Dedication。
MYDEARMISSGRENFELL，ICANNOTforegothepleasureofdedicatingthislittlebooktoyou;
exceptingofcoursetheopeningexhortation（needlessenoughinyourcase）tothosewhohavenotyetdiscoveredthevalueofNaturalHistory。Acceptitasamemorialofpleasanthoursspentbyusalready，andasanearnest，Itrust，ofpleasanthourstobespenthereafter（perhaps，too，beyondthislifeinthenoblerworldtocome），inexaminingtogethertheworksofourFatherinheaven。
Yourgratefulandfaithfulbrother—in—law，C。KINGSLEY。
BIDEFORD，APRIL24。1855。
GLAUCUS;OR，THEWONDERSOFTHESHORE。
Youaregoingdown，perhaps，byrailway，topassyourusualsixweeksatsomewatering—placealongthecoast，andasyourollalongthinkmorethanonce，andthatnotover—cheerfully，ofwhatyoushalldowhenyougetthere。Youarehalf—tired，half—ashamed，ofmakingonemoreintheignoblearmyofidlers，whosaunteraboutthecliffs，andsands，andquays;towhomeverywharfisbuta\"wharfofLethe，\"bywhichtheyrot\"dullastheoozyweed。\"Youforeknowyourdoombysadexperience。Agreatdealofdressing，aloungeintheclub—room，astareoutofthewindowwiththetelescope，anattempttotakeabadsketch，awalkuponeparadeanddownanother，interminablereadingofthesilliestofnovels，overwhichyoufallasleeponabenchinthesun，andprobablyhaveyourumbrellastolen;apurposelessfine—weathersailinayacht，accompaniedbymanyineffectualattemptstocatchamackerel，andtheconsumptionofmanycigars;whileyourboysdeafenyourears，andendangeryourpersonalsafety，byblazingawayatinnocentgullsandwillocks，whogoofftodieslowly;asportwhichyoufeeltobewanton，andcowardly，andcruel，andyetcannotfindinyourhearttostop，because\"theladshavenothingelsetodo，andatalleventsitkeepsthemoutofthebilliard—room;\"andafterall，andworstofall，atnightasoullessRECHAUFFEofthird—rateLondonfrivolity：thisisthelife—in—deathinwhichthousandsspendthegoldenweeksofsummer，andinwhichyouconfesswithasighthatyouaregoingtospendthem。
NowIwillnotbesorudeastoapplytoyoutheoldhymn—distichaboutonewho\"—findssomemischiefstillForidlehandstodo：\"
butdoesitnotseemtoyou，thattheremustsurelybemanyathingworthlookingatearnestly，andthinkingoverearnestly，inaworldlikethis，aboutthemakingoftheleastpartwhereofGodhasemployedagesandages，furtherbackthanwisdomcanguessorimaginationpicture，andupholdsthatleastparteverymomentbylawsandforcessocomplexandsowonderful，thatscience，whenittriestofathomthem，canonlylearnhowlittleitcanlearn？Anddoesitnotseemtoyouthatsixweeks’rest，freefromthecaresoftownbusinessandthewhirlwindoftownpleasure，couldnotbebetterspentthaninexaminingthosewondersalittle，insteadofwanderingupanddownlikethemany，stillwraptupeachinhislittleworldofvanityandself—interest，unconsciousofwhatandwheretheyreallyare，astheygazelazilyaroundatearthandseaandsky，andhave\"NospeculationinthoseeyesWhichtheydoglarewithal\"？
Whynot，then，trytodiscoverafewoftheWondersoftheShore？
Forwonderstherearetherearoundyouateverystep，strangerthaneveropium—eaterdreamed，andyettobeseenatnogreaterexpensethanaverylittletimeandtrouble。
Perhapsyousmile，inanswer，atthenotionofbecominga\"Naturalist：\"andyetyoucannotdenythattheremustbeafascinationinthestudyofNaturalHistory，thoughwhatitisisasyetunknowntoyou。Yourdaughters，perhaps，havebeenseizedwiththeprevailing\"Pteridomania，\"andarecollectingandbuyingferns，withWard’scaseswhereintokeepthem（forwhichyouhavetopay），andwranglingoverunpronounceablenamesofspecies（whichseemtohedifferentineachnewFern—bookthattheybuy），tillthePteridomaniaseemstoyousomewhatofabore：andyetyoucannotdenythattheyfindanenjoymentinit，andaremoreactive，morecheerful，moreself—forgetfuloverit，thantheywouldhavebeenovernovelsandgossip，crochetandBerlin—wool。Atleastyouwillconfessthattheabominationof\"Fancy—work\"—thatstandingcloakfordreamyidleness（nottomentiontheinjurywhichitdoestopoorstarvingneedlewomen）—hasallbutvanishedfromyourdrawing—roomsincethe\"Lady—ferns\"and\"Venus’shair\"appeared;
andthatyoucouldnothelpyourselflookingnowandthenatthesaid\"Venus’shair，\"andagreeingthatNature’srealbeautiesweresomewhatsuperiortotheghastlywoollencaricatureswhichtheyhadsuperseded。
Youcannotdeny，Isay，thatthereisafascinationinthissameNaturalHistory。Fordonotyou，theLondonmerchant，recollecthowbutlastsummeryourdouceandportlyhead—clerkwasseizedbytwokeepersintheactofwanderinginEppingForestatdeadofnight，withadarklantern，ajarofstrangesweetcompound，andinnumerablepocketfulsofpill—boxes;andfounditverydifficulttomakeeitherhiscaptorsoryoubelievethathewasneithergoingtoburnwheat—ricks，norpoisonpheasants，butwassimply\"sugaringthetreesformoths，\"asablamelessentomologist？Andwhen，inself—justification，hetookyoutohishouseinIslington，andshowedyoutheglazedandcorkeddrawersfullofdelicateinsects，whichhadevidentlycosthiminthecollectingthesparehoursofmanybusyyears，andmanyapound，too，outofhissmallsalary，wereyounotalittlepuzzledtomakeoutwhatspelltherecouldbeinthose\"useless\"moths，todrawoutofhiswarmbed，twentymilesdowntheEasternCountiesRailway，andintothedampforestlikeadeer—stealer，asoberwhite—headedTimLinkinwaterlikehim，yourverybestmanofbusiness，giventothereadingofScotchpoliticaleconomy，andgiftedwithpeculiarlyclearnotionsonthecurrencyquestion？
Itispuzzling，truly。Ishallbeverygladifthesepageshelpyousomewhattowardsolvingthepuzzle。
WeshallagreeatleastthatthestudyofNaturalHistoryhasbecomenow—a—daysanhonourableone。ACromartystonemasonwastilllately—Godresthisnoblesoul！—themostimportantmanintheCityofEdinburgh，bydintofaworkonfossilfishes;andthesuccessfulinvestigatoroftheminutestanimalstakesplaceunquestionedamongmenofgenius，and，likethephilosopherofoldGreece，isconsidered，byvirtueofhisscience，fitcompanyfordukesandprinces。Nay，thestudyisnowmorethanhonourable;itis（whattomanyreaderswillbeafarhigherrecommendation）evenfashionable。Everywell—educatedpersoniseagertoknowsomethingatleastofthewonderfulorganicformswhichsurroundhimineverysunbeamandeverypebble;andbooksofNaturalHistoryarefindingtheirwaymoreandmoreintodrawing—roomsandschool—rooms，andexcitinggreaterthirstforaknowledgewhich，eventwentyyearsago，wasconsideredsuperfluousforallbuttheprofessionalstudent。
Whatachangefromthetemperoftwogenerationssince，whenthenaturalistwaslookedonasaharmlessenthusiast，whowent\"bug—
hunting，\"simplybecausehehadnotspirittofollowafox！TherearethosealivewhocanrecollectanamiablemanbeingliterallybulliedoutoftheNewForest，becausehedaredtomakeacollection（atthismoment，webelieve，insomeunknownabyssofthatgreatAvernus，theBritishMuseum）offossilshellsfromthoseveryHordwellCliffs，forexploringwhichthereisnowestablishedasocietyofsubscribersandcorrespondents。Theycanremember，too，when，onthefirstappearanceofBewick’s\"BritishBirds，\"theexcellentsportsmanwhobroughtitdowntotheForestwasasked，Whyonearthhehadboughtabookabout\"cocksparrows\"？andhadtojustifyhimselfagainandagain，simplybylendingthebooktohisbrothersportsmen，toconvincethemthattherewererathermorethanadozensortsofbirds（astheythenheld）indigenoustoHampshire。Butthebook，perhaps，whichturnedthetideinfavourofNaturalHistory，amongthehigherclassesatleast，inthesouthofEngland，wasWhite’s\"HistoryofSelborne。\"AHampshiregentlemanandsportsman，whomeverybodyknew，hadtakenthetroubletowriteabookaboutthebirdsandtheweedsinhisownparish，andtheevery—daythingswhichwentonunderhiseyes，andeveryoneelse’s。Andallgentlemen，fromtheWealdofKenttotheValeofBlackmore，shruggedtheirshouldersmysteriously，andsaid，\"Poorfellow！\"tilltheyopenedthebookitself，anddiscoveredtotheirsurprisethatitreadlikeanynovel。Andthencameaburstofconfused，buthonestadmiration;fromtheyoungsquire’s\"Blessme！
