CONTRIBUTED TO THE QUARTERLY REVIEW' BY SAMUEL WILBERFORCE, D.D., LATE LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, IN TWO VOLUMES.-VOL. I. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1874. The right of Translation is reserved. THE NATURALIST IN SUSSEX AND ON THE SPEY.* (September, 1845, and July, 1873.) THE pursuits of natural history possess a various and multiform interest. When followed out in their strictly scientific character by such men as Cuvier, or our own Professor Owen, they present us with remarkable generalizations, which not only exhibit the clearest marks of design and plan upon which the whole world of animated being has been constructed, but throw ever and anon remarkable light upon some of the greatest intricacies of our own organic construction. The discovery that the lower manifestations of animal life are forms through which the higher animals pass, throws a new light upon the conditions under which those higher animals exist in those preparatory stages in which it is often singularly difficult to explore the secrets of their being. But there are many other advantages which wait upon the study of natural history for those who cannot follow it to these scientific heights. No innocent pursuit which possesses sufficient interest to engage the attention, and so to sharpen the faculties and enlarge the mind, will ever be contemned by the true philosopher. And this pursuit, specially exercises some, and those very important faculties. A good practical naturalist must be a good observer; and how many qualities are required * 'Ornithological Rambles in Sussex, with a Systematic Catalogue of the Birds of that County, and Remarks on their local Distribution.' By A. E. Knox, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. London. 1849. B |