310 PRACTICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ZOOLOGY. 
although they may have no idea of studying natural his- 
tory as a science. In like manner we may bring to light 
innumerable interesting traits, regarding some of the 
most familiarly known animals, which are not to be 
found recorded by any writer. In proof of this, let 
any experienced observer read the best accounts we have 
of some of the commonest animals, and then ask him- 
self if he could not add much more from his own ob- 
servation? What do we know, for instance, of the 
different modes by which the various species of the 
British warblers capture their insect prey? or what 
is the vegetable food they are respectively fond of ? 
We should recommend every lover of nature, or of a 
country life, to possess White’s ‘‘ Natural History of 
Selborne” (a book which we were the first to bring 
under the notice of the present generation), and he will 
there find incitements held out to a constant watchful- 
ness of the animals living in his own neighbourhood ; 
he will see what interest may be given to his walks, and 
he will learn with astonishment that some of the most 
important truths of ornithological science are mainly 
supported by the simple, and apparently trivial facts 
detailed in this interesting book. The “ Journal of 2 
Naturalist,” more recently published, is by no means 
inferior ; and both are fit companions to the charming 
volume of Izaak Walton. 
(376.) A fixed plan, or a concentration of study, is 
greatly to be recommended. When first a person is 
seized with a passion for natural history, he begins 
collecting every thing; plants, mosses, insects, shells, 
fossils, pebbles — nothing comes amiss—all are hoarded, 
and equally prized. By degrees, however, if he has 
good sense, he begins to find he cannot go on in this way. 
He wants more room, and he requires more boxes or 
cabinets than the house can hold. If his new pursuit 
is intended merely as an amusement to fill up small 
intervals of leisure, or to give some interest to a country 
life, he may possibly resolve to circumscribe his collec- 
tions, and content himself with possessing the natural 
