8 Introduction 



study, and their task was one of peculiar difficulty 

 owing to the very varied and miscellaneous character 

 of the exhibits. In addition to the conferences, 

 demonstrations with live bees were kindly provided 

 by the Surrey Bee-keepers' Association, and were 

 widely appreciated. 



To the educational authorities of Nova Scotia, 

 South Australia, New York, and Philadelphia the 

 Committee were under a great obligation for their 

 immediate response to the invitation to exhibit; and 

 to Dr. Bickmore, of the New York Natural History 

 Museum, in particular, much of the sustained interest 

 in the proceedings is to be attributed. His constant 

 presence and readiness to explain and illustrate his 

 methods invariably attracted large crowds. 



As Mr. Choate, the American Ambassador, prophe- 

 sied would be the case, the effect of the Exhibition 

 has been felt in many lands, and letters asking for 

 information and advice have already been received 

 from such distant countries as Hungary, India, and 

 Japan. The Committee therefore are justified in hop- 

 ing that a world-wide impetus has been given to the 

 movement for introducing into education of every 

 grade forms of instruction calculated to develop habits 

 of observation, enquiry, and accuracy of thought. 

 Nature-study is intended to serve as an introduction 

 to, rather than as a substitute for, the study of books. 

 Lessons on subjects foreign to the experience fall on 

 dull ears, but books are read with eagerness when they 

 deal with subjects already familiar. The fascination 

 of natural objects for young minds opens, as it were, 

 the windows of intelligence, and places the pupil 

 in the attitude most favourable for the reception 



