JANUARY. 11 



upwards, taking care never to retrogress when once you have started. 

 Endeavour to be of service to others who are engaged in a similar 

 study, impart useful and interesting information to indifferent observers, 

 and cultivate acquaintances wich will benefit you. Always protect 

 the creatures you propose making a life-study of; preach and practise 

 humanity. 



Make your own collection of interesting objects, but do not 

 become indiscriminate or destructive. Your duty is to play such a part 

 that the balance of Nature is not upset by your hobby or study, but 

 rather that it gains thereby. 



A more interesting study than that of Nature is hard to find. 

 Every bird that cleaves the air differs in some way or another; every 

 song that is uttered, every egg that is laid, every nest that is built, 

 every insect and flower all living things are varying and interesting 

 withal. Pay attention to common things, study them carefully, and 

 do not pass them by. Do not aspire to collect and study rarities when 

 you as yet know nothing of the commoner forms of life. Pay as much 

 notice to the "common" Sparrow as to the Golden Eagle, to the 

 Celandine as well as the Orchid. Study the House Fly as well as the 

 somewhat rare Hawk Moths, the Earthworm as well as the Adder. 

 Appreciate the solitude of Winter, the fresh green flush of Spring, 

 the beautiful tints of Autumn. The Seasons are ever changing, 

 and with them comes variety. Variety is charming, and there is 

 variety indeed in Nature. Think and reason out your own ideas, 

 then entertain communication with others and write the result of 

 your labours. Above all, be on the side of dumb animals, destroy 

 nothing which is not vermin, show the good birds do and the 

 protection they need, prove how fatal it is to tamper with Nature and 

 upset the balance, and do not, in the words of Cowper, enter on 

 your list of friends, though polished with fine manners and good 

 grace, those who heedlessly set foot upon a Worm. 



