III.] ORIGIN OF TASTE FOR SCIENCE. 211
in a half scientific, half literary atmosphere. (3) Family tradition derived through my mother's
side.
Two cases are mentioned in which the origin of the scientific tastes was partly due to the active assistance of the wife. One of these is Botany (5), and the other I have ventured to suppress, as it did not appear to me sufficiently decided.
§ F. TAE INFLUENCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT
OF FRIENDS.
This group has much in common with that of the indirect influences already classed under group c ; it includes cases where a fortuitous acquaintance has been the means of deciding a career, probably by revealing a latent taste, or showing how some obstacle in the way of indulging it could easily be removed. There is a wide interval, often very difficult to get over, between the study of a subject out of books and
