10 



ther that these vicious scientific names are properly fenced in by a 

 parenthesis ( ), so that the incautious traveler may not stumble in 

 upon them unawares, and get his brains kicked out by them before he 

 knows what he is about. 



I am well aware that it is impossible to please everybody, and 

 that many men are of a very different opinion from those who take 

 fright at every scientific term, actually holding that nothing can be 

 worth reading, which, as a general rule, is written in such plain and 

 popular language that it can be easily understood. But, because one 

 author writes in a clear and intelligible style, it does not follow that 

 he lacks depth of research and profundity of conception. Because an- 

 other author indulges in mudd}^ and obscure phraseology, it does not 

 follow that he is a learned man and an original thinker. A puddle 

 is not necessarily deep, because one is unable to see the bottom of it; 

 neither is a lake necessarily shallow because the eye can catch at a 

 single glance every object that exi^sts beneath its pellucid waters. In 

 printed books, we often see ignorant blockheads cover up their lack 

 of knowledge by a string of misapplied long words, as uncalled for as 

 they are distasteful and unintelligible; while the really learned man, 

 instead of going out of his way to lug in technicalities head-and-shoul- 

 ders, uses them only when they are absolutely necessary to give pre- 

 cision and accuracy to his statements. As a general rule, when an 

 author thinks clearly, he writes clearly; and Avhen an author's ideas 

 are confused, his expressions partake of the disorder of his mental 

 faculties. 



In a Memoir intended for publication in the Proceedings of some 

 grave Scientific Society, it would, of course, be highly indecorous to 

 break the dreary monotony of scientific hair-splitting by a single re- 

 mark, which had the slightest tendency towards exciting that con- 

 vulsive movement of the midriff, which the vulgar herd of mankind 

 call "laughter."' But as this Eeport is intended chiefly for the use 

 of common folks, who do not think it beneath their dignity to indulge 

 occasionally in a hearty laugh, I hope that I shall be pardoned, if I in- 

 advertently here and there should drop a word, which may cause the 

 cheek of the reader to mantle with a smile. Four hundred years ago 

 Martin Luther said, that "'he could see no reason why the Devil 

 should run away with all the good tunes." I can see no reason, in 

 the year of 18G7, why the pestilent yellow-covered literature of the 

 day should monopolize all the wit and humor. If there is one thing 

 Avhich I have at heart inore than another, it is to popularize Science— 

 to bring her down from the awkward high stilts on which she is or- 

 dinarily paraded before the world — to show how sweet and attractive 



