The Practical Naturalist S Guide

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 edition. Excerpt: ... THE PEACTICAL NATUEALIST'S GUIDE. INTRODUCTION. The value of a judiciously arranged collection to the naturalist cannot be over-estimated, provided always that the collection itself be looked upon as a means to an end, and not the ultimatum of his solicitude. Unfortunately, it is too often the case that large accumulations of specimens are brought together by amateurs, at an enormous cost, with no other object in view, on the part of the collector, than the gratification obtained from mere possession. Such collections are useless to the owner, and though hundreds of pounds may have been spent on their purchase and ornamentation, the shabbiest and smallest cabinets in the closets of real working naturalists immeasurably transcend them- in real value. A collection, whether public or private, should be, not a mere show-thing to please the eye, but a perfectly consultable, and consequently well-arranged assemblage of specimens, illustrating, either typically or specifically, the natural history perhaps of the whole world, or--as in most workable private collections--some special group of the animal kingdom. The following pages are written with a view to promote this the proper use of private collections; and while much in these pages may be of use to the museum curator, they are not originally intended for his instruction, seeing that, in the course of his preliminary training, he must already have acquired far more knowledge by experience than can possibly be expressed in writing, --that kind of knowledge which is only to be obtained by daily labour among his specimens. The chief intention of the writer is to supply, within small compass, so much knowledge as will enable the student and amateur, as also the traveller in foreign countries, to..

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Guides readers to explore, understand, and observe the natural world, focusing on the plants and animals seen in the different biomes.

This book is designed to bring a few green shoots into what are quite dull, gray times. The natural world is on your doorstep whether you live in the heart of a concrete jungle, by the sea, on top of a mountain, or in a cottage in the woods. The Practical Naturalist is about giving you the wherewithal to explore that natural world. It will be inspirational, informative, and educational-it aims to inspire you to get out there and experience the wonders of the world around you, inform you by showing you what you can discover in each habitat and also give you tips on how to conserve it. Each section (habitat) will have three strands: 1 Informative section will tell you all you need to know about that particular habitat, bringing it to life in an evocative way. These spreads will also have boxes on the science and ecology of the habitat, and key practical aspects (such as how to read tide tables). The accompanying artwork style will retain that personal feel-not cold and clinical, but as if newly sketched (while still showing and telling you what you need to know). 2 Catalog section will show you what you'll see in that habitat-snapshots of groups of species belonging to a particular place to help you identify what you might see. For example, this section might show a collection of objects you'd find on a beach in New England. However, while it's specific, it's also generic, since you'd find similar things on any beach from Reykyavik to Rio. 3 The practical part: These are the elements that show you what to do in each habitat-a selection of projects that allow you to engage with the environment, without intruding. This section is specially photographed for the book, and might show a pond or sea water sample, a mask that allows you to view the underwater world, or a simple birdhouse for your backyard.