NATURAL SCIENCES. 



by six or eight Paris publishers. . Botany seemed to hold the first place in 

 natural history, and the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 

 1492 gave a fresh impetus to the study of the flora of that great continent. 



The precious metals were at first the only articles of importation, but 

 it was soon found that the materia medica might be greatly increased by 

 the vegetable growth of the New "World, and the disinterested love of science 

 induced several learned men to cross the ocean. Italian, German, Spanish, 

 and Portuguese naturalists applied themselves with zeal to examining and 



Fig. 90. River Fishing. Fac-eimile of a Wood Engraving in a Latin Edition of Pliny 



(Frankfort, 1584, in folio). 



testing the numerous productions of this newly discovered land. Other 

 naturalists, passing by the marvels of the American continent, devoted their 

 attention to Asia, which they explored to more purpose than their pre- 

 decessors had done. In presence of a nature absolutely new and unknown, 

 the first naturalists who visited America were obliged to abandon the teach- 

 ing of the past, and rely upon the results of their own direct and personal 

 observations. This brought about a complete revolution in science. Travels 

 really useful for purposes of natural history became general. Jean Le'on, 

 surnamed the African, visited Egypt, Arabia, Armenia, and Persia, noting 

 with great care the various characteristics presented by the three kingdoms. 



