YOUNG NATURALISTS IN THE MAKING 239 



instances truly remarkable, as the sketches had to be drawn, and 

 notes made, from memory, the pictures, of course, being shown 

 in the dark, moving quickly across the screen. 



In April 1909 I founded, in response to entreaties from various 

 parts of the world, the Young Naturalists' League, which now 

 has a membership of nearly ten thousand boys and girls. The 

 idea of founding the league occurred to me by reason of the 

 large number of letters I was continually receiving from unknown 

 correspondents who had read my books. They often asked 

 questions, and suggested that means should be at their disposal 

 for the interchange of ideas, exchange of specimens and notes, and 

 pleading for a co-operative association which should link them 

 together. The members selected their own league motto : - 

 " One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin," 



and the interest created has exceeded my most sanguine 

 expectations. 



The young people for whom it was primarily originated have 

 become thoroughly enthused, and Nature study lessons, both 

 in and out of school, have, I am told, been attended to with 

 greater intelligence. Increased interest and observation have 

 been aroused. This augurs well for the teacher, because the child 

 is, as a result, keener in perception, its powers of intelligence 

 and other traits are awakened, stimulated, and fostered, and the 

 result must, of necessity, be eminently satisfactory from many 

 points of view. 



Several tributes have been sent in from schoolmasters and 

 others as to the interest evinced by scholars since the league 

 was started, and one enthusiastic head teacher writes : 



" The league has been the means of interesting our boys in 

 the study of Nature to an extent almost incredible, and the 

 good it is doing, and, I hope, will continue to do, is inestimable." 



A few simple rules were adopted which each member pledges 

 himself, or herself, to loyally keep, thus : 



I. To take an intelligent and observant interest in Natural History. 

 II. To protect and preserve animals and plants, and not to pluck or 

 uproot the last-named indiscriminately. 



III. To be kind and considerate towards both wild and domestic animals, 



and to cause no creature needless pain. 



IV. To attend studiously to lessons at school, and especially to help the 



teacher when Nature Study is being taught. 



V. To keep a Nature notebook, or diary, in which to record, when possible, 

 such notes as are of interest. 



