A STUDY OF LOWER LIFE. 



As has well been observed, the phrase Omne ignotum pro 

 magnified is not more appropriate or true than its reverse or 

 opposite. Applying the apothegm to zoological science, one 

 of the greatest advantages of natural-history study may be 

 shown to exist in the fact that it directs our attention to new 

 and curious features in the commonest living forms around 

 us, and by aiding both our mental and physical perceptions, 

 largely extends the range of the most commonplace obser- 

 vation. The " sight " of the natural historian is, in fact, 

 anything but "unassisted." On the contrary, it discerns 

 beauty and grace where vision of the latter description could 

 perceive nothing worthy of attention or study. If Pope's 

 dictum, that " the proper study of mankind is man," be 

 accepted as literally true, and as tending to limit human 

 observation to the investigation of its own peculiarities, the 

 zoologist may fitly remind the poet, that the study of lower 

 forms not only assists our appreciation of human affairs, but 

 sometimes actually explains and elucidates points in man's 

 history which otherwise would remain utterly obscure. 

 Thus the spirit of a liberal science is most decided in its 

 opposition to any exclusiveness in the objects submitted to 

 its scrutiny ; since, recognising the interdependence of the 

 various branches of knowledge, we learn that the advance 

 of one study really means the improvement of all. 



No better illustration of the manner in which a simple 

 study in biology may be made to form a text for the illustra- 

 tion of some facts and points interesting to the world at large, 

 can well be selected, than that comprised in the life-history 



