36 GLAucus ; on, 



I have said, that there were excuses for the 

 old contempt of the study of Natural Ilistoiy. 

 I have said too, it may be hoped, enough to 

 show that contempt to be now ill-founded. But 

 still, there are those who regard it as a mere 

 amusement, and that as a somewhat effeminate 

 one ; and think that it can at best help to while 

 away a leisure hour harmlessly, and perhaps 

 usefully, as a substitute for coarser sports, or 

 for the reading of novels. Those, however, who 

 have followed it out, especially on the sea-shore, 

 know better. They can tell from experience, 

 that over and above its accessory charms of 

 pure sea-breezes, and wild rambles by cliff and 

 loch, the study itself has had a weighty moral 

 effect upon their hearts and spirits. There are 

 those who can well understand how the good 

 and wise John Ellis, amid all his philanthropic 

 labors for the good of the "West Indies, while 

 he was spending his intellect and fortune in 

 introducing into our tropic settlements the bread- 

 fruit, the mangosteen, and every plant and seed 

 which he hoped might be useful for medicine, 

 agriculture, and commerce, could yet feel him- 

 self justified in devoting large portions of his 

 ever well-spent time to the fighting the bat- 



