ADVANTAGES 



OF THE 



STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



(By the Editor.) 



The study of Natural History, taken in its widest significa- 

 tion, means the study of all creation ; taken in its more 

 restricted sense, it is confined to Zoology and Botany ; but 

 when it is considered that Geology contains the records of 

 the Zoology and Botany of a past age, and that the forms 

 so preserved for our investigations are frequently of invalu- 

 able assistance to us in supplying links in the great chain of 

 nature, it is evident that Geology forms no mean branch of 

 Natural History, — and a knowledge of the facts of Astro- 

 nomy, the different circumstances in which the various mem- 

 bers of our own system are placed, and the analogy of other 

 systems at distances so remote as to be almost beyond our 

 comprehension, cannot but be of use to the student in en- 

 larging his ideas. 



Study is generally divided into two branches ; in the first 

 place, the study of language; secondly, the study of pure 

 science. The study of language is necessary in order to enable 

 us to express our ideas, but then it might be advisable to pur- 

 sue some other study which would give us ideas to be ex- 

 pressed ; to be master of the art of expressing ideas, and at the 

 same time barren of the art of producing them, is like the 

 possession of a knife and fork without possessing a joint 



1856 b 



