II 



Who First Used the Term Nature-Study? 



A BRIEF history of the origin of the con- 

 temporary nature-study movement will 

 clarify our Ideas as to Its spirit and purpose. I 

 am aware that the history that follows Is Incom- 

 plete, and that persons who were connected with 

 the beginnings of It are not mentioned; but I 

 think that the account will be useful In giving 

 us perspective, and In establishing an approxi- 

 mate date for the first use of the term. 



I have engaged In a large correspondence for 

 the purpose of discovering something of the 

 history of the nature-study movement In North 

 America. Oftenest, perhaps, I have been re- 

 ferred to the teaching of Agasslz at Penlkese as 

 the beginning, at least In this country. Agasslz, 

 however, did not teach nature-study In the 

 school sense In which we use the term, although 

 he gave us the motto, *'Study nature, not books." 

 He taught the study of nature by the "natural 

 method." His instruction was given from the 



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