TEE FIRST "NATURAL HISTORY." 57 



upon Natural History, he could yet thoroughly appreciate 

 the manifold difficulties which they presented to others, 

 and especially to such as were but just entering upon 

 the first rudiments of the science. And so he resolved, 

 as far as his own writings were concerned, to use only 

 simple and plainly intelligible language, which, with no 

 parade of learning, should yet convey accurate know- 

 ledge upon the subject of which it treated. And I 

 do not think that in any of his books or magazine 

 articles there is one single sentence which could not 

 easily be understood. 



The book appeared in 1851, under the auspices of 

 Messrs. Routledge & Co., and met with a sale which, 

 if not phenomenal in its character, amply justified both 

 author and publisher in undertaking further ventures. 

 The first step towards popularising Natural History had 

 been taken, and the public had responded, if not with 

 ardour, at any rate with warmth. And my father 

 began to feel that a literary career was before him, and 

 a definite line of work laid down. 



For some time after the production of his first 

 volume, however, he was prevented by the force of 

 circumstances from following up his success. His pupil 

 naturally took up much of his time; his anatomical 

 studies, which of course he could not regulate to suit 

 his own individual desires, occupied still more ; and to 

 the preparation for his Ordination, which was now 

 drawing near, he was obliged to devote several hours 

 of daily labour. And all that he could do for a while 

 was to collect material, and to write a few lines when- 



