207 
view of encouraging any wlio might be inclined to take up 
these studies as the occupation of leisure, even though that 
leisure might be little, he would say that he thought he was 
not wrong in supposing that it might be the good fortune of 
any student of natural science, however humble might be his 
position in the scientific world, or however limited might be 
the time which he might devote to the study— it might be 
his good fortune, if he were a careful and accurate observer, 
to bring to light some fact which in the hands of the masters 
of science might throw great and valuable light upon the 
regions of scientific knowledge which up to that time 
might have been obscure. If he might be pardoned, he 
would mention a circumstance which came to his recollec- 
tion that day connected with his own boyish life, just to show 
how any youth who engaged in the study of natural history 
might find out some fact or discover some creature hitherto 
unknown. Having been as a boy very much devoted to the 
delightful study of entomology, it was his good fortune, when 
quite young, to possess himself of an insect belonging to 
the genus of the saw flies, which on showing with youthful 
pride to a scientific friend, the late Mr. John Curtis, he 
announced to be a species hitherto unknown. TVhat hap- 
pened to him as a boy might happen to any other boy 
in E/ipon or anywhere else, and he only mentioned the 
fact — it was his sole scientific discovery — his sole claim 
to scientific distinction of any kind, so naturally he was 
proud of it — but he mentioned it only to show that which 
was possible for even the most humble investigations of 
nature ; and those who had but little time to give to it 
might, if only they pursued the study with accuracy 
and with care, be the means through the instrumentality 
of those who were more learned than themselves, of arriving 
at new facts which might turn out ultimately to be of 
great value to science. But the basis of all scientific inves- 
