glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第6章
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Him； and magnify Him for ever！〃
I have said； that there were excuses for the old contempt of the study
of Natural History。 I have said； too； it may be hoped； enough to show
that contempt to be now ill…founded。 But still； there are those who
regard it as a mere amusement； and that as a somewhat effeminate one；
and think that it can at best help to while away a leisure hour harmlessly；
and perhaps usefully； as a substitute for coarser sports； or for the reading
of novels。 Those； however； who have followed it out； especially on the
sea… shore； know better。 They can tell from experience； that over and
above its accessory charms of pure sea…breezes； and wild rambles by
cliff and loch； the study itself has had a weighty moral effect upon their
hearts and spirits。 There are those who can well understand how the
good and wise John Ellis； amid all his philanthropic labours for the good
of the West Indies； while he was spending his intellect and fortune in
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introducing into our tropic settlements the bread…fruit； the mangosteen；
and every plant and seed which he hoped might be useful for medicine；
agriculture； and commerce； could yet feel himself justified in devoting
large portions of his ever well…spent time to the fighting the battle of
the corallines against Parsons and the rest； and even in measuring pens
with Linne； the prince of naturalists。
There are those who can sympathise with the gallant old Scotch
officer mentioned by some writer on sea…weeds； who； desperately
wounded in the breach at Badajos； and a sharer in all the toils and
triumphs of the Peninsular war； could in his old age show a rare sea…
weed with as much triumph as his well…earned medals； and talk over a
tiny spore…capsule with as much zest as the records of sieges and battles。
Why not？ That temper which made him a good soldier may very well
have made him a good naturalist also。 The late illustrious geologist； Sir
Roderick Murchison； was also an old Peninsular officer。 I doubt not
that with him； too； the experiences of war may have helped to fit him for
the studies of peace。 Certainly； the best naturalist； as far as logical
acumen； as well as earnest research； is concerned； whom England has
ever seen； was the Devonshire squire； Colonel George Montagu； of
whom the late E。 Forbes well says； that 〃had he been educated a
physiologist〃 （and not； as he was； a soldier and a sportsman）； 〃and made
the study of Nature his aim and not his amusement； his would have been
one of the greatest names in the whole range of British science。〃 I
question； nevertheless； whether he would not have lost more than he
would have gained by a different training。 It might have made him a
more learned systematizer； but would it have quickened in him that
〃seeing〃 eye of the true soldier and sportsman； which makes Montagu's
descriptions indelible word… pictures； instinct with life and truth？ 〃There
is no question；〃 says E。 Forbes； after bewailing the vagueness of most
naturalists； 〃about the identity of any animal Montagu described。 。 。 。 He
was a forward…looking philosopher； he spoke of every creature as if one
exceeding like it； yet different from it； would be washed up by the waves
next tide。 Consequently his descriptions are permanent。〃 Scientific
men will recognize in this the highest praise which can be bestowed；
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because it attributes to him the highest faculty … The Art of Seeing； but
the study and the book would not have given that。 It is God's gift
wheresoever educated： but its true school… room is the camp and the
ocean； the prairie and the forest； active； self…helping life； which can
grapple with Nature herself： not merely with printed…books about her。
Let no one think that this same Natural History is a pursuit fitted only
for effeminate or pedantic men。 I should say； rather； that the
qualifications required for a perfect naturalist are as many and as lofty as
were required； by old chivalrous writers； for the perfect knight…errant
of the Middle Ages： for （to sketch an ideal； of which I am happy to say
our race now affords many a fair realization） our perfect naturalist
should be strong in body； able to haul a dredge； climb a rock； turn a
boulder； walk all day； uncertain where he shall eat or rest； ready to face
sun and rain； wind and frost； and to eat or drink thankfully anything；
however coarse or meagre； he should know how to swim for his life； to
pull an oar； sail a boat； and ride the first horse which comes to hand； and；
finally； he should be a thoroughly good shot； and a skilful fisherman；
and； if he go far abroad； be able on occasion to fight for his life。
For his moral character； he must； like a knight of old； be first of all
gentle and courteous； ready and able to ingratiate himself with the poor；
the ignorant； and the savage； not only because foreign travel will be
often otherwise impossible； but because he knows how much invaluable
local information can be only obtained from fishermen； miners； hunters；
and tillers of the soil。 Next； he should be brave and enterprising； and
withal patient and undaunted； not merely in travel； but in investigation；
knowing （as Lord Bacon might have put it） that the kingdom of Nature；
like the kingdom of heaven； must be taken by violence； and that only to
those who knock long and earnestly does the great mother open the
doors of her sanctuary。 He must be of a reverent turn of mind also； not
rashly discrediting any reports； however vague and fragmentary； giving
man credit always for some germ of truth； and giving Nature credit for
an inexhaustible fertility and variety； which will keep him his life long
always reverent； yet never superstitious； wondering at the commonest；
but not surprised by the most strange； free from the idols of size and
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sensuous loveliness； able to see grandeur in the minutest objects； beauty；
in the most ungainly； estimating each thing not carnally； as the vulgar do；
by its size or its pleasantness to the senses； but spiritually； by the amount
of Divine thought revealed to Man therein； holding every phenomenon
worth the noting down； believing that every pebble holds a treasure；
every bud a revelation； making it a point of conscience to pass over
nothing through laziness or hastiness； lest the vision once offered and
despised should be withdrawn； and looking at every object as if he were
never to behold it again。
Moreover； he must keep himself free from all those perturbations of
mind which not only weaken energy； but darken and confuse the
inductive faculty； from haste and laziness； from melancholy； testiness；
pride； and all the passions which make men see only what they wish to
see。 Of solemn and scrupulous reverence for truth； of the habit of mind
which regards each fact and discovery； not as our own possession； but as
the possession of its Creator； independent of us； our tastes； our needs； or
our vain…glory； I hardly need to speak； for it is the very essence of a
nature's faculty … the very tenure of his existence： and without
truthfulness science would be as impossible now as chivalry would have
been of old。
And last； but not least； the perfect naturalist should have in him the
very essence of true chivalry； namely； self…devotion； the desire to
advance； not himself and his own fame or wealth； but knowledge and
mankind。 He should have this great virtue； and in spite of many
shortcomings （for what man is there who liveth and sinneth not？）；
naturalists as a class have it to a degree which makes them stand out
most honourably in the midst of a self…seeking and mammonite
generation； inclined to value everything by its money price； its private
utility。 The spirit which gives freely； because it knows that it has
received freely； which communicates knowledge without hope of reward；
without jealousy and rivalry； to fellow… students and to the world； which is
content to delve and toil comparatively unknown； that from its obscure
and seemingly worthless results others may derive pleasure； and even
build up great fortunes； and change the very face of cities and lands； by
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th
