a eles Pa 
= ; 
On the Study of Natural History. , 223 
study. ‘To scrutinize the first cause is in vain; we must 
make ourselves acquainted with the effects and compare them. 
—In this we have ample room to engage all our faculties. 
The celebrated Dr. Priestly, in one of his lectures, makes 
the following observations on this subject :-—‘‘ Of scientific 
pursuits, the most liberal, the most honourable, the happiest, 
and what probably will be the most. successful employment, 
or a man in easy circumstances, is the study of nature ; 
and therefore, to this important object, a principal attention 
should be given in educating youth, who have the means 
of applying to these instructive and comfortable pursuits. 
Every man finds vacant hours from his ordinary business 
which cannot be better filled than by such attention as leads 
to the improvement of the understanding, and elevates his 
Creator.” If we examine into the physiology of animated 
nature, we find every animal, however minute, so wonderfull 
fo as to excite, at every step, our — and ad- 
miration: if we watch their habits, we find so much intellect, 
so much calculation and foresight, as < Bay in some in- 
stances, to humble our own nature. The sagacity of the 
Elephant, which in the eastern moe is taught so many and 
. 
such wonderful lessons, and the almost human ingenuity of 
the Indian archipelago, daily raising perpendicular walls on 
the windward side, some hundred fathoms from the bottom, 
while on the leeward side they are formed in a promiscuous 
manner! In this we see a degree of intelligence almost be- 
yond crediblity. By this formation, the young are protecie 
from the storms an and. washing of the waves, and 
state of security and prosperity. How interesting, to a 
template an act of precaution in an animal so simply formed 
as to be taken for a species 0 f vegetable, until within a few 
years! It may be called instinct: by any name it is wonder- 
ful and interesting. 
The arts and sciences originated in the want and necessi- 
ties of society, and a knowledge of Natural Histery, has con- 
sures See! to the civilization of mankind. What would 
he present state of ncete if we were ae with 
= roperties of one m 
ee ede compass, our chronometers, and a thou- 
