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most awful and sublime depths； into an epos of the destruction and re…
creation of a former world。
This is but a single instance； I might give hundreds。 This one；
nevertheless； may have some effect in awakening you to the boundless
world of wonders which is all around you； and make you ask yourself
seriously； 〃What branch of Natural History shall I begin to investigate； if
it be but for a few weeks； this summer？〃
To which I answer； Try 〃the Wonders of the Shore。〃 There are along
every sea…beach more strange things to be seen； and those to be seen
easily； than in any other field of observation which you will find in these
islands。 And on the shore only will you have the enjoyment of finding
new species； of adding your mite to the treasures of science。
For not only the English ferns； but the natural history of all our land
species； are now well…nigh exhausted。 Our home botanists and
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ornithologists are spending their time now； perforce； in verifying a few
obscure species； and bemoaning themselves； like Alexander； that there
are no more worlds left to conquer。 For the geologist； indeed； and the
entomologist； especially in the remoter districts； much remains to be
done； but only at a heavy outlay of time； labour； and study； and the
dilettante （and it is for dilettanti； like myself； that I principally write）
must be content to tread in the tracks of greater men who have preceded
him； and accept at second or third hand their foregone conclusions。
But this is most unsatisfactory； for in giving up discovery； one gives
up one of the highest enjoyments of Natural History。 There is a
mysterious delight in the discovery of a new species； akin to that of
seeing for the first time； in their native haunts； plants or animals of
which one has till then only read。 Some； surely； who read these pages
have experienced that latter delight； and； though they might find it hard
to define whence the pleasure arose； know well that it was a solid
pleasure； the memory of which they would not give up for hard cash。
Some； surely； can recollect； at their first sight of the Alpine Soldanella；
the Rhododendron； or the black Orchis； growing upon the edge of the
eternal snow； a thrill of emotion not unmixed with awe； a sense that they
were； as it were； brought face to face with the creatures of another world；
that Nature was independent of them； not merely they of her； that trees
were not merely made to build their houses； or herbs to feed their cattle；
as they looked on those wild gardens amid the wreaths of the untrodden
snow； which had lifted their gay flowers to the sun year after year since
the foundation of the world； taking no heed of man； and all the coil
which he keeps in the valleys far below。
And even； to take a simpler instance； there are those who will excuse；
or even approve of； a writer for saying that； among the memories of a
month's eventful tour； those which stand out as beacon…points； those
round which all the others group themselves； are the first wolf…track by
the road…side in the Kyllwald； the first sight of the blue and green Roller…
birds； walking behind the plough like rooks in the tobacco…fields of
Wittlich； the first ball of Olivine scraped out of the volcanic slag…heaps
of the Dreisser… Weiher； the first pair of the Lesser Bustard flushed upon
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the downs of the Mosel…kopf； the first sight of the cloud of white
Ephemerae； fluttering in the dusk like a summer snowstorm between us
and the black cliffs of the Rheinstein； while the broad Rhine beneath
flashed blood…red in the blaze of the lightning and the fires of the
Mausenthurm … a lurid Acheron above which seemed to hover ten
thousand unburied ghosts； and last； but not least； on the lip of the vast
Mosel…kopf crater … just above the point where the weight of the fiery
lake has burst the side of the great slag…cup； and rushed forth between
two cliffs of clink…stone across the downs； in a clanging stream of fire；
damming up rivulets； and blasting its path through forests； far away
toward the valley of the Moselle … the sight of an object for which was
forgotten for the moment that battle…field of the Titans at our feet； and
the glorious panorama； Hundsruck and Taunus； Siebengebirge and
Ardennes； and all the crater peaks around； and which was … smile not；
reader … our first yellow foxglove。
But what is even this to the delight of finding a new species？ … of
rescuing （as it seems to you） one more thought of the Divine mind from
Hela； and the realms of the unknown； unclassified； uncomprehended？
As it seems to you： though in reality it only seems so； in a world
wherein not a sparrow falls to the ground unnoticed by our Father who is
in heaven。
The truth is； the pleasure of finding new species is too great； it is
morally dangerous； for it brings with it the temptation to look on the
thing found as your own possession； all but your own creation； to pride
yourself on it； as if God had not known it for ages since； even to
squabble jealously for the right of having it named after you； and of
being recorded in the Transactions of I… know…not…what Society as its first
discoverer：… as if all the angels in heaven had not been admiring it； long
before you were born or thought of。
But to be forewarned is to be forearmed； and I seriously counsel you
to try if you cannot find something new this summer along the coast to
which you are going。 There is no reason why you should not be so
successful as a friend of mine who； with a very slight smattering of
science； and very desultory research； obtained in one winter from the
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Torbay shores three entirely new species； beside several rare animals
which had escaped all naturalists since the lynx…eye of Colonel Montagu
discerned them forty years ago。
And do not despise the creatures because they are minute。 No doubt
we should most of us prefer discovering monstrous apes in the tropical
forests of Borneo； or stumbling upon herds of gigantic Ammon sheep
amid the rhododendron thickets of the Himalaya： but it cannot be； and
〃he is a fool；〃 says old Hesiod； 〃who knows not how much better half is
than the whole。〃 Let us be content with what is within our reach。
And doubt not that in these tiny creatures are mysteries more than we
shall ever fathom。
The zoophytes and microscopic animalcules which people every shore
and every drop of water； have been now raised to a rank in the human
mind more important； perhaps； than even those gigantic monsters whose
models fill the lake at the Crystal Palace。 The research which has been
bestowed； for the last century； upon these once unnot