CHAPTER IV.
Alexander Wilmot was too much pleased with Mr.Swinton not to cultivate his acquaintance, and they soon became very intimate.

The conversation often turned upon Mr.Swinton's favorite study, that of natural history.
"I confess myself wholly ignorant of the subject," observed Alexander one day, "though I feel that it must be interesting to those who study it; indeed, when I have walked through the museums, I have often wished that I had some one near who could explain to me what I wished to know and was puzzled about.

But it appears to me that the study of natural history is such an immense undertaking if you comprehend all its branches.

Let me see,--there is botany, mineralogy, and geology--these are included, are they not ?" "Most certainly," replied Mr.Swinton, laughing; "and perhaps the three most interesting branches.

Then you have zoology, or the study of animals, ornithology for birds, entomology for insects, conchology for shells, ichthyology for fishes; all very hard names, and enough to frighten a young beginner.