47 



be better, probably, in every way, that the attention should be 

 directed chiefly to one branch of the subject ; though not 

 necessarily to the entire exclusion of all others. For instance, 

 fish maybe made the principal object -of attention. What- 

 ever time may be available for scientific pursuits, may be 

 devoted chiefly to the capture and study of this class of 

 animals. All those met with on any one voyage, may be 

 noted, information obtained relating to them, and possibly 

 several specimens preserved. A list may be made out to- 

 wards the end of the voyage ; and the notes copied, with 

 references given to such specimens as have been obtained. If 

 the names are not known, they can be referred to by numbers. 

 Search might be made, while at home, in Natural History 

 books in public or private libraries, to obtain the scientific 

 names, and to learn what is already recorded about them ; the 

 assistance of some naturalist may be obtained, or the paper, 

 as it is, might be submitted to some Natural History society ; 

 if in Liverpool, to the Literary and Philosophical Society. 

 Or the sailor student, if sailing again, or continually to the 

 same port, may continue his observations and add to his notes 

 and his specimens ; or even if sailing to other countries, the 

 same class of animals may continue to be the objects of his 

 attention. 



By such means as the above, he is certain, sooner or later, 

 to accumulate valuable knowledge, which, if published, can 

 scarcely fail to aid in the furtherance of science ; and to lead 

 him to do this is the great object for which this paper is 

 prepared. 



Another method may be suggested. A captain trading 

 regularly to one port may very properly extend his observa- 

 tions to many or all the classes of animals to be met with in 

 his repeated voyages ; and in time his list of specimens 

 observed and captured, and his notes thereon, cannot fail to 

 be of interest to naturalists. 



