130 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



(75.) Natural history has this peculiar advantage 

 — that it can be prosecuted, in one shape or other, by 

 almost every body, and under every ordinary circum- 

 stance. Of all sciences, it is that which requires, in 

 most of its departments, the fewest materials. It is 

 as much within reach of the cottager as of the pro- 

 fessor ; or rather, we should say, it embraces ques- 

 tions which can be solved by the former, just as 

 well, and frequently much better, than by the latter. 

 If, as is generally the case, the amateur confines his 

 attention to the productions of his own country, 

 three or four elementary books, and as many im- 

 plements of chase, are all that is requisite. His 

 own exertions will procure him a collection ; and he 

 thus furnishes himself with additional materials for 

 study : but even these are not absolutely essential. 

 The appearances of nature can be investigated and 

 recorded without acquiring the technicality of scien- 

 tific language ; nor, for such purposes, are collections 

 or museums indispensable. A fund of interesting 

 anecdotes of our native animals may be collected 

 by an attentive observer, who is nevertheless igno- 

 rant of their scientific names. White, of Selborne, 

 is a striking example of this truth. His letters show 

 a very confined knowledge even of the imperfect 

 arrangements of the period in which he wrote : yet 

 how delightful are his observations ! The fact is, he 

 looked to nature, and simply recorded what he saw. 

 The writings of such men are invaluable, because, 

 while systems change, nature continues the same. 

 The recently published Journal of a Naturalist may 

 be taken as a model for such remarks : both works 



