PREFACE. xi 



production of "A Summer's Day" a trifle which 

 will more than serve its purpose if it may show the 

 possibility of spending many pleasant hours amongst 

 familiar home scenes. The essay on " Science and 

 Poetry " was suggested by Principal Shairp's charm- 

 ing volume " On Poetic Interpretation of Nature ; " 

 and the tenor of my remarks may be taken as an 

 endeavour to combat the too common idea that a 

 knowledge of the facts of nature modifies or destroys 

 the poetic sentiment. The author ventures confidently 

 to appeal to his scientific brethren in support of his 

 assertion, that an understanding of the causation of 

 nature, can never of itself destroy our sense of beauty 

 and joy in the fairness of the universe. 



The author's best thanks are due to Mr. G. J. 

 Romanes for the loan of several illustrations used in 

 the essay on " The Origin of Nerves," and to Messrs. 

 Longmans and Co., Messrs. Smith, Elder and Co., 

 and Messrs. Daldy, Isbister and Co., for permission to 

 reprint articles from Fraser's Magazine, the Cornhill 

 Magazine, and Good Words, respectively. 



/ 



The frontispiece is intended to embody the chief 

 representatives of the various theories of the "sea- 

 serpent" question. A giant tape-fish is represented 



