No man had ever
No man had ever heard a nightingale, When once a keen-eyed naturalist was stirred To study and define — what is a bird. Emma Lazarus
Naturalist
Up until the middle
Up until the middle of the nineteenth century, men of science were all believers. Most of the great early English naturalists were also ministers; they were the only ones who had education and leisure for such pursuits. Darwin himself almost became a minister. God’s power was always thought to be most easily and obviously revealed … Read more
The nineteenth century was
The nineteenth century was the last moment in history when a relatively educated layperson could follow what was going on in the world of science and invention to a wide degree. Also, there were no \”professionals\”. This was a time when amateur explorers, naturalists and enthusiasts were are still making major contributions to progress. Elizabeth … Read more
In the Life of
In the Life of Darwin by his son, there is related an incident of how the great naturalist once studied long as to just what a certain spore was. Finally he said, \”It is this, for if it isn’t, then what is it?\” And all during his life he was never able to forget that … Read more
To the lost man,
To the lost man, to the pioneer penetrating a new country, to the naturalist who wishes to see the wild land at its wildest, the advice is always the same – follow a river. The river is the original forest highway. It is nature’s own Wilderness Road. Edwin Way Teale
Even the lifelong traveler
Even the lifelong traveler knows but an infinitesimal portion of the Earth’s surface. Those who have written best about the land and its wild inhabitants…have often been stay-at-home naturalists…concentrating their attention and affection on a relatively small area. Edwin Way Teale
For the mind disturbed,
For the mind disturbed, the still beauty of dawn is nature’s finest balm. Edwin Way Teale
Our minds, as well
Our minds, as well as our bodies, have need of the out-of-doors. Our spirits, too, need simple things, elemental things, the sun and the wind and the rain, moonlight and starlight, sunrise and mist and mossy forest trails, the perfumes of dawn and the smell of fresh-turned earth and the ancient music of wind among … Read more
If human nature eventually
If human nature eventually is going to take the place of nature everywhere, those of us who have been naturalists will have to transpose the faith in nature which is inherent in the profession to a faith in man-if necessary, man alone in the world. Edward Hoagland
The naturalists of our
The naturalists of our own time hold equal faith in the wonders of the sea, but seek therein rather for the links of nature’s chain than for apparent exceptions. Edward Forbes