252 RIVERBY 



fact in this case the same as in the other. Has any 

 competent observer verified this statement 1 ? Have 

 swallows been taken out of the mud, or been seen 

 to throw themselves into the water ? 



Albertus Magnus (1193-1280), in his book on ani- 

 mals, says that the eel leaves the water in the night- 

 time, and invades the fields and gardens to feed upon 

 peas and lentils. A scientific man makes this state- 

 ment, and probably upon no stronger proof than that 

 some eels dropped by poachers in their hasty retreat 

 had been found in a pea patch. If peas had been 

 found, and found in many cases, in the stomachs of 

 eels, that would have been pretty conclusive proof 

 that eels eat peas. 



The great thing in observation is not to be in- 

 fluenced by our preconceived notions, or by what we 

 want to be true, or by our fears, hopes, or any per- 

 sonal element, and to see the thing just as it is. A 

 person who believes in ghosts and apparitions cannot 

 be depended upon to investigate an alleged phenom- 

 enon of this sort, because he will not press his in- 

 quiry far enough, and will take for granted the very 

 fact we want proof of. 



The eye does not always see what is in front of it. 

 Indeed it might almost be said, it sees only what is 

 back of it, in the mind. Whenever I have any par- 

 ticular subject in mind, every walk gives me new 

 material. If I am thinking about tree-toads, I find 

 tree- toads. If 1 am dwelling upon birds' nests, I 

 find plenty of nests which otherwise I should have 

 passed by. If bird-songs occupy me, I am bound to 

 hear some new or peculiar note. 



