FACTS AIJOUT W1:M, KNOWN ANIMALS. Ill 



Again, the ordinary man of aflairs is vory apt to look 

 upon tlic study of natural science as trivial because of no 

 possibk' use to liini in his business. The cry of ciii bono is 

 constantly raised against it, but ou equal grounds it might 

 be raised against history, polite literature, and many other 

 studies. To those — if such there be among my autlitors — 

 who take so narrow a view of the subject, I would say that 

 to the larger portion of our population, wdiich represent the 

 agricultural industry on which all our prosperity as a 

 nation depends, a knowledge of natural science is of the ut- 

 most practical value, while to all it will afford both health 

 and pleasure as a recreation from the cark and grind of 

 business life. In tins country, more particularly, the mind 

 of busy man finds no relief in idleness, and on all sides we 

 see men who, indifferent alike to the noblest works of art 

 and the sul:»limest teaching of nature, accumulate fortune 

 only to find that they are physical wrecks and mentally in- 

 capable of deriving pleasure or stimulus from anything 

 but still further accumulating — slaves, in fact, to a sordid 

 habit. How many women, also, drift into a Sybaritic life 

 and come to find relief from ennui only in one constant 

 round of artificial pleasure which ends too often in mental 

 and physical misery. There is no better prophylactic 

 airainst such dangers; no surer cure for that tedium litos 

 which haunts so many, than the study of natural science. 

 There is an inexpressible charm in animated nature for 

 those who have learned to unlock her secrets. They, in- 

 deed, " find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 

 sermons in stones, and good in everything." They see every- 

 where around and about them — in earth, air, sky, and 

 water — volumes ins[)ircd by the great author of our being; 

 significancies, harmonies, causes and elfects that give glimp.ses 

 of the very thought of the Creator. 1 1 1 Williamson's words : 

 "Those who have the power of understanding the wonders 

 of nature derive great hapitiness from learning to employ it. 

 It is like the pleasure which a nianof healthy and vigorous 

 frame experiences in cUmbing a mountain peak, and in en- 



