THE FIELD NATURALIST'S KNOWLEDGE. 51
While, however, it is not to be expected that field naturalists
should be ardent students of several departments of science, they
may, and indeed as a rule they do, take a sympathetic interest in vari-
ous branches of Natural History knowledge. Rarely do we find the
devotee of one science despising the pursuit of another. The love
of Nature makes the whole world of Naturalists kin. The botanist
looks with a friendly eye on entomology, and the ornithologist or
meteorologist does not look coldly on the work of the decipherer of
the records of the rocks. Still, the claims of each science are so
exacting and engrossing, that it is not at all to be wondered at if
any naturalist do not do more than take a friendly and sympathetic
interest in investigation in another portion of the great field of
natural knowledge.
Nevertheless, although botanists will remain almost solely
botanists, entomologists entomologists, and geologists geologists,
yet I venture to plead for a consideration by every naturalist, of
the part filled by each, and the connection that exists between all,
of the Natural History sciences. Such a conspectus will not
hinder or impede the earnest and definite pursuit of any one, while
it will give an increased appreciation of the dignity of every science
so viewed, from the deepened sense of each being an essential part
of the great scheme of Nature.
The educational influence of a knowledge of the mutual inter-
dependence of the Natural History sciences is great, both generally
and specially, for not only does it teach the function and scope of
each, but it must give a certain amount of knowledge of the various
sciences themselves, that cannot fail to be of great benefit to the
individual, and may possibly be of great service to science when
opportunities occur for observation in more than one direction. The
botanist may be led by his more extended range of knowledge,
while botanising, to record some fact in entomology not hitherto
noticed, and the geologist may be induced to note the growth of
some plant in a position not previously known, or the passage of
some bird not before seen.
We are often warned, though not as a rule by the lovers of
knowledge or those who have drank deep themselves, that
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
and are solemnly enjoined to
"Drink deep or taste not at the Pierian spring."
E 2