INTRODUCTION 25 



plenty of beautiful contrivances which no one has 

 ever taken the trouble to observe. But to make 

 out the way in which the exquisite machinery of 

 nature is meant to work is no childish pursuit. The 

 very attempt will lead the naturalist to acquaint 

 himself with scientific laws which seem altogether 

 foreign to Natural History ; it will exercise his in- 

 dustry and sagacity ; it will extend his knowledge of 

 the possibilities of life. 



This is a study, I mean the study of living animals, 

 which is not very seriously prosecuted in our time. 

 The naturalists of old, Swammerdam and Reaumur, 

 and De Geer, made this their great interest. The 

 needful work of classification has since drawn off 

 many students, and exciting questions concerning 

 the descent of animals have drawn off others. But 

 Natural History, which I use here to denote especially 

 the study of living animals and plants, will surely 

 revive, and charm mankind once more. 



The zealous naturalist, setting out upon a voyage 

 of discovery, will generally be too ambitious at first. 

 He will try to cover too much ground, and to do 

 too much with his own hands. Let us consider what 

 he may fairly hope to do. The first aim of the 

 beginner is usually to collect and name. He likes to 

 see a growing store of properly classified Insects. 

 He likes to give the right name to any one that is 

 shown him. But this feeling must be checked if he 

 is to do much work upon habits or structure. The 

 man who can name many Insects can seldom do 

 anything but name them (there are some conspicuous 

 exceptions !). Useful it is to all of us to have such 



