INTRODUCTION. 19 



when we place side by side the apparently contradictory state- 

 ments of credible observers at the present time (take, for instance, 

 those of Audubon and Waterton on the powers of scent pos- 

 sessed by the Vulture), we are compelled to suspend our judg- 

 ment, until we have examined into the possible fallacies of each, 

 and sought for more unexceptionable testimony from other 

 sources. Now it is the very necessity of this process, which is 

 seldom needed in other sciences, that renders the study of Natural 

 History peculiarly advantageous as a means of intellectual 

 culture and discipline. " If a man," says Bacon, " begin with 

 certainties, he shall end in doubts ; but if he be content to begin 

 with doubts, he shall end in certainties." 



But Natural History employs higher faculties of the mind, 

 than those simply connected with the observation of facts. There 

 is no Science which, with so extensive a basis of observed phe- 

 nomena, has its materials so little connected by general laws. 

 The slow progress of this is partly due to the prevalent miscon- 

 ception of their nature, and of the mode in which they are to 

 be attained. It has been already pointed out, that Classi- 

 fication, which is so often considered as the highest object of 

 Natural History, is but a means towards the pursuit of more 

 elevated inquiries, a means which is employed in all Sciences, 

 but which takes a more prominent station in Natural History, 

 in consequence of the difficulties attending it, and the diversity 

 of the objects which come within its scope. But even though 

 not the highest object of Natural History, it exercises mental 

 faculties of a superior order. The mere collection of specimens, 

 and the arrangement of them under their respective divisions, is 

 a useful exercise to the growing mind ; teaching, as it does, the 

 habits of patient discrimination and careful comparison. But 

 this may be carried too far. It is not uncommon to meet with 

 persons, in whom the amor habendi (love of possessing), engrosses 

 every other feeling, to which the pursuit of science ought to give 

 rise. These are, indeed, mere collectors ; estimating their 



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