THE NATURALIST 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE POPULARITY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
With Illustrations and Suggestions. 
By Edwin Lees, F.L.S. 
I feel disposed on the present occasion to assume the garb of “ Dr. Dryasdust,” 
and to enter upon a dissertation wherein my opinions may, perhaps, meet with 
disapproval by some equally competent to form a judgment as myself, rather than 
to journey on at this moment, amidst scenes tenanted by birds, insects, and 
flowers, where there could be no jarring string. Good, however, is frequently 
effected by the disclosures an argument calls forth, just as a fossil unexpectedly 
appears in a rock one might be breaking-up without such an object in view. If, 
therefore, J should tempt any abler pen to take up this subject, I shall rejoice, 
even if my own ideas should appear to be unsustained. 
Among the various oracular dicta that in this teeming age of useful and enter¬ 
taining knowledge have resounded in the public ear, till they have been supposed 
unassailable truisms, the “popularity” of Natural History has surely appeared 
not the least prominent. It seems, indeed, almost treasonable to doubt it; but 
by what test are we to try the truth of this assumed popularity ? If I am 
referred to the various societies formed professedly to promote the study of 
Natural History, I answer these are assemblages of its votaries , formed for the 
facility of communication with each other, and, the public being excluded, these 
(were they even more numerous than they are) would be by no means decisive 
of the universality of the taste for the pursuit in question. If I am referred to 
the numerous works published on the subject within the last few years, it must 
be distinctly shown, that all these have remunerated their authors and publishers 
before I shall feel satisfied that a case has been made out perfectly satisfactory as 
to the general approval of works of this description by a “ discerning public.” 
This point may, perhaps, be discussed hereafter. 
But surely I think I hear it exclaimed, the objects embraced by Natural 
History must be 66 popular ”—they are open to every one, the prince and the 
peasant, and present their charms alike to all. Assuredly ! and I admit at once 
that the.objects taken up by Natural History are popular; the most insensible, 
ploughman puts his hand to his hat for a moment to mark the Lark rising to 
heavens gate on the first vernal day—the most rigid votary of ’Change in the 
pent-up city, snuffs up with delight the scent of the first delicious odour of the 
VOL. hi.—-no. xviii. b 
