184 THE STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. [vm. 



It is difficult, therefore, and indeed somewhat 

 unwise and unfair, to put any limit to the term 

 Natural History, save that it shall deal only with 

 nature and with matter; and shall not pretend as 

 some would have it to do just now to go out of its 

 own sphere to meddle with moral and spiritual matters. 

 But, for practical purposes, we may define the natural 

 history of the causes which have made it what it is, and 

 filled it with the natural objects which it holds. And 

 if any one would know how to study the natural 

 history of any given spot as the history of the 

 causes which have made it what it is, and filled it 

 with the natural objects which it holds. And if 

 any one would know how to study the natural history 

 of a place, and how to write it, let him read 

 and if he has read its delightful pages in youth, read 

 once again that hitherto unrivalled little monograph, 

 White's "Natural History of Selborne;" and let him 

 then try, by the light of improved science, to do for 

 any district where he may be stationed, what White 

 did for Selborne nearly one hundred years ago. Let 

 him study its plants, its animals, its soils and rocks ; 

 and last, but not least, its scenery, as the total outcome 

 of what the soils, and plants, and animals, have made 

 it. I say, have made it. How far the nature of the 

 soils, and the rocks will affect the scenery of a district 

 may be well learnt from a very clever and interesting 

 little book of Professor Geikie's, on " The Scenery of 

 Scotland as affected by its Geological Structure." 

 How far the plants, and trees affect not merely the 

 general beauty, the richness or barrenness of a 

 country, but also its very shape ; the rate at which the 

 hills are destroyed and washed into the lowland; the 



