ON THE ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



67 



mountains of the Andes, and, when domesticated, are used in that 

 country as beasts of burden, chiefly in carrying- ore from the mines of 

 Peru, and they carry about lOOlbs., and if one pound be added more 

 than they can carry with freedom, like the camel, nothing will impel 

 them forward. If there was any chance of rearing- them they would 

 doubtless beome a benefit to the country, but I fear the hope of their 

 breeding- is very uncertain. Those who have any curiosity to see 

 their wool, can inspect it by calling on Mr. Paterson, 138, Trongate, 

 Glasgow ; this gentleman received a quantity from Mr. Stevenson to 

 get dressed. 



ON THE ADVANTAGES OF THE STUDY OF 

 NATURAL HISTORY. 



In following up my last paper, I shall adopt the plan proposed 

 in the commencement, and consider, first, the direct, secondly, the 

 indirect, benefits which we may derive from the attainment of what I 

 then showed to be the objects proposed by the study of Natural Science. 

 First, then, we shall proceed to the consideration of the direct benefits : 

 these, or at least some of the principal of these, (for here the difficulty 

 consists, not in searching for what we may call benefits, but in making 

 a selection from the vast number which immediately present themselves 

 to us ;) are as follows : — First, were there no other inducement than the 

 mere observation of nature, in all her wildest forms and most beautiful 

 appearances ; to see, as is so graphically brought before us by the pen of 

 Washington Irving, "the solemn pomp of groves and woodland glades, 

 with the deer trooping in silent herds across them, the hare bounding 

 away to the covert, or the pheasant suddenly bursting upon the wing ; 

 the brook winding in its beautiful meandering^ or expanding into a 

 glassy lake, the sequestered pool, reflecting the quivering trees, with 

 the yellow leaves sleeping on its bosom," this alone, without any farther 

 benefits, would be sufficient to induce many to become enthusiastic votaries 

 of the delightful study of Natural History. What naturalist, worthy 

 of the name, is there, who cannot exclaim with the Mantuan bard, 



" Rura mihi, et regni placeant in vallibus amnes, 

 Flumina amem, sylvasque inglorias " 



especially when we know that whilst we are thus luxuriating in Na- 

 ture's loveliest haunts, we are occupied in discovering those " causas" 

 of which the poet so much desired the knowledge? But this can 



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