whowouldhavethoughtthatthereweresomanywonderfulthingstobeseeninone’sownpark！\"totheoldsquire’smoremorallyvaluable\"Blessme！why，Ihaveseenthatandthatahundredtimes，andneverthoughttillnowhowwonderfultheywere！\"
Thereweregreatexcuses，though，ofold，forthecontemptinwhichthenaturalistwasheld;greatexcusesforthepityingtoneofbanterwithwhichtheSpectatortalksof\"theingenious\"DonSaltero（asnodoubttheNeapolitangentlemantalkedofFerranteImperatotheapothecary，andhismuseum）;greatexcusesforVoltaire，whenheclassesthecollectionofbutterfliesamongtheother\"bizarreriesdel’esprithumain。\"For，inthelastgeneration，theneedsoftheworldweredifferent。Ithadnotimeforbutterfliesandfossils。WhileBuonapartewashoveringontheBoulognecoast，thepursuitsandtheeducationwhichwereneededweresuchaswouldraiseupmentofighthim;sothecoarse，fierce，hard—handedtrainingofourgrandfatherscamewhenitwaswanted，anddidtheworkwhichwasrequiredofit，elsewehadnotbeenherenow。Letusbethankfulthatwehavehadleisureforscience;andshownowinwarthatoursciencehasatleastnotunmannedus。
Moreover，NaturalHistory，ifnotfiftyyearsago，certainlyahundredyearsago，washardlyworthyofmenofpracticalcommonsense。After，indeed，Linne，byhisinventionofgenericandspecificnames，hadmadeclassificationpossible，andbyhisownenormouslabourshadshownhowmuchcouldbedonewhenonceamethodwasestablished，thesciencehasgrownrapidlyenough。Butbeforehimlittleornothinghadbeenputintoformdefiniteenoughtoallurethosewho（asthemanyalwayswill）prefertoprofitbyothers’discoveries，thantodiscoverforthemselves;andNaturalHistorywasattractiveonlytoafewearnestseekers，whofoundtoomuchtroubleindisencumberingtheirownmindsofthedreamsofbygonegenerations（whetherfacts，likecockatrices，basilisks，andkrakens，thebreedingofbeesoutofadeadox，andofgeesefrombarnacles;ortheories，likethoseofelements，theVISPLASTRIXinNature，animalspirits，andtheothermustyheirloomsofAristotleismandNeo—platonism），totrytomakeasciencepopular，whichasyetwasnotevenascienceatall。Honourtothem，nevertheless。HonourtoRayandhisillustriouscontemporariesinHollandandFrance。HonourtoSebaandAldrovandus;toPomet，withhis\"HistorieofDrugges;\"eventotheingeniousDonSaltero，andhistavern—museuminCheyneWalk。Whereallwaschaos，everymanwasusefulwhocouldcontributeasinglespotoforganizedstandinggroundintheshapeofafactoraspecimen。ButitisaquestionwhetherNaturalHistorywouldhaveeverattaineditspresenthonours，hadnotGeologyarisen，toconnecteveryotherbranchofNaturalHistorywithproblemsasvastandawfulastheyarecaptivatingtotheimagination。Nay，theveryoppositionwithwhichGeologymetwasofasgreatbenefittothesistersciencesastoitself。For，whenquestionsbelongingtothemostsacredhereditarybeliefsofChristendomweresupposedtobeaffectedbytheverificationofafossilshell，ortheprovingthattheMaestricht\"homodiluviitestis\"was，afterall，amonstrouseft，itbecamenecessarytoworkuponConchology，Botany，andComparativeAnatomy，withacareandareverence，acautionandasevereinduction，whichhadbeenneverbeforeappliedtothem;andthusgradually，inthelasthalf—century，thewholechoirofcosmicalscienceshaveacquiredasoundness，severity，andfulness，whichrenderthem，asmereintellectualexercises，asvaluabletoamanlymindasMathematicsandMetaphysics。
Buthowverylatelyhavetheyattainedthatfirmandhonourablestandingground！Itisaquestionwhether，eventwentyyearsago，Geology，asitthenstood，wasworthtroublingone’sheadabout，solittlehadbeenreallyproved。Andheavyanduphillwasthework，evenwithinthelastfifteenyears，ofthosewhostedfastlysetthemselvestothetaskofprovingandofassertingatallrisks，thattheMakerofthecoalseamandthediluvialcavecouldnotbea\"Deusquidamdeceptor，\"andthatthefactswhichtherockandthesiltrevealedweresacred，nottobewarpedortrifledwithforthesakeofanycowardlyandhastynotionthattheycontradictedHisothermessages。Whenafewmoreyearsarepast，BucklandandSedgwick，MurchisonandLyell，Delab坈heandPhillips，ForbesandJamieson，andthegroupofbravemenwhoaccompaniedandfollowedthem，willbelookedbacktoasmoralbenefactorsoftheirrace;
andalmostasmartyrs，also，whenitisrememberedhowmuchmisunderstanding，obloquy，andplausiblefollytheyhadtoendurefromwell—meaningfanaticslikeFairholmeorGranvillePenn，andtherespectablemobattheirheelswhotried（asisthefashioninsuchcases）tomakeahollowcompromisebetweenfactandtheBible，bytwistingfactsjustenoughtomakethemfitthefanciedmeaningoftheBible，andtheBiblejustenoughtomakeitfitthefanciedmeaningofthefacts。Buttherewereafewwhowouldhavenocompromise;wholabouredonwithanoblerecklessness，determinedtospeakthethingwhichtheyhadseen，andneithermorenorless，surethatGodcouldtakebettercarethantheyofHisowneverlastingtruth。Andnowtheyhaveconquered：thefactswhichweretwentyyearsagodenouncedascontrarytoRevelation，areatlastacceptednotmerelyasconsonantwith，butascorroborativethereof;andsoundpracticalgeologists—likeHughMiller，inhis\"FootprintsoftheCreator，\"andProfessorSedgwick，intheinvaluablenotestohis\"DiscourseontheStudiesofCambridge\"—
havewieldedindefenceofChristianitytheverysciencewhichwasfaithlesslyandcowardlyexpectedtosubvertit。
Butifyouseek，reader，ratherforpleasurethanforwisdom，youcanfinditinsuchstudies，pureandundefiled。
Happy，truly，isthenaturalist。Hehasnotimeformelancholydreams。Theearthbecomestohimtransparent;everywhereheseessignificancies，harmonies，laws，chainsofcauseandeffectendlesslyinterlinked，whichdrawhimoutofthenarrowsphereofself—interestandself—pleasing，intoapureandwholesomeregionofsolemnjoyandwonder。HegoesupsomeSnowdonvalley;tohimitisasolemnspot（thoughunnoticedbyhiscompanions），wherethestag’s—hornclubmossceasestostraggleacrosstheturf，andthetuftedalpineclubmosstakesitsplace：forheisnowinanewworld;aregionwhoseclimateiseternallyinfluencedbysomefreshlaw（afterwhichhevainlyguesseswithasighathisownignorance），whichrenderslifeimpossibletoonespecies，possibletoanother。Anditisastillmoresolemnthoughttohim，thatitwasnotalwaysso;thataeonsandagesback，thatrockwhichhepassedathousandfeetbelowwasfringed，notasnowwithfernandbluebugle，andwhitebramble—flowers，butperhapswiththealp—
roseandthe\"gemsen—kraut\"ofMontBlanc，atleastwithAlpineSaxifrageswhichhavenowretreatedathousandfeetupthemountainside，andwiththeblueSnow—Gentian，andtheCanadianSedum，whichhaveallbutvanishedoutoftheBritishIsles。Andwhatisitwhichtellshimthatstrangestory？Yonsmoothandroundedsurfaceofrock，polished，remark，acrossthestrataandagainstthegrain;
andfurrowedhereandthere，asifbyirontalons，withlongparallelscratches。Itwasthecrawlingofaglacierwhichpolishedthatrock—face;thestonesfallenfromSnowdonpeakintothehalf—liquidlakeoficeabove，whichploughedthosefurrows。
AEonsandaeonsago，beforethetimewhenAdamfirst\"EmbracedhisEveinhappyhour，AndeverybirdinEdenburstIncarol，everybudinflower，\"
thosemarkswerethere;therecordsofthe\"Ageofice;\"slight，truly;tobeeffacedbythenextfarmerwhoneedstobuildawall;
butunmistakeable，boundlessinsignificance，likeCrusoe’sonesavagefootprintonthesea—shore;andthenaturalistacknowledgesthefinger—markofGod，andwonders，andworships。
