226 
NATURE NOTES 
Thus the nights and days, the months and years, and the 
generations pass away. Apparently indifferent, the great 
majority of the people spend their lives without sufficiently 
noticing and appreciating the manifold wonders of Nature in- 
vitingly presented around them. Yet eitlier the spring day or 
the autumn night can immensely gratify the observant eye and 
encourage many pure and elevating reflections. Why, then, is 
it given only to the few to realise the sweet and thrilling emotions 
which contemplation can ever freely impart to the true naturalist 
who looks from Nature up to Nature’s God ? 
No doubt many persons must feel at one time or another 
a considerable amount of love for and interest in the vividly 
attractive scenes which both the heavens and the earth are 
capable of displaying. Man naturally possesses an inquiring 
mind and longs for information concerning the great theatre of 
activity manifested around him. Sky and landscape are replete 
with diversified objects, and transforming pictures are unveiled 
to his view in a mafiner which specially lures attention. His 
observational tendencies and high intelligence prompt him to the 
contemplation and meditation of things great and small, far and 
near. The intellectual faculties with which he is plentifully 
endowed seem well calculated to drift his thoughts towards 
astronomy and its many sublime associations, and to obviously 
suggest his tracing, through the great and ever-circling orbs of 
heaven, the majesty and might of their Creator. 
Under the pellucid skies and on the arid plains of Babylonia 
the ancient shepherds tended their flocks. They could not fail 
to regard with appreciative eyes the rich expanse nightly ex- 
hibited with graphic effect above their heads. Thus the 
Chaldeans were incited to become astronomers from the nature 
of their occupations. At the close of day “ the moon walked 
in brightness,” and the radiant “evening star” shone in the 
mellowed west. When darkness deepened the sparkling rays 
of the sidereal multitude pierced through the azure and glittered 
one against the other with surprising lustre. Under such a 
canopy and amid such favourable surroundings there was nought 
for the Egyptian shepherds to do but gaze upwards in admira- 
tion, to watch “ the eternal stars ” on their regular courses and 
the glowing planets in their wanderings. 
That we are not all observers to-day is, perhaps, but the 
simple outcome of circumstances. We crowd together in towns 
and live amid much that is artificial, so that our sentiment is 
well nigh obliterated. In the great modern Babylon natural 
scenery has been practically extinguished. We look upon a 
vast medley of buildings grimly outlined in a smoky atmosphere 
and, range as far as the eye may, we shall seek the green of the 
fields in vain. At night, on glancing above, the flickering rays 
of a single star are scarcely discernible through the brilliantly 
lit and murky vapours floating over the city. 
No doubt the dominating object influencing individuals of 
