i 4 4 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



superficial knowledge for passing examinations, is 

 good for the future man or woman. Mentally, 

 both boys and girls are kept at high pressure with 

 scant physical exercise, generally in the form of 

 games with evanescent interest. The knowledge 

 which is lasting is that which is slowly absorbed, 

 and taken in with personal interest in the subject 

 for its own sake. If we take any branch of natural 

 history where there is a tendency in the student 

 for a taste in that direction, the object will take 

 the young person into fresh air, among rural 

 surroundings, with ample bodil}- exercise. The 

 entomologist, botanist, microscopist or geologist, 

 sees interest in every surrounding. Dulness dis- 

 appears from life, there is never any need to find 

 a subject for thought, especially if the subject is 

 pursued intelligently and scientifically, rather than 

 by a mere collector. It may be that the interest 

 at first is diffuse and wanting in direction, but as 

 the student begins to realize the impossibility of 

 knowing everything about every subject, he will 

 settle down with soma one or two branches of 

 study, and maybe become a specialist of wide 

 renown. The great men of science, almost w ithout 

 exception, commenced with small beginnings, but 

 by systematic work, and the systematising of the 

 work of others, soon rose to positions of authority. 

 There will always be vacancies in the ranks 

 of the leaders, and for those who will work 

 steadily and intelligently the rewards are within 

 easy reach. 



The range of subjects in the allied natural 

 sciences are inexhaustible. So long as man remains 

 on this earth will there be something to learn about 

 nature. Allowing the impossible, that mankind 

 collectively can know everything, there will always 

 bs more to learn ; for the earth and its animal and 

 vegetable inhabitants are continually changing 

 their physical conditions. If we review what is 

 not known at the present time many persons would 

 be astounded at the length of the list. Even the 

 commonest things around us are still enigmas : 

 What is life ? What is light ? What is heat ? What 

 is cold ? What is electricity ? And so on, we might 

 fill one of these pages with similar unanswered 

 questions. The scope for those who take up science 

 as a hobby is practically limitless. 



The" Spectator," as we have said, places music and 

 sketching prior to natural history. In discussing 

 the relative values of these subjects for hobbies we 

 must not overlook the natural aptitude of the 

 individual. We know some people, though very 

 good amateur naturalists, who would be sorely taxed 

 if called upon to warble even the tune from hearing 

 which an old cow is said to have died, and would 

 find equal difficulty in depicting in a drawing the 

 cow herself. This applies on the other side, as 

 regards natural history among many successful 

 musicians and artists. What we claim is, that in 



guiding young people in want of a hobby — which 

 all are the better for possessing — the study of the 

 life and physical conditions around us forms the 

 best, the healthiest, most easily attained, and most 

 satisfactory as a rule, in later years. It is devoid 

 of the drudgery of music and sketching, and there 

 is less chance of drifting into a mediocre performer. 

 The advance in knowledge in natural history is 

 more rapid, while the collections accumulated 

 during its study are a never-failing source of 

 interest and pleasure. Take for instance the case 

 of the lately deceased owner of a collection of 

 moths and butterflies, which was recently sold by 

 auction, realizing no less than some £s°°- This 

 was the result of the leisure-time hobby of a man 

 who had to daily earn his living, with no holidays 

 more than fell to the lot of the ordinary London 

 workman. His collection was but the sordid side 

 of his hobby. The amount of genuine healthy 

 recreation, instruction, and honour gained among 

 his fellow-workers in natural history was the true 

 reward. 



To return to Mr. Watts' generous gift of a 

 thousand pounds. We have not the pleasure of 

 knowing anything about the society to which he 

 has given it, but the title strongly commends itself 

 to us. If their rules and funds will permit, we 

 would recommend its Executive to consider the 

 claims of many working naturalists in our towns 

 and country places. Mr. Smiles discovered Tom 

 Edward, of Banff, and wrote a very charming 

 book about him. He delineated only a well- 

 known type, one which exists all over the United 

 Kingdom. In London and other great cities it 

 abounds. It represents one of the most respectable 

 sections of society, generally self-educated, modest, 

 earnest and intelligent. Such men can be helped 

 by the Association very materially. Loans to 

 obtain scientific instruments, an entomological 

 cabinet, books, and in many other ways. These 

 loans might be repaid in instalments, and it would 

 be found a rare exception for the Association to 

 lose by its generosity. Again, such men might be 

 assisted with small grants toward an annual 

 holiday, which would be spent in investigating their 

 special subject in a state of nature, or collecting 

 objects for winter's study. Some would greatly 

 value a week or two at one of the increasing 

 number of biological laboratories, where they would 

 learn to investigate in a scientific and methodical 

 manner. Unfortunately the tendency among the 

 wealthy is to aid the shiftless and neglect those 

 who practice self-denial and self-help. If our 

 suggestions were adopted, we feel sure that many 

 who are interested in science from the point of view 

 of its study elevating the student, would gladly aid 

 such a society, but who either do not know of its 

 existence, or have not had any interest aroused in 

 its work. 