Happy，especially，isthesportsmanwhoisalsoanaturalist：forasherovesinpursuitofhisgame，overhillsorupthebedsofstreamswherenoonebutasportsmaneverthinksofgoing，hewillbecertaintoseethingsnoteworthy，whichthemerenaturalistwouldneverfind，simplybecausehecouldneverguessthattheyweretheretobefound。Idonotspeakmerelyoftherarebirdswhichmaybeshot，thecuriousfactsastothehabitsoffishwhichmaybeobserved，greatasthesepleasuresare。Ispeakofthescenery，theweather，thegeologicalformationofthecountry，itsvegetation，andthelivinghabitsofitsdenizens。Asportsman，outinallweathers，andoftendependentforsuccessonhisknowledgeof\"whattheskyisgoingtodo，\"hasopportunitiesforbecomingameteorologistwhichnoonebesidebutasailorpossesses;andonehasoftenlongedforascientificgamekeeperorhuntsman，who，bydiscoveringalawforthemysteriousandseeminglycapriciousphenomenaof\"scent，\"mightperhapsthrowlightonahundreddarkpassagesofhygrometry。Thefisherman，too，—whataninexhaustibletreasuryofwonderliesathisfeet，inthesubaqueousworldofthecommonestmountainburn！Allthelawswhichmouldaworldaretherebusy，ifhebutknewit，fatteninghistroutforhim，andmakingthemrisetothefly，bystrangeelectricinfluences，atonehourratherthanatanother。
Manyagoodgeognosticlesson，too，bothastothenatureofacountry’srocks，andastothelawsbywhichstrataaredeposited，mayanobservingmanlearnashewadesupthebedofatrout—
stream;nottomentionthestrangeformsandhabitsofthetribesofwater—insects。Moreover，nogoodfishermanbutknows，tohissorrow，thatthereareplentyofminutes，ay，hours，ineachday’sfishinginwhichhewouldberightgladofanyemploymentbetterthantryingto\"Callspiritsfromthevastydeep，\"
whowillnot\"Comewhenyoudocallforthem。\"
Whattodo，then？Youaresitting，perhaps，inyourcoracle，uponsomemountaintarn，waitingforawind，andwaitinginvain。
\"Keineluftankeineseite，Todes—stillef乺chterlich;\"
asG攖hehasit—
\"Undderschiffersiehtbek乵mertGlattefl刢heringsumher。\"
Youpaddletotheshoreonthesidewhencethewindoughttocome，ifithadanyspiritinit;tiethecoracletoastone，lightyourcigar，liedownonyourbackuponthegrass，grumble，andfinallyfallasleep。Inthemeanwhile，probably，thebreezehascomeon，andtherehasbeenhalf—an—hour’slivelyfishingcurl;andyouwakejustintimetoseethelastrippleofitsneakingoffattheothersideofthelake，leavingallasdead—calmasbefore。
Nowhowmuchbetter，insteadoffallingasleep，tohavewalkedquietlyroundthelakeside，andaskedofyourownbrainsandofNaturethequestion，\"Howdidthislakecomehere？Whatdoesitmean？\"
Itisaholeintheearth。True，buthowwastheholemade？Theremusthavebeenhugeforcesatworktoformsuchachasm。Probablythemountainwasactuallyopenedfromwithinbyanearthquake;andwhenthestratafelltogetheragain，theportionateitherendofthechasm，beingperhapscrushedtogetherwithgreaterforce，remainedhigherthanthecentre，andsothewaterlodgedbetweenthem。Perhapsitwasformedthus。Youwillatleastagreethatitsformationmusthavebeenagrandsightenough，andoneduringwhichaspectatorwouldhavehadsomedifficultyinkeepinghisfooting。
Andwhenyoulearnthatthisconvulsionprobablytookplusatthebottomofanoceanhundredsofthousandsofyearsago，youhaveatleastafewthoughtsoverwhichtoruminate，whichwillmakeyouatoncetoobusytogrumble，andashamedtogrumble。
Yet，afterall，Ihardlythinkthelakewasformedinthisway，andsuspectthatitmayhavebeendryforagesafteritemergedfromtheprimevalwaves，andSnowdoniawasapalm—fringedislandinatropicsea。Letuslooktheplaceovermorefully。
Youseethelakeisnearlycircular;onthesidewherewestandthepebblybeachisnotsixfeetabovethewater，andslopesawaysteeplyintothevalleybehindus，whilebeforeusitshelvesgraduallyintothelake;fortyyardsout，asyouknow，thereisnottenfeetwater;andthenasteepbank，theedgewhereofweandthebigtroutknowwell，sinkssuddenlytounknowndepths。Ontheoppositeside，thatflat—toppedwallofrocktowersupshorelessintothesky，sevenhundredfeetperpendicular;thedeepestwaterofallweknowisatitsveryfoot。Rightandleft，twoshouldersofdownslopeintothelake。Nowturnroundandlookdownthegorge。Remarkthatthispebblebankonwhichwestandreachessomefiftyyardsdownward：youseetheloosestonespeepingouteverywhere。Wemayfairlysupposethatwestandonadamofloosestones，ahundredfeetdeep。
Butwhyloosestones？—andifso，whatmatter？andwhatwonder？
Therearerockscroppingouteverywheredownthehill—side。
Becauseifyouwilltakeuponeofthesestonesandcrackitacross，youwillseethatitisnotofthesamestuffasthosesaidrocks。Stepintothenextfieldandsee。ThatrockisthecommonSnowdonslate，whichweseeeverywhere。Thetwoshouldersofdown，rightandleft，areslate，too;youcanseethatataglance。Butthestonesofthepebblebankareaclose—grained，yellow—spottedrock。TheyareSyenite;and（youmaybelievemeornot，asyouwill）theywereonceuponatimeintheconditionofahastypuddingheatedtosome800degreesofFahrenheit，andinthatconditionshovedtheirwayupsomewhereorotherthroughtheseslates。Butwhere？whenceonearthdidtheseSyenitepebblescome？
Letuswalkroundtothecliffontheoppositesideandsee。Itisworthwhile;forevenifmyguessbewrong，thereisgoodspinningwithabrassminnowroundtheanglesoftherocks。
Nowsee。Betweenthecliff—footandtheslopingdownisacrack，endinginagully;thenearersideisofslate，andthefurtherside，thecliffitself，is—why，thewholecliffiscomposedoftheverysamestoneasthepebbleridge。
Now，mygoodfriend，howdidthesepebblesgetthreehundredyardsacrossthelake？Hundredsoftons，someofthemthreefeetlong：
whocarriedthemacross？TheoldCymrywerenotlikelytoamusethemselvesbymakingsuchabreakwateruphereinNo—man’s—land，twothousandfeetabovethesea：butsomebodyorsomethingmusthavecarriedthem;forstonesdonotfly，norswimeither。
Shotoutofavolcano？Asyouseemdeterminedtohaveaprodigy，itmayaswellbeasufficientlyhugeone。
Well—thesestonesliealtogether;andavolcanowouldhavehardlymadesocompactashot，notbeinginthehabitofusingEley’swirecartridges。OurnexthopeofasolutionliesinJohnJones，whocarriedupthecoracle。Hailhim，andaskhimwhatisonthetopofthatcliff……So，\"Plainsheandpogshe，andanotherLlyn。\"
Verygood。Now，doesitnotstrikeyouthatthiswholecliffhasaremarkablysmoothandplasteredlook，likeahare’srunupanearthbank？Anddoyounotseethatitispolishedthusonlyoverthelake？thatassoonasthecliffabutsonthedownsrightandleft，itformspinnacles，caves，brokenangularboulders？Syeniteusuallydoessoinourdampclimate，fromthe\"weathering\"effectoffrostandrain：whyhasitnotdonesooverthelake？Onthatpartsomething（giantsperhaps）hasbeenscramblingupordownonaverylargescale，andsorubbedoffeverycornerwhichwasinclinedtocomeaway，tillthesolidcoreoftherockwasbared。Andmaynotthosemysteriousgiantshavehadahandincarryingthestonesacrossthelake？……Really，Iamnotaltogetherjesting。Thinkawhilewhatagentcouldpossiblyhaveproducedeitheroneorbothoftheseeffects？
Thereisbutone;andthat，ifyouhavebeenanAlpinetraveller—
muchmoreifyouhavebeenaChamoishunter—youhaveseenmanyatime（whetheryouknewitornot）attheverysamework。
Ice？Yes;ice;Hrymirthefrost—giant，andnooneelse。Andifyouwilllookatthefacts，youwillseehowicemayhavedoneit。
OurfriendJohnJones’sreportofplainsandbogsandalakeabovemakesitquitepossiblethatinthe\"Iceage\"（GlacialEpoch，asthebig—word—mongerscallit）therewasabovethatcliffagreatneve，orsnowfield，suchasyouhaveseenoftenintheAlpsattheheadofeachglacier。Overthefaceofthiscliffaglacierhascrawleddownfromthatneve，polishingthefaceoftherockinitsdescent：butthesnow，havingnolargeanddeepoutlet，hasnotsliddowninasufficientstreamtoreachthevalebelow，andformaglacierofthefirstorder;andhasthereforestoppedshortontheothersideofthelake，asaglacierofthesecondorder，whichendsinanice—cliffhanginghighuponthemountainside，andkeptfromfurtherprogressbydailymelting。IfyouhaveevergoneuptheMerdeGlacetotheTacul，yousawamagnificentspecimenofthissortonyourrighthand，justoppositetheTacul，intheGlacierdeTrelaporte，whichcomesdownfromtheAiguilledeCharmoz。
