and decorated with the most tawdry ornaments, like a chimney-sweeper on May-day. The editor of a country paper cannot be always present in every town, village, and hamlet, through which his paper circulates; but he has generally in every place some gratuitous correspondent, not a penny-a-line man, but an amateur writer, who is more than paid for his trouble by seeing his own composition in print. Now if the editor be an elegant writer, delighting to see the English language attitudinising in his paper, like a Harlequin and Columbine in a plumber's shop-window, the correspondents of the paper will be ten times more eloquent than the editor himself.

66

"A baronet's son comes of age, and the baronet gives an entertainment on the occasion. The tenants and villagers dine and dance in the park; the baronet's friends dine and dance in the house; and here follows an account of the festivity:

"On Wednesday last the village of Little Dribbleton was a scene of gaiety and festivity, reminding us of olden times, when baronial splendour and hospitality were at their meridian acme of glory. On that day the eldest son and heir of Sir Matthew Mugg, Bart. came of age and in order to commemorate so grand and imposing an epoch, the worthy baronet with his accustomed liberality resolved on giving a splendid fete. Most felicitously fortunately the fineness of the day was favourably propitious to the hilarity of the festival. As soon as the bright Phoebus showed his unclouded face over the eastern hills, the bells of the village church struck up a merry peal, a splendid silk flag bearing the armorial bearings of the Mugg family was elevated on the church steeple, which waved gracefully to the gentle breezes of Æolus, and all the lads and lasses of the village were seen tripping across the plain in their holiday attire. At one o'clock a dinner was set out in the park for the tenants and inhabitants of Little Dribbleton, which consisted of the most liberal supply of the good old English fare, roast beef and plum pudding, while rivers of home brewed ale were liberally supplied to wash down these substantial viands; and the condescension of Lady Mugg, who actually ate a piece of the plum pudding, provoked the loudest plaudits from the assembled multitude. When the guests had discussed their dinner, they proceeded to their sports in the park, which were ably managed and skilfully arranged under the highly talented superintendence of Mr. Hogsflesh, the landlord of the Crown and Pigstye. The sports consisted of donkeyracing, pig-hunting, jumping in sacks, grinning through a horse collar, running for a chemise, and such like manly sports, which were wont in the olden time to invigorate the frame, and to make Britain the pride and envy of surrounding nations. The racing of asinine quadrupeds afforded most excellent sport, and the prize, which consisted of half a Cheshire cheese, was carried off in triumph by young Joe Mumps, son of the celebrated cricket player of that name; and, singular it is to relate, but such is the fact, that Peggy Mumps, his sister, was victress in the chemise race, so that two prizes went into one family. Dancing also was provided for such as loved that graceful recreation, and many of the lads and lasses of Little Dribbleton were tripping it on the light fantastic toe till such time as the beautiful queen of night, in her silver car, the chaste Dian, sister to the bright-eyed Phoebus, began to climb the eastern heaven. The entertainment within the hall was on the most splendid and sumptuous scale, consisting of every delicacy that the season affords, and exhibiting a profusion of the most costly viands. The magnificent display of brilliant plate exceeded all that we ever read of in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, or Gulliver's Travels. All the beauty and fashion of Little Dribbleton were present, and the élite of the vicinity

graced the festival with their company. Among the company present we observed the Rev. Oliver Whiteface, Mrs. Whiteface, and the nine Misses Whiteface, John Popkins, Esq., Mrs. and the seven Misses Popkins, cum multis alios quæ nunc proscribere longam est."

"This is rather a long communication, but woe betide the editor if he dare to make the slightest alteration in it, or curtailment of it; should he correct the Latin quotation or omit it altogether, there would be such a philological controversy in the paper, that its columns, for the next six months, would look like "the Diversions of Purley." Should the editor, by any accident, omit the name of Popkins, or insert it as Mr. Popkins, the village apothecary, no individual, bearing the name of Popkins, would read his paper for the next twenty years; and, in all probability, such an insult would lead to the establishment of a rival paper on independent principles. The editor of the Blunderton Chronicle once lost fifteen subscribers and a constant correspondent, for presuming to substitute the word "moon" for "lunar orb," in an epistolary communication. It was in vain the editor protested that the alteration was made merely from want of room, and that he was aware of the great superiority of his correspondent's talents; the correspondent was inexorable, and would never forgive any man such a gross and scandalous crime, as daring to presume to correct his style. Many other pleasant matters of local intelligence grace the columns of a country newspaper, such as gigantic turnips, unseasonable cabbages, kittens with six legs, pigs with one ear, and, peradventure, some elaborate narrative of "certain diabolical miscreants, sacrilegiously breaking into the pantry of the parish clerk, and stealing thereout two cow-heels and a bushel of tripe, together with four pewter spoons and a bran new gridiron, which he had provided for his Sunday dinner.”

