218 On the Study of Natural History. 
remove, what millions could not again replace. ‘The fine 
navigable Fairhaven bay, 9 miles in length, was turned inte 
flais and shaliows where no sloop can enter.—The fish were 
all killed by the feculent flood. 
Arr 3.—On the pleasure and advantage of studying Natural 
History. By Isaac LEA 
Tue study of Natural History has, within the last ney 
years, "eiganed much more general attention than at any 
previous period. The object of this short essay is to endea- 
vour to pourtray the advantages resas from a knowledge 
of the works of nature, in order that we may more Bey en- 
joy o richness of the field that lies extended before 
ral History may be said to entice while it Satiniel 
and a stadent who once enters the portal, seldom wishes ° 
return. Wandering from one fragrant flower to another, 
appetite is never satiated, nor his thirst destroyed. Sone 
plating the endless variety and harmony of nature, he is en- 
chanted, and pursues her with increased avidity. Saint Pi- 
erre has justly observed, that “ Nature invites to the cultiva- 
tion ea 
‘In the animal kingdom alone, there exist upwards of 50,000* 
different subjects, and there are more than 30,000 different 
plants. ‘The discovery of almost every new - vegetable brings 
with it the knowledge of a new insect. In the mineral king- 
dom the compositions and forms are almest endless, the vati- 
ety affording to the student a never-ceasing source of gratil 
cation to trace their peculiar characters. 
It is a truth much to be regretted that the study of nature 
is too much neglected in the usual course of education. The 
celebrated natural historian Ray says truly, “We content 
ourselves with a little skill in fae ape acs or antiqui- 
ty; and we neglect that which appears to greater mo 
att I mean the study of nature sate works of joreation.' 
writers of uity, in an ices, Se 
attention to this fakes —. The observatio es ns of 
Ss This is the number mentioned by some natural historians ; but it is — 
the number exceeds 1 , when we nsider the immens' 
hat 
number of animaleule, v varying in almost every species of infusion, andt 
iscoveries are daily making in all the branches of animated nature. 