Thisexplainsourpebble—ridge。Thestoneswhichtheglacierrubbedoffthecliffbeneathititcarriedforward，slowlybutsurely，tilltheysawthelightagaininthefaceoftheice—cliff，anddroppedoutofitunderthemeltingofthesummersun，toformahugedamacrosstheravine;till，the\"Iceage\"past，amoregenialclimatesucceeded，andneveandglaciermeltedaway：butthe\"moraine\"ofstonesdidnot，andremainstothisday，asthedamwhichkeepsupthewatersofthelake。
Thereismyexplanation。Ifyoucanfindabetter，do：butrememberalwaysthatitmustincludeananswerto—\"Howdidthestonesgetacrossthelake？\"
Now，reader，wehavehadnoabstrusesciencehere，nolongwords，notevenamicroscopeorabook：andyetwe，astwoplainsportsmen，havegoneback，orbeenledbackbyfactandcommonsense，intothemostawfulandsublimedepths，intoaneposofthedestructionandre—creationofaformerworld。
Thisisbutasingleinstance;Imightgivehundreds。Thisone，nevertheless，mayhavesomeeffectinawakeningyoutotheboundlessworldofwonderswhichisallaroundyou，andmakeyouaskyourselfseriously，\"WhatbranchofNaturalHistoryshallI
begintoinvestigate，ifitbebutforafewweeks，thissummer？\"
TowhichIanswer，Try\"theWondersoftheShore。\"Therearealongeverysea—beachmorestrangethingstobeseen，andthosetobeseeneasily，thaninanyotherfieldofobservationwhichyouwillfindintheseislands。Andontheshoreonlywillyouhavetheenjoymentoffindingnewspecies，ofaddingyourmitetothetreasuresofscience。
FornotonlytheEnglishferns，butthenaturalhistoryofallourlandspecies，arenowwell—nighexhausted。Ourhomebotanistsandornithologistsarespendingtheirtimenow，perforce，inverifyingafewobscurespecies，andbemoaningthemselves，likeAlexander，thattherearenomoreworldslefttoconquer。Forthegeologist，indeed，andtheentomologist，especiallyintheremoterdistricts，muchremainstobedone，butonlyataheavyoutlayoftime，labour，andstudy;andthedilettante（anditisfordilettanti，likemyself，thatIprincipallywrite）mustbecontenttotreadinthetracksofgreatermenwhohaveprecededhim，andacceptatsecondorthirdhandtheirforegoneconclusions。
Butthisismostunsatisfactory;foringivingupdiscovery，onegivesuponeofthehighestenjoymentsofNaturalHistory。Thereisamysteriousdelightinthediscoveryofanewspecies，akintothatofseeingforthefirsttime，intheirnativehaunts，plantsoranimalsofwhichonehastillthenonlyread。Some，surely，whoreadthesepageshaveexperiencedthatlatterdelight;and，thoughtheymightfindithardtodefinewhencethepleasurearose，knowwellthatitwasasolidpleasure，thememoryofwhichtheywouldnotgiveupforhardcash。Some，surely，canrecollect，attheirfirstsightoftheAlpineSoldanella，theRhododendron，ortheblackOrchis，growingupontheedgeoftheeternalsnow，athrillofemotionnotunmixedwithawe;asensethattheywere，asitwere，broughtfacetofacewiththecreaturesofanotherworld;
thatNaturewasindependentofthem，notmerelytheyofher;thattreeswerenotmerelymadetobuildtheirhouses，orherbstofeedtheircattle，astheylookedonthosewildgardensamidthewreathsoftheuntroddensnow，whichhadliftedtheirgayflowerstothesunyearafteryearsincethefoundationoftheworld，takingnoheedofman，andallthecoilwhichhekeepsinthevalleysfarbelow。
Andeven，totakeasimplerinstance，therearethosewhowillexcuse，orevenapproveof，awriterforsayingthat，amongthememoriesofamonth’seventfultour，thosewhichstandoutasbeacon—points，thoseroundwhichalltheothersgroupthemselves，arethefirstwolf—trackbytheroad—sideintheKyllwald;thefirstsightoftheblueandgreenRoller—birds，walkingbehindtheploughlikerooksinthetobacco—fieldsofWittlich;thefirstballofOlivinescrapedoutofthevolcanicslag—heapsoftheDreisser—
Weiher;thefirstpairoftheLesserBustardflusheduponthedownsoftheMosel—kopf;thefirstsightofthecloudofwhiteEphemerae，flutteringinthedusklikeasummersnowstormbetweenusandtheblackcliffsoftheRheinstein，whilethebroadRhinebeneathflashedblood—redintheblazeofthelightningandthefiresoftheMausenthurm—aluridAcheronabovewhichseemedtohovertenthousandunburiedghosts;andlast，butnotleast，onthelipofthevastMosel—kopfcrater—justabovethepointwheretheweightofthefierylakehasburstthesideofthegreatslag—cup，andrushedforthbetweentwocliffsofclink—stoneacrossthedowns，inaclangingstreamoffire，damminguprivulets，andblastingitspaththroughforests，farawaytowardthevalleyoftheMoselle—
thesightofanobjectforwhichwasforgottenforthemomentthatbattle—fieldoftheTitansatourfeet，andthegloriouspanorama，HundsruckandTaunus，SiebengebirgeandArdennes，andallthecraterpeaksaround;andwhichwas—smilenot，reader—ourfirstyellowfoxglove。
Butwhatiseventhistothedelightoffindinganewspecies？—ofrescuing（asitseemstoyou）onemorethoughtoftheDivinemindfromHela，andtherealmsoftheunknown，unclassified，uncomprehended？Asitseemstoyou：thoughinrealityitonlyseemsso，inaworldwhereinnotasparrowfallstothegroundunnoticedbyourFatherwhoisinheaven。
Thetruthis，thepleasureoffindingnewspeciesistoogreat;itismorallydangerous;foritbringswithitthetemptationtolookonthethingfoundasyourownpossession，allbutyourowncreation;toprideyourselfonit，asifGodhadnotknownitforagessince;eventosquabblejealouslyfortherightofhavingitnamedafteryou，andofbeingrecordedintheTransactionsofI—
know—not—whatSocietyasitsfirstdiscoverer：—asifalltheangelsinheavenhadnotbeenadmiringit，longbeforeyouwerebornorthoughtof。
Buttobeforewarnedistobeforearmed;andIseriouslycounselyoutotryifyoucannotfindsomethingnewthissummeralongthecoasttowhichyouaregoing。Thereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnotbesosuccessfulasafriendofminewho，withaveryslightsmatteringofscience，andverydesultoryresearch，obtainedinonewinterfromtheTorbayshoresthreeentirelynewspecies，besideseveralrareanimalswhichhadescapedallnaturalistssincethelynx—eyeofColonelMontagudiscernedthemfortyyearsago。
Anddonotdespisethecreaturesbecausetheyareminute。NodoubtweshouldmostofuspreferdiscoveringmonstrousapesinthetropicalforestsofBorneo，orstumblinguponherdsofgiganticAmmonsheepamidtherhododendronthicketsoftheHimalaya：butitcannotbe;and\"heisafool，\"saysoldHesiod，\"whoknowsnothowmuchbetterhalfisthanthewhole。\"Letusbecontentwithwhatiswithinourreach。Anddoubtnotthatinthesetinycreaturesaremysteriesmorethanweshalleverfathom。
Thezoophytesandmicroscopicanimalculeswhichpeopleeveryshoreandeverydropofwater，havebeennowraisedtoarankinthehumanmindmoreimportant，perhaps，thaneventhosegiganticmonsterswhosemodelsfillthelakeattheCrystalPalace。Theresearchwhichhasbeenbestowed，forthelastcentury，upontheseonceunnoticedatomieshaswellrepaiditself;forfromnobranchofphysicalsciencehasmorebeenlearntoftheSCIENTIA
SCIENTIARUM，thepricelessartoflearning;nobranchofsciencehasmoreutterlyconfoundedawisdomofthewise，shatteredtopiecessystemsandtheories，andtheidolatryofarbitrarynames，andtaughtmantobesilentwhilehisMakerspeaks，thanthisapparentpedantryofzoophytology，inwhichourolddistinctionsof\"animal，\"\"vegetable，\"and\"mineral\"aretremblinginthebalance，seeminglyreadytovanishliketheirfellows—\"thefourelements\"
offire，earth，air，andwater。Nobranchofsciencehashelpedsomuchtosweepawaythatsensuousidolatryofmeresize，whichtemptsmantoadmireandrespectobjectsinproportiontothenumberoffeetorincheswhichtheyoccupyinspace。Nobranchofscience，moreover，hasbeenmorehumblingtotheboastedrapidityandomnipotenceofthehumanreason，orhasmoretaughtthosewhohaveeyestosee，andheartstounderstand，howweakandwayward，staggeringandslow，arethestepsofourfallenrace（rapidandtriumphantenoughinthatbroadroadoftheorieswhichleadstointellectualdestruction）whensoevertheytreadthenarrowpathoftruescience，whichleads（ifImaybeallowedtotransferourLord’sgreatparablefrommoraltointellectualmatters）toLife;
