X . PREFACE 



pleasant companion, to be carried perhaps in the 

 fishing-basket or read by the winter fire. 



And yet I am sure that there must be mistakes 

 in it. Perhaps many. It is only after long and 

 ^''^ patient watching that one can at all venture to 



generalise from the things one sees. Often, too, the 

 results arrived at one day seem clean contradicted the 

 next. But this is good for every one, if only because 

 it tends to foster that attitude by which alone is 

 learning possible. So that no wise man will be 

 self-satisfied the more because he seems to see any- 

 thing clearly, whether a law of the universe or a 

 secret of the humble-bee. 



Quite distinct from this is the rewarding delight in 

 learning some new truth, and such consolation for 

 imperfect vision as may be cozened out of that old 

 saying, " In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed 

 is king." 



