174 ERYTHEA. 
know its equal for breadth of view, sobriety of speculation, 
and accuracy of detail.’ 
The charm of a wide and philosophic survey of the 
different forms under which life presents itself could not but 
attract the attention of teachers. Rolleston elaborated a 
course of instruction in zoology at Oxford in which the 
structures described in the lecture-room were subsequently 
worked out in the laboratory. In 1872 Huxley organised the 
memorable course in elementary biology at South Ken- 
sington which has since, in its essential features, been 
adopted throughout the country. In the following year, 
during Huxley’s absence abroad through ill-health, I 
arranged, at his request, a course of instruction on the same 
lines for the Vegetable Kingdom. 
That the development of the new teaching was inevitable 
can hardly be doubted, and I for my part am not disposed to 
regret the share I took in it. But it was not obvious, and 
certainly it was not expected, that it would to so large an 
extent cut the ground from under the feet of the old Natural 
History studies. The consequences are rather serious, and 
I think it is worth while pointing them out. 
In a vast empire like our own there is a good deal of work 
to be done and a good many posts to be filled, for which the 
old Natural History training was not merely a useful but 
even a necessary preparation. But at the present time the 
universities almost entirely fail to supply men suited to the 
work. They neither care to collect, nor have they the skilled 
aptitude for observation. Then, though this country is 
possessed at home of incomparable stores of accumulated 
material, the class of competent amateurs who were mostly 
trained at our universities and who did such good service in 
working that material out is fast disappearing. It may not 
be easy indeed in the future to fill important posts even in 
this country with men possessing the necessary qualifications. 
But there was still another source of naturalists, even more 
useful, which has practically dried up. It is an interesting 
