按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of smoky Babylon itself； and how easily a man might； if he would； wash
his soul clean for a while from all the turmoil and intrigue； the vanity
and vexation of spirit of that 〃too…populous wilderness；〃 by going out to
be alone a while with God in heaven； and with that earth which He has
given to the children of men； not merely for the material wants of their
101
… Page 102…
Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
bodies； but as a witness and a sacrament that in Him they live and move；
and have their being； 〃not by bread alone； but by EVERY word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God。〃
Thus I wrote some twenty years ago； when the study of Natural
History was confined mainly to several scientific men； or mere
collectors of shells； insects； and dried plants。
Since then； I am glad to say； it has become a popular and common
pursuit； owing； I doubt not； to the impulse given to it by the many
authors whose works I then recommended。 I recommend them still；
though a swarm of other manuals and popular works have appeared
since； excellent in their way； and almost beyond counting。 But all
honour to those； and above all to Mr。 Gosse and Mr。 Johns； who first
opened people's eyes to the wonders around them all day long。 Now；
we have； in addition to amusing books on special subjects； serials on
Natural History more or less profound； and suited to every kind of
student and every grade of knowledge。 I mention the names of none。
For first； they happily need no advertisement from me； and next； I fear to
be unjust to any one of them by inadvertently omitting its name。 Let
me add； that in the advertising columns of those serials； will be found
notices of all the new manuals； and of all apparatus； and other matters；
needed by amateur naturalists； and of many who are more than amateurs。
Microscopy； meanwhile； and the whole study of 〃The Wonders of the
Little；〃 have made vast strides in the last twenty years； and I was equally
surprised and pleased； to find； three years ago； in each of two towns of a
few thousand inhabitants； perhaps a dozen good microscopes； all but
hidden away from the public； worked by men who knew how to handle
them； and who knew what they were looking at； but who modestly
refrained from telling anybody what they were doing so well。 And it
was this very discovery of unsuspected microscopists which made me
more desirous than ever to see … as I see now in many places … scientific
societies； by means of which the few； who otherwise would work apart；
may communicate their knowledge to each other； and to the many。
These 〃Microscopic；〃 〃Naturalist；〃 〃Geological；〃 or other societies； and
the 〃Field Clubs〃 for excursions into the country； which are usually
102
… Page 103…
Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
connected with them； form a most pleasant and hopeful new feature in
English Society； bringing together； as they do； almost all ranks； all
shades of opinion； and it has given me deep pleasure to see； in the case
at least of the Country Clubs with which I am acquainted； the clergy of
the Church of England taking an active； and often a leading； interest in
their practical work。 The town clergy are； for the most part； too utterly
overworked to follow the example of their country brethren。 But I have
reason to know that they regard such societies； and Natural History in
general； with no unfriendly eyes； and that there is less fear than ever that
the clergy of the Church of England should have to relinquish their
ancient boast … that since the formation of the Royal Society in the
seventeenth century； they have done more for sound physical science
than any other priesthood or ministry in the world。 Let me advise
anyone who may do me the honour of reading these pages； to discover
whether such a Club or Society exists in his neighbourhood； and to join
it forthwith； certain that … if his experience be at all like mine … he will
gain most pleasant information and most pleasant acquaintances； and
pass most pleasant days and evenings； among people whom he will be
glad to know； and whom he never would have known save for the new …
and now； I hope； rapidly spreading … freemasonry of Natural History。
Meanwhile； I hope … though I dare not say I trust … to see the day
when the boys of each of our large schools shall join … like those of
Marlborough and Clifton … the same freemasonry； and have their own
Naturalists' Clubs； nay more； when our public schools and universities
shall awake to the real needs of the age； and … even to the curtailing of
the time usually spent in not learning Latin and Greek … teach boys the
rudiments at least of botany； zoology； geology； and so forth； and when
the public opinion； at least of the refined and educated； shall consider it
as ludicrous … to use no stronger word … to be ignorant of the commonest
facts and laws of this living planet； as to be ignorant of the rudiments of
two dead languages。 All honour to the said two languages。 Ignorance
of them is a serious weakness； for it implies ignorance of many things
else； and indeed； without some knowledge of them； the nomenclature of
the physical sciences cannot be mastered。 But I have got to discover
103
… Page 104…
Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
that a boy's time is more usefully spent； and his intellect more
methodically trained； by getting up Ovid's Fasti with an ulterior hope of
being able to write a few Latin verses； than in getting up Professor
Rolleston's 〃Forms of Animal Life；〃 or any other of the excellent
Scientific Manuals for beginners； which are now； as I said； happily so
numerous。
May that day soon come； and an old dream of mine； and of my
scientific friends； be fulfilled at last。
And so I end this little book； hoping； even praying； that it may
encourage a few more labourers to go forth into a vineyard； which those
who have toiled in it know to be full of ever…fresh health； and wonder
and simple joy； and the presence and the glory of Him whose name is
LOVE。
APPENDIX。
PLATE I。
ZOOPHYTA。 POLYZOA。
THE forms of animal life which are now united in an independent
class； under the name Polyzoa； so nearly resemble the Hydroid
Zoophytes in general form and appearance that a casual observer may
suppose them to be nearly identical。 In all but the more recent works；
they are treated as distinct indeed； but still included under the general
term 〃ZOOPHYTES。〃 The animals of both groups are minute；
polypiform creatures； mostly living in transparent cells； springing from
the sides of a stem which unites a number of individuals in one common
life； and grows in a shrub…like form upon any submarine body； such as a
shell； a rock； a weed； or even another polypidom to which it is
parasitically attached。 Each polype； in both classes； protrudes from and
retreats within its