212 NATURE AND MAN 



difficult to flounder. The line I have traced 

 in this paper may indicate a path affording 

 firmer footing. The highway to truth is 

 assuredly in the study of natural history ; na- 

 ture's open book contains all we would know, 

 could we but clearly decipher the language in 

 which it is written. 



Though it is true there are many more 

 nature students to-day than existed, say, 

 fifty years ago, and more accurate knowledge 

 obtainable, still, the majority does not seem to 

 realize the grave importance of this study. 

 The world, in fact, is too busy to give heed to 

 life functioning on a lower plane, notwith- 

 standing that the knowledge intimately con- 

 cerns humanity at large. Nevertheless, it will 

 be noted that in arts and invention, science, 

 in doubt or difficulty, invariably has to fall 

 back upon nature. 



Example : In course of development, fl5^ng 

 machines are assuming more and more the 

 bird-like form and poise, even to the upturned 

 tip of the wing (Taube), which in some species 

 of birds is more or less flexible. Eventually, I 

 believe, the monoplane will supersede aU other 

 designs of aircraft, because truer to nature, 

 who already has the perfect model. And yet, 

 withal, we speak of "improving on nature." 

 But this is impossible ; the most we can do is 



