348 Audubon^ s Ornithology, First Volume. 



The book of nature expounds the works of Omnipotence ; and 

 what grander, what more dignified, or what more ennobhng 

 study can occupy the human mind ? If, as has been well said 

 by one of the best of Enghsh poets, 



" The undevout astronomer is mad," 



what are we to think of him who contemplates — not objects, all 

 inquiry into whose nature, is utterly futile — but, those whose pro- 

 perties he can distinguish, whose structure he can examine, and 

 whose economy he can explore, without feelings of awe and 

 wonder at the power that contrived them? 



The good effects of the study of natural history in a simply 

 moral point of view, are even more apparent, if it be possible, 

 and more inevitable than in that of religion. That proverb is a 

 trite one, but on that account only the more true, which tells us 

 that idleness is the root of all evil. And how fearfully true is it 

 that nine tenths of the immorality that pervades society, origi- 

 nates in the first place from a want of some occupation at least 

 harmless, to fill up vacant time. If, therefore, the study of the 

 natural sciences are as attractive as they have been shown to be 

 beneficial — sufficiently so to occupy the idle hours of him who 

 has nothing else to do, even if it conduces to nothing beyond a 

 prevention of the effects of idleness, must necessarily exert a 

 beneficial moral influence, apart from the religious feelings in- 

 spired. That it is thus attractive, who can doubt, that looks upon 

 it as it is — a recreation rather than a study ; a means of acquir- 

 ing as well as of preserving health, and a never failing source of 

 pleasure? Let him, if he still doubts, read the poetic and ani- 

 mated pages of the Wilsons and the Audubons, and other kindred 

 spirits, and he cannot fail of being himself inspired with a love 

 for their pursuits. It has been well remarked by Svvainson, that 

 " the tediousness of a country life is proverbial ; but did we ever 

 hear this complaint from a naturalist ? Never ; every man who 

 in his walks derives interest from the works of creation, is in 

 spirit both a naturalist and a philosopher. To him every season 

 of the year is doubly interesting. With each succeeding month 

 new races of animals and plants rise into existence, and become 

 new objects for his research ; these in their turn pass away, and 

 are succeeded by others, until autumn fades into winter, and both 

 the animal and the vegetable world sink into repose." 



