218   ENGLISH MEN OF SCIENCE.   [CHAP.

the tastes were afterwards developed by a good education. (6) Professor . . . .'s lectures were the origin of my interest in geology [It was the

earliest scientific pursuit of this correspondent].

Mechanical Science.-None.

§ H. TRAVEL IN DISTANT PARTS.

There are only 8 cases in this group, namely, those in which the aspects of nature under new conditions have developed a love for science. Few men of scientific training have had opportunities of distant travel, but on those few their action has been very strong, especially as regards biologists and physicists. I say nothing here in respect to mere geographers, and quote none of their replies, because its importance to them requires neither proof nor comment. Men are too apt to accept as an axiomatic law, not capable of further explanation, whatever they see recurring day after day without fail. So the dog in the back yard looks on the daily arrival of the postman, butcher, and baker as so many