ITS IMPORTANCE TO TRAVELLERS. 149 
(91.) Natural history, indeed, now forms such an 
important feature in the best voyages and travels, 
that the subject is usually assigned to a professed 
naturalist, and is either made a separate division of 
the volume, or is published as a distinct work. By 
such arrangements, science gains the full advantage 
of the discoveries made, for they are generally given 
to the world by those most competent to the task. But 
this, so far from lessening the necessity of natural his- 
tory forming one of the accomplishments of the tra- 
veller, rather increases that necessity. The science, 
as before observed, can only be prosecuted with full 
advantage by two classes of students; pursuing, 
indeed, the same end, but attaining it by different 
means. The practical naturalist studies in the 
fields ; he collects specimens, he observes instincts, 
and he records facts. His scientific brother com- 
pares these acquisitions with those already existing ; 
he studies organisation, and he consults books. 
Both these modes of investigating nature are essen- 
tial to the true knowledge of her works; but they 
can seldom be prosecuted by the same individual. 
In this, as in almost every branch of science or of 
art, the advantage of the division of labour is 
manifest. To the traveller, therefore, belongs the 
first set of these duties. If he has no intention of 
publishing, himself, a detailed and digested account 
of his discoveries, but is desirous that others more 
experienced should do so, he has yet to understand 
the practical part of his subject. The art of pre- 
serving specimens, and some little knowledge of the 
science, must be first acquired, before he can judge 
what species to reject and what to preserve. The 
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