INTRODUCTION. 



at hand, if it is only to while away the time. And 

 there is no spot so barren of life as not to afford 

 insects and other minute, creatures, whose ways and 

 actions will amply reward the curiosity of such as 

 deign to bestow their attention upon them. Many a 

 naturalist, when standing under a tree to shelter 

 himself from a passing shower, has been led to the 

 observation of facts, connected with the smaller 

 animals, or the more concealed processes of vegeta- 

 tion, or perhaps to the discovery of some new species 

 of lichen or fungus, which, but for this accident, he 

 might never have noticed. And to return to the 

 case of the observer in the wood, he will gain an ad- 

 vantage over the larger animals by being himself 

 stationary. It often makes a considerable difference 

 whether you approach them, or they you. They are 

 much more easily frightened in the former case than 

 in the latter ; and less easily induced to resume their 

 freedom of manner, after the interruption caused by 

 having their retreat suddenly broken in upon. Add 

 to which, there is always the chance, when moving 

 about, that we disturb some bird or quadruped, 

 which, till the moment of surprising it, we did not 

 observe, and which not only takes the alarm itself, 

 and instantly hurries away to be seen no more, but 

 at the same time gives the alarm to others, and 

 causes a general desertion of the locality we are 

 traversing. 



(26.) Perhaps it will be thought that to act upon 

 the plan just suggested, requires much patience on 

 the part of the observer : but we fear without patience 

 a man will never be a proficient in Natural History, 