tothelivingandpermanentknowledgeoflivingthingsandofthelawsoftheirexistence。Humbling，truly，toonewholooksbacktothesummerof1754，whengoodMr。Ellis，thewiseandbenevolentWestIndianmerchant，readbeforetheRoyalSocietyhispaperprovingtheanimalnatureofcorals，andfollowedituptheyearafterbythat\"EssaytowardaNaturalHistoryoftheCorallines，andotherlikeMarineProductionsoftheBritishCoasts，\"whichformsthegroundworkofallourknowledgeonthesubjecttothisday。ThechapterinDr。G。Johnston’s\"BritishZoophytes，\"p。407，ortheexcellentlittleRESUMEthereofinDr。Landsborough’sbookonthesamesubject，isreallyasaddeningone，asoneseeshowlothwere，notmerelydreamerslike，MarsigliorBonnet，butsound—
headedmenlikePallasandLinne，togiveuptheoldsense—boundfancy，thatthesecoralswerevegetables，andtheirpolypessomesortoflivingflowers。Yet，afterall，thereareexcusesforthem。Withoutourimprovedmicroscopes，andwhilethesciencesofcomparativeanatomyandchemistrywereyetinfantile，itwasdifficulttobelievewhatwasthetruth;andforthissimplereason：that，asusual，thetruth，whendiscovered，turnedoutfarmorestartlingandprodigiousthanthedreamswhichmenhadhastilysubstitutedforit;morestrangethanOvid’soldstorythatthecoralwassoftunderthesea，andhardenedbyexposuretoair;thanMarsigli’snotion，thatthecoral—polypeswereitsflowers;thanDr。Parsons’contemptuousdenial，thatthesecomplicatedformscouldbe\"theoperationsoflittle，poor，helpless，jelly—likeanimals，andnottheworkofmoresurevegetation;\"thanBakerthemicroscopist’sdetailedtheoryoftheirbeingproducedbythecrystallizationofthemineralsaltsinthesea—water，justashehadseen\"theparticlesofmercuryandcopperinaquafortisassumetree—likeforms，orcuriousdelineationsofmossesandminuteshrubsonslatesandstones，owingtotheshootingofsaltsintermixedwithmineralparticles：\"—onesmilesatitnow：yetthesemenwerenolesssensiblethanwe;andifweknowbetter，itisonlybecauseothermen，andthosefewandfarbetween，havelabouredamiddisbelief，ridicule，anderror;needingagainandagaintoretracetheirsteps，andtounlearnmorethantheylearnt，seemingtogobackwardswhentheywerereallyprogressingmost：
andnowwehaveenteredintotheirlabours，andfindthem，asI
havejustsaid，morewondrousthanallthepoeticdreamsofaBonnetoraDarwin。Forwho，afterall，totakeafewbroadinstances（nottoenlargeonthegreatroot—wonderofanumberofdistinctindividualsconnectedbyacommonlife，andformingaseemingplantinvariableineachspecies），wouldhavedreamedofthe\"bizarreries\"whichtheseveryzoophytespresentintheirclassification？
Yougodowntoanyshoreafteragaleofwind，andpickupafewdelicatelittlesea—ferns。Youhavetwoinyourhand，whichprobablylooktoyou，evenunderagoodpocketmagnifier，identicalornearlyso。（1）Butyouaretoldtoyoursurprise，thathoweverlikethedeadhornypolypidomswhichyouholdmaybe，thetwospeciesofanimalwhichhaveformedthemareatleastasfarapartinthescaleofcreationasaquadrupedisfromafish。YouseeinsomeMusselburghdredger’sboatthephosphorescentsea—pen（unknowninEngland），alivingfeather，ofthelookandconsistencyofacock’scomb;orthestillstrangersea—rush（VIRGULARIAMIRABILIS），aspineafootlong，withhundredsofrosyfloweretsarrangedinhalf—ringsrounditfromendtoend;andyouaretoldthatthesearethecongenersofthegreatstonyVenus’sfanwhichhangsinseamen’scottages，broughthomefromtheWestIndies。Andereyouhavedonewondering，youhearthatallthreearecongenersoftheugly，shapeless，white\"deadman’shand，\"whichyoumaypickupafterastormonanyshore。Youhaveabeautifulmadreporeorbrain—stoneonyourmantel—piece，broughthomefromsomePacificcoral—reef。Youaretobelievethatitsfirstcousinsarethesoft，slimysea—anemoneswhichyouseeexpandingtheirlivingflowersineveryrock—pool—bagsofsea—water，withoutatraceofboneorstone。Youmustbelieveit;forinscience，asinhighermatters，hewhowillwalksurely，must\"walkbyfaithandnotbysight。\"
Thesearebutafewofthewonderswhichtheclassificationofmarineanimalsaffords;andonlydrawnfromoneclassofthem，thoughalmostascommonamongeveryotherfamilyofthatsubmarineworldwhereofSpensersang—
\"Oh，whatanendlessworkhaveIinhand，Tocountthesea’sabundantprogeny！
Whosefruitfulseedfarpasseththoseinland，Andalsothosewhichwoninth’azuresky，Formuchmoreearthtotellthestarsonhigh，Albetheyendlessseeminestimation，Thantorecountthesea’sposterity;
Sofertilebethefloudsingeneration，Sohugetheirnumbers，andsonumberlesstheirnation。\"
Butthesefewexampleswillbesufficienttoaccountbothfortheslowpaceatwhichtheknowledgeofsea—animalshasprogressed，andfortheallurementwhichmenofthehighestattainmentshavefound，andstillfind，init。Andwhentothisweaddthemarvelswhichmeetusateverystepintheanatomyandthereproductionofthesecreatures，andinthechemicalandmechanicalfunctionswhichtheyfulfilinthegreateconomyofourplanet，wecannotwonderatfindingthatbookswhichtreatofthemcarrywiththemacertaincharmofromance，andfeedtheplayoffancy，andthatloveofthemarvellouswhichisinherentinman，atthesametimethattheyleadthereadertomoresolemnandloftytrainsofthought，whichcanfindtheirfullsatisfactiononlyinself—forgetfulworship，andthathymnofpraisewhichgoesupeverfromlandandsea，aswellasfromsaintsandmartyrsandtheheavenlyhost，\"OallyeworksoftheLord，andye，too，spiritsandsoulsoftherighteous，praiseHim，andmagnifyHimforever！\"
Ihavesaid，thattherewereexcusesfortheoldcontemptofthestudyofNaturalHistory。Ihavesaid，too，itmaybehoped，enoughtoshowthatcontempttobenowill—founded。Butstill，therearethosewhoregarditasamereamusement，andthatasasomewhateffeminateone;andthinkthatitcanatbesthelptowhileawayaleisurehourharmlessly，andperhapsusefully，asasubstituteforcoarsersports，orforthereadingofnovels。
Those，however，whohavefolloweditout，especiallyonthesea—
shore，knowbetter。Theycantellfromexperience，thatoverandaboveitsaccessorycharmsofpuresea—breezes，andwildramblesbycliffandloch，thestudyitselfhashadaweightymoraleffectupontheirheartsandspirits。TherearethosewhocanwellunderstandhowthegoodandwiseJohnEllis，amidallhisphilanthropiclaboursforthegoodoftheWestIndies，whilehewasspendinghisintellectandfortuneinintroducingintoourtropicsettlementsthebread—fruit，themangosteen，andeveryplantandseedwhichhehopedmightbeusefulformedicine，agriculture，andcommerce，couldyetfeelhimselfjustifiedindevotinglargeportionsofhiseverwell—spenttimetothefightingthebattleofthecorallinesagainstParsonsandtherest，andeveninmeasuringpenswithLinne，theprinceofnaturalists。
TherearethosewhocansympathisewiththegallantoldScotchofficermentionedbysomewriteronsea—weeds，who，desperatelywoundedinthebreachatBadajos，andasharerinallthetoilsandtriumphsofthePeninsularwar，couldinhisoldageshowararesea—weedwithasmuchtriumphashiswell—earnedmedals，andtalkoveratinyspore—capsulewithasmuchzestastherecordsofsiegesandbattles。Whynot？Thattemperwhichmadehimagoodsoldiermayverywellhavemadehimagoodnaturalistalso。Thelateillustriousgeologist，SirRoderickMurchison，wasalsoanoldPeninsularofficer。Idoubtnotthatwithhim，too，theexperiencesofwarmayhavehelpedtofithimforthestudiesofpeace。Certainly，thebestnaturalist，asfaraslogicalacumen，aswellasearnestresearch，isconcerned，whomEnglandhaseverseen，wastheDevonshiresquire，ColonelGeorgeMontagu，ofwhomthelateE。Forbeswellsays，that\"hadhebeeneducatedaphysiologist\"（andnot，ashewas，asoldierandasportsman），\"andmadethestudyofNaturehisaimandnothisamusement，hiswouldhavebeenoneofthegreatestnamesinthewholerangeofBritishscience。\"Iquestion，nevertheless，whetherhewouldnothavelostmorethanhewouldhavegainedbyadifferenttraining。Itmighthavemadehimamorelearnedsystematizer;butwouldithavequickenedinhimthat\"seeing\"eyeofthetruesoldierandsportsman，whichmakesMontagu’sdescriptionsindelibleword—
