*6 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



candidly confess this, and presume not to entertain 

 the preposterous idea that theirs is the only depart- 

 ment of natural history which deserves cultivation. 

 They are satisfied with having gathered a stock of 

 entertaining and instructive materials, to be subse- 

 quently worked up into general results and large 

 generalizations by another set of naturalists, who 

 take a different department in the extension of know- 

 ledge. It unfortunately happens, however, that men 

 of all ranks are too apt to undervalue, or treat with 

 affected contempt, those acquirements of which they 

 are ignorant.* And as the business of the field 

 naturalist requires little or no exercise of the higher 

 powers of the mind," (Causality and Comparison) 

 " but may be pursued by any one possessing a tact 

 for observation" (resulting from individuality being 

 fully developed,) " so we find that the generality of 

 these observers are too jjrone to fancy that their 

 pursuits alone lead to the only information on Natural 

 history that is really worth acquiring. They will 

 tell you to throw aside books and systems, and 

 assure you that a ' few walks in the fields' are suf- 

 ficient to make ' a very good naturalist. 1 This royal 

 road to science is no doubt very enticing to the 

 young student, particularly if it is promulgated from 



• The naturalist, says Johnson, has no desire to know the opinions 

 or conjectures of the philologer ; the botanist looks upon the astronomer 

 as a being unworthy of his regard ; the lawyer scarcely hears the 

 name of a physician without contempt ; and he that is growing great 

 and happy by electrifying a bottle, wonders how the world can be 

 engaged by trifling prattle about peace and war. — Wood. 



