om walking altogether, because, as 

 they say, "there is nothing to go out for — nothing to see!" 

 Truly, a walk without an object, unless in the most lovely and 

 novel of sceneiy, is a poor exercise, and as a recreation utterly nil ; 

 but having once an object in view, as those have who take up any 

 particular branch of Natural History, they derive a positive pleasure 

 from their walks, and a gain in mind as well as in body. Anon, 

 when viewing new scenes, and new objects which compose them, 

 comes the pleasure of discovery, the pleasure of finding sometliing 

 which they have never seen before — a pleasure which is so delight- 

 ■ful, and yet so difficult to define, but one which leaves a lasting 

 impression upon the memory. Then, too, may be considered that 

 pleasure which results from a feeling of complete rest, when the 

 mind is diverted for a time from the more serious duties and cares 

 of life, and we experience a benefit as regards the mind analogous 

 to that resulting from change of air to the body. 



Who is there who has not experienced the delightful sensation of 

 having left for a while the City and its tumult, to see the country 

 and inhale its purer air ? Many of you will, no doubt, remember 

 those beautiful lines of Longfellow : — 



" If thou art worn and hard beset 

 With sorrows that thou -woukl'st forfjet, 

 If thou would'st read a lesson that will keep 

 Tliy heart from fainting- and thy soul from sleep, 

 Go to the woods and hills ! Xo" tears 

 Dim the sweet look that Nature wears." 



Tennyson, also, in his 'TwoYoices,' alludes to the elevation of 

 soul which follows from a contemplation of Nature : — 

 " I wonder'd while I paced along : 



The woods were filled so full with song, 



There seem'd no room for sense of wi'ong, 



So variously seem'd all things wrought 



I marvel'd how the mind was brought 



To anchor by one gloomy thought." 



In close attendance upon this last-named pleasure is that feeling 

 of reverence and inward satisfaction, arising from a con-viction of 

 the superintendence exercised by the Creator over all His creatures, 

 and of His goodness and bounty in our regard. Surely these are 

 pleasures sufficient to tempt the most indifferent to investigate His 

 marvellous Avorks ! Linnaous tells us that ho who does not make 

 himself acquainted Avith (Jod from a consideration of Nature, will 

 scarcely acquire^ a knowledge of Him from any other source ; for if 

 we have no faith in the things which are seen, how shall we believe 

 those things which are not seen ? 