pictures，instinctwithlifeandtruth？\"Thereisnoquestion，\"
saysE。Forbes，afterbewailingthevaguenessofmostnaturalists，\"abouttheidentityofanyanimalMontagudescribed……Hewasaforward—lookingphilosopher;hespokeofeverycreatureasifoneexceedinglikeit，yetdifferentfromit，wouldbewashedupbythewavesnexttide。Consequentlyhisdescriptionsarepermanent。\"
Scientificmenwillrecognizeinthisthehighestpraisewhichcanbebestowed，becauseitattributestohimthehighestfaculty—TheArtofSeeing;butthestudyandthebookwouldnothavegiventhat。ItisGod’sgiftwheresoevereducated：butitstrueschool—
roomisthecampandtheocean，theprairieandtheforest;active，self—helpinglife，whichcangrapplewithNatureherself：notmerelywithprinted—booksabouther。LetnoonethinkthatthissameNaturalHistoryisapursuitfittedonlyforeffeminateorpedanticmen。Ishouldsay，rather，thatthequalificationsrequiredforaperfectnaturalistareasmanyandasloftyaswererequired，byoldchivalrouswriters，fortheperfectknight—errantoftheMiddleAges：for（tosketchanideal，ofwhichIamhappytosayourracenowaffordsmanyafairrealization）ourperfectnaturalistshouldbestronginbody;abletohauladredge，climbarock，turnaboulder，walkallday，uncertainwhereheshalleatorrest;readytofacesunandrain，windandfrost，andtoeatordrinkthankfullyanything，howevercoarseormeagre;heshouldknowhowtoswimforhislife，topullanoar，sailaboat，andridethefirsthorsewhichcomestohand;and，finally，heshouldbeathoroughlygoodshot，andaskilfulfisherman;and，ifhegofarabroad，beableonoccasiontofightforhislife。
Forhismoralcharacter，hemust，likeaknightofold，befirstofallgentleandcourteous，readyandabletoingratiatehimselfwiththepoor，theignorant，andthesavage;notonlybecauseforeigntravelwillbeoftenotherwiseimpossible，butbecauseheknowshowmuchinvaluablelocalinformationcanbeonlyobtainedfromfishermen，miners，hunters，andtillersofthesoil。Next，heshouldbebraveandenterprising，andwithalpatientandundaunted;
notmerelyintravel，butininvestigation;knowing（asLordBaconmighthaveputit）thatthekingdomofNature，likethekingdomofheaven，mustbetakenbyviolence，andthatonlytothosewhoknocklongandearnestlydoesthegreatmotheropenthedoorsofhersanctuary。Hemustbeofareverentturnofmindalso;notrashlydiscreditinganyreports，howevervagueandfragmentary;givingmancreditalwaysforsomegermoftruth，andgivingNaturecreditforaninexhaustiblefertilityandvariety，whichwillkeephimhislifelongalwaysreverent，yetneversuperstitious;wonderingatthecommonest，butnotsurprisedbythemoststrange;freefromtheidolsofsizeandsensuousloveliness;abletoseegrandeurintheminutestobjects，beauty，inthemostungainly;estimatingeachthingnotcarnally，asthevulgardo，byitssizeoritspleasantnesstothesenses，butspiritually，bytheamountofDivinethoughtrevealedtoMantherein;holdingeveryphenomenonworththenotingdown;believingthateverypebbleholdsatreasure，everybudarevelation;makingitapointofconsciencetopassovernothingthroughlazinessorhastiness，lestthevisiononceofferedanddespisedshouldbewithdrawn;andlookingateveryobjectasifhewerenevertobeholditagain。
Moreover，hemustkeephimselffreefromallthoseperturbationsofmindwhichnotonlyweakenenergy，butdarkenandconfusetheinductivefaculty;fromhasteandlaziness，frommelancholy，testiness，pride，andallthepassionswhichmakemenseeonlywhattheywishtosee。Ofsolemnandscrupulousreverencefortruth;ofthehabitofmindwhichregardseachfactanddiscovery，notasourownpossession，butasthepossessionofitsCreator，independentofus，ourtastes，ourneeds，orourvain—glory，Ihardlyneedtospeak;foritistheveryessenceofanature’sfaculty—theverytenureofhisexistence：andwithouttruthfulnesssciencewouldbeasimpossiblenowaschivalrywouldhavebeenofold。
Andlast，butnotleast，theperfectnaturalistshouldhaveinhimtheveryessenceoftruechivalry，namely，self—devotion;thedesiretoadvance，nothimselfandhisownfameorwealth，butknowledgeandmankind。Heshouldhavethisgreatvirtue;andinspiteofmanyshortcomings（forwhatmanistherewholivethandsinnethnot？），naturalistsasaclasshaveittoadegreewhichmakesthemstandoutmosthonourablyinthemidstofaself—seekingandmammonitegeneration，inclinedtovalueeverythingbyitsmoneyprice，itsprivateutility。Thespiritwhichgivesfreely，becauseitknowsthatithasreceivedfreely;whichcommunicatesknowledgewithouthopeofreward，withoutjealousyandrivalry，tofellow—
studentsandtotheworld;whichiscontenttodelveandtoilcomparativelyunknown，thatfromitsobscureandseeminglyworthlessresultsothersmayderivepleasure，andevenbuildupgreatfortunes，andchangetheveryfaceofcitiesandlands，bythepracticaluseofsomestraytalismanwhichthepoorstudenthasinventedinhislaboratory;—thisisthespiritwhichisabroadamongourscientificmen，toagreaterdegreethaniteverhasbeenamonganybodyofmenformanyacenturypast;andmightwellbecopiedbythosewhoprofessdeeperpurposesandamoreexaltedcalling，thanthediscoveryofanewzoophyte，ortheclassificationofamoorlandcrag。
Anditisthesequalities，howeverimperfectlytheymayberealizedinanyindividualinstance，whichmakeourscientificmen，asaclass，thewholesomestandpleasantestofcompanionsabroad，andathomethemostblameless，simple，andcheerful，inalldomesticrelations;menforthemostpartofmanfulheads，andyetofchildlikehearts，whohaveturnedtoquietstudy，intheselatepipingtimesofpeace，anintellectualhealthandcouragewhichmighthavemadethem，inmorefierceandtroubloustimes，capableofdoinggoodservicewithverydifferentinstrumentsthanthescalpelandthemicroscope。
Ihavebeensketchinganideal：butonewhichIseriouslyrecommendtotheconsiderationofallparents;for，thoughitbeimpossibleandabsurdtowishthateveryyoungmanshouldgrowupanaturalistbyprofession，yetthisageoffersnomorewholesometraining，bothmoralandintellectual，thanthatwhichisgivenbyinstillingintotheyounganearlytasteforoutdoorphysicalscience。Theeducationofourchildrenisnowmorethaneverapuzzlingproblem，ifbyeducationwemeanthedevelopmentofthewholehumanity，notmerelyofsomearbitrarilychosenpartofit。
Howtofeedtheimaginationwithwholesomefood，andteachittodespiseFrenchnovels，andthatsugaredsloughofsentimentalpoetry，incomparisonwithwhichtheoldfairy—talesandballadsweremanfulandrational;howtocounteractthetendencytoshallowedandconceitedsciolism，engenderedbyhearingpopularlecturesonallmannerofsubjects，whichcanonlybereallylearntbysternmethodicstudy;howtogivehabitsofenterprise，patience，accurateobservation，whichthecounting—houseorthelibrarywillneverbestow;aboveall，howtodevelopthephysicalpowers，withoutengenderingbrutalityandcoarseness—arequestionsbecomingdailymoreandmorepuzzling，whiletheyneeddailymoreandmoretobesolved，inanageofenterprise，travel，andemigration，likethepresent。Forthetruthmustbetold，thatthegreatmajorityofmenwhoarenowdistinguishedbycommercialsuccess，havehadatrainingthedirectlyoppositetothatwhichtheyaregivingtotheirsons。Theyareforthemostpartmenwhohavemigratedfromthecountrytothetown，andhadintheiryouthalltheadvantagesofasturdyandmanfulhill—sideorsea—sidetraining;menwhosebodiesweredeveloped，andtheirlungsfedonpurebreezes，longbeforetheybroughttoworkinthecitythebodilyandmentalstrengthwhichtheyhadgainedbylochandmoor。
