SALAMANDERS. 85 



to Natural History as well as to general observation, 

 and anyone who is even partially trained to observa- 

 tion will find himself absorbingly interested in a walk 

 where another finds nothing but dull uniformity. 



Still, the mere accumulation of facts, though valu- 

 able, is not all that is required. It is knowledge, but 

 not wisdom. Taking our present example of the 

 development of the newt, it is a singularly interesting 

 task to watch the gradual development of the tadpole 

 into the newt or frog to notice the growth of the 

 limbs and the disappearance of the gills. But it is 

 infinitely more interesting when we grasp the fact, that 

 in the development of this creature, which is carried 

 on before our eyes, we have the key to the develop- 

 ment of all vertebrated animals, and to note that all 

 pass through similar changes, though not in so open a 

 manner. 



It is evident that the generalizer must possess a 

 mind of wider grasp than is needed for observation 

 alone, and it has frequently happened that the person 

 who has hit upon the most valuable generalizations is 

 one whose thoughts are mostly engaged on subjects of 

 a different nature. 



Take, for example, the two great discoveries in 

 zoology and botany namely, the homologies of the 

 skeleton and the structure of the fruit. These dis- 

 coveries were not made by professed zoologists or 

 botanists, but by Goethe, the poet. He certainly had 

 some knowledge of both these sciences, but he was 

 also deeply read in various forms of literature, and had 

 studied chemistry, jurisprudence, music, drawing, and 

 languages. In this latter branch of knowledge he was 



