ON HABITS OF OBSERVING. 11 



by the perusal of his work. He has taught us how 

 much there is of interest to an intelligent and in- 

 quiring mind in the history of the meanest and most 

 familiar of animals. Naturalists are not now, so 

 much as formerly, content with the discovery of new 

 species, nor desirous merely of enriching our mu- 

 seums with rare and costly specimens ; but they seek 

 to know the economy and mode of life of the differ- 

 ent animals they meet with. Many of these they 

 have traced with the greatest assiduity and patience 

 through their several changes dependent upon age, 

 as well as watched the modifications induced by 

 varying circumstances on their particular habits. 

 They have learnt to attach a value to little points in 

 their history, which formerly would have been passed 

 over as unimportant, or perhaps not observed at all. 

 And it is greatly to be desired that all professed 

 collectors would follow such a course, and note 

 down whatever facts they can get hold of in illustra- 

 tion of the specimens they acquire. This practice 

 would much enhance the value of their collections, 

 so far as these are calculated to aid in extending our 

 knowledge of the laws which respect the arrange- 

 ment and distribution of animals. The systematist 

 would thereby be enabled to judge better of the 

 affinities of any new species, and to determine the 

 place they occupy in Nature's plan, so intricate in its 

 details, with more certainty and exactness. The 

 collector, moreover, has it in his power to supply 

 much information of the above kind, which, if not 

 recorded at the moment, may be in vain sought for 

 afterwards. 