Butitisnotsowiththeirsons。Theirbusinesshabitsarelearntinthecounting—house;agoodschool，doubtless，asfarasitgoes：
butonewhichwillexpandnonebutthelowestintellectualfaculties;whichwillmakethemaccurateaccountants，shrewdcomputersandcompetitors，butnevertheoriginatorsofdaringschemes，menableandwillingtogoforthtoreplenishtheearthandsubdueit。Andinthehoursofrelaxation，howmuchoftheirtimeisthrownaway，forwantofanythingbetter，onfrivolity，nottosayonsecretprofligacy，parentsknowtoowell;andoftenshuttheireyesinverydespairtoevilswhichtheyknownothowtocure。Afrightfulmajorityofourmiddle—classyoungmenaregrowingupeffeminate，emptyofallknowledgebutwhattendsdirectlytothemakingofafortune;orrather，tospeakcorrectly，tothekeepingupthefortuneswhichtheirfathershavemadeforthem;whileoftheminority，whoareindeedthinkersandreaders，howmanywomenaswellasmenhaveweseenwearyingtheirsoulswithstudyundirected，oftenmisdirected;cravingtolearn，yetnotknowinghoworwhattolearn;cultivating，withunwholesomeenergy，theheadattheexpenseofthebodyandtheheart;catchingupwiththemostcapriciousself—willonemaniaafteranother，andtossingitawayagainforsomenewphantom;gorgingthememorywithfactswhichnoonehastaughtthemtoarrange，andthereasonwithproblemswhichtheyhavenomethodforsolving;tilltheyfretthemselvesinachronicfeverofthebrain，whichtoooftenurgethemontoplunge，asitwere，tocooltheinwardfire，intotheever—restlessseasofdoubtorofsuperstition。Itisasadpicture。Therearemanywhomayreadthesepageswhoseheartswilltellthemthatitisatrueone。Whatiswantedinthesecasesisamethodicandscientifichabitofmind;andaclassofobjectsonwhichtoexercisethathabit，whichwillfeverneitherthespeculativeintellectnorthemoralsense;andthosephysicalsciencewillgive，asnothingelsecangiveit。
Moreover，toreverttoanotherpointwhichwetouchedjustnow，manhasabodyaswellasamind;andwiththevastmajoritytherewillbenoMENSSANAunlesstherebeaCORPUSSANUMforittoinhabit。
Andwhatoutdoortrainingtogiveouryouthsis，aswehavealreadysaid，morethaneverpuzzling。Thisdifficultyisfelt，perhaps，lessinScotlandthaninEngland。TheScotchclimatecompelshardiness;theScotchbodilystrengthmakesiteasy;andScotland，withhermountain—toursinsummer，andherfrozenlochsinwinter，herlabyrinthofsea—shore，and，aboveall，thatpricelessboonwhichProvidencehasbestowedonher，inthecontiguityofhergreatcitiestotheloveliestscenery，andthehillswhereeverybreezeishealth，affordsfacilitiesforhealthyphysicallifeunknowntotheEnglishman，whohasnoArthur’sSeattoweringabovehisLondon，noWesternIslandssportingtheoceanfirthsbesidehisManchester。Fieldsports，withtheinvaluabletrainingwhichtheygive，ifnot\"Thereasonfirm，\"
yetstill\"Thetemperatewill，Endurance，foresight，strength，andskill，\"
havebecomeimpossibleforthegreaternumber：andathleticexercisesarenow，inEnglandatleast，becomingmoreandmoreartificializedandexpensive;andareconfinedmoreandmore—withthehonourableexceptionofthefootballgamesinBatterseaPark—
toourPublicSchoolsandthetwoelderUniversities。Allhonour，meanwhile，totheVolunteermovement，anditsmoralaswellasitsphysicaleffects。ButitisonlyacomparativelyfewoftheverysturdiestwhoarelikelytobecomeeffectiveVolunteers，andsoreallygainthebenefitsoflearningtobesoldiers。AndyettheyoungmanwhohashadnosubstituteforsuchoccupationswillcutbutasorryfigureinAustralia，Canada，orIndia;andifhestaysathome，willspendmanyapoundindoctors’bills，whichcouldhavebeenbetteremployedelsewhere。\"Takingawalk\"—asonewouldtakeapilloradraught—seemslikelysoontobecometheonlyformofoutdoorexistencepossiblefortoomanyinhabitantsoftheBritishIsles。Butawalkwithoutanobject，unlessinthemostlovelyandnovelofscenery，isapoorexercise;andasarecreation，utterlynil。Ineverknewtwoyoungladsgooutfora\"constitutional，\"whodidnot，iftheywerecommonplaceyouths，gossipthewholewayaboutthingsbetterleftunspoken;or，iftheywerecleverones，fallonarguingandbrainsbeatingonpoliticsormetaphysicsfromthemomenttheyleftthedoor，andreturnwiththeirwitsevenmoreheatedandtiredthantheywerewhentheysetout。IcannothelpfancyingthatMiltonmadeamistakeinacertaincelebratedpassage;andthatitwasnot\"sittingonahillapart，\"buttrampingfourmilesoutandfourmilesinalongaturnpike—road，thathishaplessspiritsdiscoursed\"Offate，free—will，foreknowledgeabsolute，Andfoundnoend，inwanderingmazeslost。\"
Seriously，ifwewishruralwalkstodoourchildrenanygood，wemustgivethemaloveforruralsights，anobjectineverywalk;wemustteachthem—andwecanteachthem—tofindwonderineveryinsect，sublimityineveryhedgerow，therecordsofpastworldsineverypebble，andboundlessfertilityuponthebarrenshore;andso，byteachingthemtomakefulluseofthatlimitedsphereinwhichtheynoware，makethemfaithfulinafewthings，thattheymaybefithereaftertoberulersovermuch。
Imayseemtoexaggeratetheadvantagesofsuchstudies;butthequestionafterallisoneofexperience：andIhavehadexperienceenoughandtosparethatwhatIsayistrue。Ihaveseentheyoungmanoffiercepassions，anduncontrollabledaring，expendhealthilythatenergywhichthreateneddailytoplungehimintorecklessness，ifnotintosin，uponhuntingoutandcollecting，throughrockandbog，snowandtempest，everybirdandeggoftheneighbouringforest。Ihaveseenthecultivatedman，cravingfortravelandforsuccessinlife，pentupinthedrudgeryofLondonwork，andyetkeepinghisspiritcalm，andperhapshismoralsallthemorerighteous，byspendingoverhismicroscopeeveningswhichwouldtooprobablyhavegraduallybeenwastedatthetheatre。IhaveseentheyoungLondonbeauty，amidalltheexcitementandtemptationofluxuryandflattery，withherheartpureandhermindoccupiedinaboudoirfullofshellsandfossils，flowersandsea—weeds;keepingherselfunspottedfromtheworld，byconsideringtheliliesofthefield，howtheygrow。AndthereforeitisthatIhailwiththankfulnesseveryfreshbookofNaturalHistory，asafreshboontotheyoung，afreshhelptothosewhohavetoeducatethem。
Thegreatestdifficultyinthewayofbeginnersis（asinmostthings）how\"tolearntheartoflearning。\"Theygoout，search，findlessthantheyexpected，andgivethesubjectupindisappointment。Itisgoodtobegin，therefore，ifpossible，byplayingthepartof\"jackal\"tosomepractisednaturalist，whowillshowthetyrowheretolook，whattolookfor，and，moreover，whatitisthathehasfound;oftennoeasymattertodiscover。Fortyyearsago，duringanautumn’sworkofdead—leaf—searchingintheDevonwoodsforpooroldDr。Turton，whilehewaswritinghisbookonBritishland—shells，thepresentwriterlearntmoreoftheartofobservingthanhewouldhavelearntinthreeyears’desultoryhuntingonhisownaccount;andhehasoftenregrettedthatnonaturalisthasestablishedshore—lecturesatsomewatering—place，likethoseuphillanddowndalefield—lectureswhich，inpleasantbygoneCambridgedays，ProfessorSedgwickusedtogivetoyounggeologists，andProfessorHenslowtoyoungbotanists。
Inthemeanwhile，toshowyousomethingofwhatmaybeseenbythosewhocaretosee，letmetakeyou，inimagination，toashorewhereIwasonceathome，andforwhoserichnessIcanvouch，andchooseourseasonandourdaytostartforth，onsomegloriousSeptemberorOctobermorning，toseewhatlastnight’sequinoctialgalehassweptfromthepopulousshallowsofTorbay，andcastup，highanddry，onPaigntonsands。
Torbayisaplacewhichshouldbeasmuchendearedtothenaturalistastothepatriotandtotheartist。Wecannotgazeonitsblueringofwater，andthegreatlimestonebluffswhichboundittothenorthandsouth，withoutaglowpassingthroughourhearts，asweremembertheterribleandgloriouspageantwhichpassedbyinthegloriousJulydaysof1588，whentheSpanishArmadaventuredslowlypastBerryHead，withElizabeth’sgallantpackofDevoncaptains（fortheLondonfleethadnotyetjoined）
