40 INTRODUCTION, 



phenomenon, or vary them. as he may choose, and so 

 repeat his observations as often as he will ; the 

 naturalist has to collect facts, which are generally 

 beyond his control, and for the occurrence of which, 

 he must wait patiently till Nature herself bring them 

 under his notice. It is hardly necessary to add, how 

 important it is that we be accurate as well as cir- 

 cumstantial, in our detail of the particulars accom- 

 panying any fact ; and that our record of them be 

 registered at the moment, without trusting to 

 memory, that fruitful source of error and exagge- 

 ration. 



(25.) It may be useful to young observers, to say 

 a few words in reference to the best manner of 

 searching for facts in Natural History. When a 

 traveller reaches a new country, or one which has 

 been seldom visited by naturalists, almost everything 

 he meets with will be new also, and at every step 

 he is called upon to register some fact or other. 

 There are here scarcely any directions necessary 

 beyond what have already been given. He must 

 Jiave his eyes and ears open, and with pencil in hand 

 faithfully record whatever falls under his observa- 

 tion. Often too in unexplored regions, there is no 

 difficulty in watching the habits of animals, from 

 their being unaccustomed to man, and under no fear 

 at his approach. Where this is the case he possesses 

 great advantages, and has an opportunity of seeing 

 more of their ways, as well as seeing more surely. 

 But this seldom happens anywhere ; and in thickly 

 inhabited countries the observer must exercise great 

 caution and address, or even have recourse to strata- 



