STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 19 



rately between two different animals or plants which 

 were before wrongly confounded together; but to plume 

 oneself on having picked up, for the first time, a shell 

 or a sea-weed, which any one visiting the same ground 

 might have equally done, is simply childish. 



I speak now of that improper egotism which takes 

 almost as much credit to itself as if it were the author 

 of what it has found. I am very far from condemning 

 the pure-minded joy, one of the most delightful feelings 

 of a naturalist, which springs freely in his heart, and 

 glistens in his eye, when first it rests upon an unknown 

 object. This feeling is a mixture of warm affections 

 which cannot confine themselves to a single breast, but 

 instantly seek for sympathy. The first impulse is, to 

 exhibit the novelty to another that he may share our 

 delight, and that we may see him do so. And if there 

 be none to sympathise, how naturally the grateful heart 

 looks up and worships the Author of its enjoyment ! 

 Cold as the heart's feelings may be at other times, the 

 fervour of the moment awakens all its better nature. 

 This enjoyment may seem a small thing to call forth 

 gratitude, when we are accustomed to receive so many 

 blessings at the hand of God in a thankless or indif- 

 ferent spirit. These blessings we seem to look on as 

 our birthright, as members of His family ; but the dis- 

 covery of a new object among the works of creation acts 

 like a special revelation, however small, to ourselves as 

 individuals, and this feeling of individuality touches 

 a chord in the human breast which is ever ready to 

 vibrate. The man whose life is saved by what appears 

 to be a special interference of Providence in his favour 



