30 INTRODUCTION. 



of which the atoms in question had fallen. But the 

 manner in which, for the moment, he threw his 

 whole mind into what would have been to others so 

 insignificant and almost invisible an object, was 

 strikingly characteristic of such an observer: the 

 remarks, also, to which it led on his part, showed 

 how the greatest intellects will consider nothing 

 unworthy of their notice, from which the smallest 

 addition of knowledge, loved for its own sake, can 

 possibly be derived.* 



(19.) But the naturalist, whose senses have been 

 sharpened in this manner by habits of observing, 

 will thereby have the advantage over others in mat- 

 ters not immediately connected with his own pur- 

 suits. He becomes a more quick and ready observer 

 on all occasions. An eye that has been well dis- 

 ciplined, and accustomed to exercise, and which is 

 always on the look out for information, is prepared 

 to make the most of every opportunity of getting it. 

 Two persons shall enter an exhibition together, and 

 in the same time one shall have seen far more of it 

 than the other, shall, perhaps, have traversed the 

 whole in a general way while the other was only 

 gazing vacantly about him, besides, here and there, 

 noticing details which escaped the other's observation 

 altogether, though occurring in that particular 

 quarter to which he professed to have directed most 

 attention. This is solely the effect of a habit of ob- 

 serving; a habit of knowing how to use the eyes 



* The nature of the remarks above alluded to, in reference to 

 the excrement of caterpillars, will be found further treated of 

 in the body of this work. 



