INTRODUCTION. XXI 



penny, a small popular companion to the series of invertebrate 

 animals, entitled " Museum Talk about Animals wbicli have 

 no Bones." The desirability of the most simple teaching 

 in museums is illustrated by an incident which occurred 

 very recently. A north country visitor, probably from the 

 mining districts, was looking intently at a table case contain- 

 ing some beautiful Madrepore Corals. Presently, I heard 

 him call to his wife and daughter, who were noticing the 

 bird-cases — " Here, come hither, look at these here ; they be 

 sea crystals, all different sorts of crystals as grow in the sea !" 

 There could be no doubt that our visitor had in him the 

 making of a true observer and admirer of Nature. 



It is with much thankfulness that I would advert to the 

 continued presence, now through a long period of years, of 

 friends associated with me in museum work. The same 

 much-respected and esteemed Chairman presides in Com- 

 mittee. The same Curator is always ready with the same 

 kind offices of suggestion and encouragement. My old friend, 

 Mr. F. P. Marrat, is as indispensable as ever ; and the ready 

 hand and pencil of Mr. John Chard are still available. My 

 hope of seeing a third edition of the Synopsis is, at all events, 

 precarious ; so I may add that the appreciation of Nature 

 seems to me to be the end ; science only the means. In 

 my attempts to discern the unity there is in Nature, evolu- 

 tion has become so much a habit of thought, that it seldom 

 occurs to me that any doubt it. Yet, in spite of all that has 

 been assumed. Teleology is simply brighter and dearer to me 

 than ever ; and had I twenty lives before me, I would desire 

 nothing better than to spend them in reading, and helping 

 others to read, Nature as a Revelation. 



October, lf:<7U. 



