POPULARISING NATURAL HISTORY. 125 



and unremitting in his studies, could hope to produce 

 such a work as the "Natural History," or even as 

 " Homes without Hands," from personal observation 

 and experience ? The thing is not to be done. Either 

 a man must compile, or else such books are not to be 

 written. But compilation does not necessarily exclude 

 original work ; and when the two go together in com- 

 petent hands, a good and useful book is tolerably 

 sure to be the result. 



Undoubtedly my father's great distinction was that 

 of being the pioneer in the work of popularising natural 

 history, and presenting it to the general public in the 

 form of an alluring and deeply interesting study. He 

 had many subsequent imitators, but he himself imitated 

 no one. He found zoology a dull and dry study, open 

 to none but the favoured few who enjoyed special apti- 

 tude, special opportunities, and special circumstances for 

 its pursuit. He left it an open book of world-wide 

 interest, needing no scholar to read or interpret it, no 

 unusual zeal or persistence in order to decipher its 

 secrets. His was the pen that led other pens to write 

 upon the subject. His was the enthusiasm which fired 

 the enthusiasm of others ; which made observers out of 

 mechanics, and naturalists out of artisans. And to- 

 gether with ability and enthusiasm he united a dogged 

 perseverance which enabled him to accomplish a work 

 which, even so far as its mere extent is concerned, very 

 few men have excelled. 



Is it unbecoming in me, as his son, to say all this ? 

 I trust not. I refrain from expressing any opinion 