followingfastinitswake，anddashingintothemidstofthevastline，undismayedbysizeandnumbers，whiletheirkinandfriendsstoodwatchingandprayingonthecliffs，spectatorsofBritain’sSalamis。Thewhitelineofhouses，too，ontheothersideofthebay，isBrixham，famedasthelanding—placeofWilliamofOrange;
thestoneonthepier—head，whichmarkshisfirstfootstepsonBritishground，issacredintheeyesofalltrueEnglishWhigs;
andclosebystandsthecastleofthesettlerofNewfoundland，SirHumphreyGilbert，Raleigh’shalf—brother，mostlearnedofallElizabeth’sadmiralsinlife，mostpiousandheroicindeath。Andasforscenery，thoughitcanboastofneithermountainpeaknordarkfiord，andwouldseemtameenoughintheeyesofawesternScotorIrishman，yetTorbaysurelyhasasoftbeautyofitsown。
Theroundedhillsslopegentlytothesea，spottedwithsquaresofemeraldgrass，andrichredfallowfields，andparksfullofstatelytimbertrees。Longlinesoftallelmsrundowntotheverywater’sedge，theirboughsunwarpedbyanyblast;hereandthereappleorchardsarebendingundertheirloadsoffruit，andnarrowstripsofwater—meadowlinetheglens，wheretheredcattlearealreadylounginginrichestpastures，withintenyardsoftherockypebblebeach。Theshoreissilentnow，thetidefarout：butsixhourshenceitwillbehurlingcolumnsofrosyfoamhighintothesunlight，andsprinklingpassengers，andcattle，andtrimgardenswhichhardlyknowwhatfrostandsnowmaybe，butseetheflowersofautumnmeettheflowersofspring，andtheoldyearlingersmilinglytotwineagarlandforthenew。
NowonderthatsuchaspotasTorquay，withitsdeliciousItalianclimate，andendlessvarietyofrichwoodland，flowerylawn，fantasticrock—cavern，andbroadbrighttide—sand，shelteredfromeverywindofheavenexceptthesoftsouth—east，shouldhavebecomeafavouritehaunt，notonlyforinvalids，butfornaturalists。
Indeed，itmaywellclaimthehonourofbeingtheoriginalhomeofmarinezoologyandbotanyinEngland，astheFirthofForth，undertheauspicesofSirJ。G。Dalyell，hasbeenforScotland。ForhereworkedMontagu，Turton，andMrs。Griffith，towhoseextraordinarypowersofresearchEnglishmarinebotanyalmostowesitsexistence，andwhosurvivedtoanagelongbeyondthenaturaltermofman，tosee，inhercheerfulandhonouredoldage，thatknowledgebecomepopularandgeneralwhichshepursuedformanyayearunassistedandalone。Here，too，thescientificsuccessionisstillmaintainedbyMr。PengellyandMr。Gosse，thelatterofwhombyhisdelightfuland，happily，well—knownbookshasdonemoreforthestudyofmarinezoologythananyotherlivingman。Torbay，moreover，fromthevarietyofitsrocks，aspects，andsea—floors，wherelimestonesalternatewithtraps，andtrapswithslates，whileatthevalley—mouththesoftsandstonesandhardconglomeratesofthenewredseriesslopedownintothetepidandshallowwaves，affordsanabundanceandvarietyofanimalandvegetablelife，unequalled，perhaps，inanyotherpartofGreatBritain。Itcannotboast，certainly，ofthosestrangedeep—seaformswhichMessrs。
Alder，Goodsir，andLaskeydredgeamongthelochsofthewesternHighlands，andthesub—marinemountainglensoftheZetlandsea;
butithasitsownvarieties，itsownever—freshnovelties：andinspiteofalltheresearchwhichhasbeenlavishedonitsshores，anaturalistcannot，Isuspect，workthereforawinterwithoutdiscoveringformsnewtoscience，ormeetingwithcuriositieswhichhaveescapedallobservers，sincethelynxeyeofMontaguespiedthemfullfiftyyearsago。
Followus，then，reader，inimagination，outofthegaywatering—
place，withitsLondonshopsandLondonequipages，alongthebroadroadbeneaththesunnylimestonecliff，tuftedwithgoldenfurze;
pastthehugeoaksandgreenslopesofTorAbbey;andpastthefantasticrocksofLivermead，scoopedbythewavesintoalabyrinthofdoubleandtriplecaves，likeHindootemples，upborneonpillarsbandedwithyellowandwhiteandred，aweek’sstudy，informandcolourandchiaro—oscuro，foranyartist;andamileorsofurtheralongapleasantroad，withland—lockedglimpsesofthebay，tothebroadsheetofsandwhichliesbetweenthevillageofPaigntonandthesea—sandstroddenahundredtimesbyMontaguandTurton，perhaps，byDillwynandGaertner，andmanyanotherpioneerofscience。Andoncethere，beforewelookatanythingelse，comedownstraighttotheseamarge;foryonderlies，justleftbytheretiringtide，amassoflifesuchasyouwillseldomseeagain。
Itissomewhatugly，perhaps，atfirstsight;forankle—deeparespread，forsometenyardslongbyfivebroad，hugedirtybivalveshells，aslargeasthehand，eachwithitsloathlygreyandblacksiphonshangingout，aconfusedmassofslimydeath。Letuswalkontosomecleanerheap，andleavethese，thegreatLutrariaElliptica，whichhavebeenlyingburiedbythousandsinthesandymud，eachwiththepointofitslongsiphonabovethesurface，suckinginanddrivingoutagainthesaltwateronwhichitfeeds，tilllastnight’sground—swellshiftedthesea—bottom，anddrovethemuphithertoperishhelpless，butnotuseless，onthebeach。
See，closebyisanothershellbed，quiteaslarge，butcomelyenoughtopleaseanyeye。Whatavarietyofformsandcoloursarethere，amidthepurpleandolivewreathsofwrack，andbladder—
weed，andtangle（ore—weed，astheycallitinthesouth），andthedelicategreenribbonsoftheZostera（theonlyEnglishfloweringplantwhichgrowsbeneaththesea）。Whataretheyall？Whatarethelongwhiterazors？Whatarethedelicategreen—greyscimitars？
Whatarethetaperingbrownspires？Whatthetuftsofdelicateyellowplantslikesquirrels’tails，andlobsters’horns，andtamarisks，andfir—trees，andallotherfinelycutanimalandvegetableforms？Whatarethegroupsofgreybladders，withsomethinglikealittlebudatthetip？Whatarethehundredsoflittlepink—stripedpears？Whatthosetinybabies’heads，coveredwithgreypricklesinsteadofhair？Thegreatredstar—fish，whichUlsterchildrencall\"thebadman’shands;\"andthegreatwhelks，whichtheyouthofMusselburghknowasroaringbuckies，thesewehaveseenbefore;butwhat，ohwhat，aretheredcapsicums？—
Yes，whataretheredcapsicums？andwhyaretheypoking，snapping，starting，crawling，tumblingwildlyovereachother，rattlingaboutthehugemahoganycockles，asbigasachild’stwofists，outofwhichtheyareprotruded？Markthemwell，foryouwillperhapsneverseethemagain。TheyareaMediterraneanspecies，orratherthreespecies，leftbehindupontheseextremesouth—westerncoasts，probablyatthevanishingofthatwarmerancientepoch，whichclothedtheLizardPointwiththeCornishheath，andtheKillarneymountainswithSpanishsaxifrages，andotherrelicsofaflorawhosehomeisnowtheIberianpeninsulaandthesunnycliffsoftheRiviera。Rareoneveryothershore，eveninthewest，itaboundsinTorbayatcertain，orratheruncertain，times，tosoprodigiousanamount，thatthedredge，afterfiveminutes’scrape，willsometimescomeupchokedfullofthisgreatcockleonly。Youwillseehundredsofthemineverycoveformilesthisday;aseemingwasteoflife，whichwouldbeawful，inoureyes，werenottheDivineRuler，asHiscustomis，makingthisdestructionthemeansoffreshcreation，byburyingtheminthesands，assoonaswashedonshore，tofertilizethestrataofsomefutureworld。Itisbutashell—fishtruly;butthegreatCuvierthoughtitremarkableenoughtodevotetoitsanatomyelaboratedescriptionsanddrawings，whichhavedonemoreperhapsthananyotherstoillustratethecuriouseconomyofthewholeclassofbivalve，ordouble—shelled，mollusca。（PlateII。Fig。3。）
Thatredcapsicumisthefootoftheanimalcontainedinthecockleshell。Byitsaiditcrawls，leaps，andburrowsinthesand，whereitliesdrinkinginthesaltwaterthroughoneofitssiphons，anddischargingitagainthroughtheother。Puttheshellintoarockpool，orabasinofwater，andyouwillseethesiphonsclearly。Thevalvesgapeapartsomethree—quartersofaninch。