64 BOYS' MUSEUMS 



without any inherited predisposition or any external circum- 

 stance, as far as is known, leading to it. Indeed, it is often 

 most strongly developed when the circumstances seem most 

 adverse, and where no encouragement whatever has been given 

 to pursue it. I am especially in a position to become 

 acquainted with all the symptoms of what I may call this 

 affection, as from my official position fathers and mothers of boys 

 attacked by it continually consult me as to how the inclina- 

 tion or passion for natural history should be treated in view 

 of the future career of the boy whether it should be peremp- 

 torily suppressed, or whether and in what direction it should 

 be developed, and above all, what are the prospects of its 

 leading to obtaining a livelihood. Having a strong sympathy 

 with boys of such tastes, I have generally availed myself of the 

 opportunity of a little talk with them, and have given them 

 such advice as seemed best in the particular case. As to 

 natural history as the regular occupation of one who has no 

 other means of living, I have little to say that is favourable, 

 as it is about the worst paid and least appreciated of all 

 professions. The only thing that I can say for it is that the 

 prospects are brightening, surely if slowly, both in Europe and 

 America. It is, I firmly believe, a profession of the future. 

 The only way to judge of what is coming is to look back at the 

 past, and note the changes that have been recently and are 

 still taking place, The opportunities for pursuing natural 

 history with some sort of remuneration, small as they are, are 

 undoubtedly greater now than they were twenty or thirty 

 years ago. 



With the general spread of education, lectureships, demon- 

 stratorships, and curatorships are every year becoming more 

 numerous, and there is no reason to suppose that this excellent 

 state of things will not continue. But still, before advising 

 any one to take up natural history as a profession, I must 

 be convinced of his really intense and abiding interest in the 

 subject, and of his zeal and determination to pursue it at 

 whatever sacrifice of ease or comfort, his readiness " to scorn 

 delights and live laborious days " in fact. Some boys seem to 

 be so devoted to it as to be incapable of applying themselves 

 to anything else. If this is really the case, I generally 



