14 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



ties they have in common." He found the study 

 of plants in its very infancy and loaded with 

 child-like and wonderful stories, and he rejected 

 the nonsense and studied what was to be observed 

 by any one in nature. In fact, he took the first 

 step which a well-educated boy of the present 

 century does in trying to learn nature unaided. 

 He observed as correctly as possible, took notes of 

 his observations, compared the observations made 

 on one plant with those recorded about another, 

 and tried to explain or discover the things which 

 were common to both. It must not be imagined 

 that the botanical work of Aristoteles exists as part 

 of the systems of botany of the present day ; but 

 he clearly gave the method of how to study, by 

 insisting on the superior value of observed facts, 

 over notions and preconceived ideas about things. 

 The childhood of the science passed with him. 



The name of Theophrastus has been noticed as 

 that of the pupil of Aristoteles, and it is one which 

 will always be mentioned with respect by students 

 of natural history. He was born at Eresus, on the 

 island of Lesbos ; but the date of his birth is un- 

 certain ; moreover, nothing is known of his early 

 youth, except that his name was Tyrtamus. His 

 early education must have been good, and he was 

 sent to study at Athens by his father, and to be a 

 pupil of Plato. Becoming a friend of Aristoteles, 

 this great man, charmed with the abilities, and 

 especially with the beautiful pronunciation and 

 oratory of the youth, gave him the name of Theo- 



