USE OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE. O 



Latin,'" said Lucy. " Linnaeus, however, has 

 been translated, I know ; and as for British 

 botany, we have our own authors in my own dear 

 language.""* 



" The Latin language being universally studied 

 by men of science, it has become the medium of 

 communication between the learned of most 

 countries/' observed Mr. Elliot. " I should con- 

 sider a young person of your age, Lucy, very ig- 

 norant who could not read and understand the 

 general style of Lamarck with the occasional aid 

 of the dictionary."' 



" Do not be discouraged, brother,'' said Lucy, 

 " my father will assist us : remember how fre- 

 quently he helps us with our lessons now, provided 

 v»e do our best. I am resolved to obtain some 

 knowledge of shells this winter." 



" A very good resolution," said Mr. Elliot ; 

 " and I predict that your usual delight on revisit- 

 ing our favourite country dwelling will be some- 

 what increased next spring." 



" Because I shall carry down my little collec- 

 tion with the pleasure of knowing more than I 

 did last year." 



" Our own coasts, rivers, and ponds afford 

 a variety of shells. The hedge-banks, heaths, 

 and other places, possess their inhabitants." 



" Oh," exclaimed Lucy, *' I quite forgot the 

 very pretty snails I have so often admired on the 



