All the stages come in turn, over and over again, observation, experiment, inquiry from others whether orally or in books, and in this subject books abound more fascinating than fairy tales, and their latest charm is that they are laying aside the pose of a fairy tale and tell the simple truth.
The love of nature, awakened early, is a great estate with which to endow a child, but it needs education, that the proprietor of the estate may know how to manage it, and not--with the manners of a _parvenu_--miss either the inner spirit or the outward behaviour belonging to the property.

This right manner and spirit of possession is what the informal "nature study" aims at; it is a point of view.

Now the point of view as to the outside world means a great deal in life.

Countrymen do not love nature as townsmen love it.

Their affection is deeper but less emotional, like old friendships, undemonstrative but everlasting.
Countrymen see without looking, and say very little about it.