"It is to be particularly remarked, that country thieves, in country newspapers, are all diabolical miscreants, therefore, all those who would avoid the reproach of diabolical miscreancy, would do well to avoid plundering pantries in the country. For my part I cannot see how a man can hold up his head again, after being called a diabolical miscreant in a country newspaper, it is enough to kill him for life.”

In some of the articles the burlesque is comical to the extreme, but the veriest cynic who has disclaimed laughter as a vulgar propensity, must have his risible faculties forced into play on perusing the chief part of these characteristic sketches. It is the conviction of their strict resemblance to nature, though broadly caricatured, and the ludicrous position of men and things in circumstances dexterously placed for the peculiar occasion, which give these stories their force of colouring-and then the phraseology in which they are wrapped is so admirably adapted to the different scenes brought to the mind's eye. There is no coarseness of language in any part of the volume-on the contrary it is distin-. guished by purity of style and neatness of diction-and we have no doubt, which is presuming in no slight degree on its merits, that all its readers will cordially agree with us in this our unbiassed opinion.

British Oology; being Illustrations of the Eggs of British Birds, with Figures of [those of] each species, as far as practicable, drawn and coloured from Nature: accompanied by descriptions of the materials and situation of their nests, number of eggs, &c. By W. C. Hewitson. In two monthly 8vo. numbers, each containing four lithographic prints. Newcastle-upon-Tyne and London. Nos. 1 to 20.

This beautiful work, of which the twentieth number has just appeared, far surpasses any other that has yet been published on eggs. The plates, which are drawings on stone by the author, coloured by Mr. J. Standish, of London, are admirably executed. It would be useless

to criticise any of them, as all are equally well done, and are, in fact, perfect fac-similes of the originals. Where the eggs of any species are subject to variety, two, and even three, specimens are given: although this somewhat extends the work, yet the use of it is manifest; for in Lewin's "Birds of Britain," where only one egg of each species is given, it is often impossible to find out to what bird an unknown egg belongs, and the figures in that work are generally miserably executed, although both these and the figures of birds are excellent for the time at which they were published (1795-1800). We accordingly hailed with delight the appearance of a new work devoted exclusively to eggs.

The descriptions, though generally accurate and written in a pleasant style, are, in our opinion, too short. Mr. Loudon, in a notice of this work (Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. V. p. 699), suggests that it would be "an excellent means of acquiring a mass of authentic facts on British Oology, were the author now to announce that he will publish, at the conclusion of the work, whatever facts, derived from personal observation, his subscribers may please to communicate unexpensively to him, if supplementary, or even controversial, to those already advanced in the work." But would it not be preferable to place such remarks as he may receive, under their proper heads in the body of the work? Supplements are always inconvenient for reference, and should, therefore, be avoided if possible.

There is one thing in this work against which we must enter our decided protest, and that is, the placing on the same plate the eggs of birds belonging-according to the modern system-to entirely distinct genera; as for instance, those of Coccothraustes vulgaris (Will.) and Pyrrhula vulgaris (Temm.) The eggs of C. vulgaris and C. chloris* should of course have come on one plate, and those of P. vulgaris and P. enucleator on another. Let it be understood, however, that we do not object to having the eggs of birds of different genera on the same plate, provided each of those genera contains but one species, but only where there are two or more. We are really sorry that Mr. Hewitson should mar his beautiful and useful work by a fault which might so easily be avoided. We must also remark that the author has adhered too much to the system of Linnæus and the venerable Dr. Latham (now in his ninety-fifth year), which, though a lofty and comprehensive arrangement, and well suited for rendering the acquirement of Natural History easy, and although it clearly proves the superior talents and genius of its founders, yet is not sufficiently exact for scientific purposes, and has

* The author most unaccountably keeps the Green Grosbeak in the genus Fringilla, while he very properly removes the Haw Grosbeak into Coccothraustes.

Selby has, in some instances, fallen into the same error, in his splendid "Illustrations of British Ornithology;" but his masterly classification and excellent letter-press atone for all such defects.

long since been entirely superseded by the system of the great French Naturalist, which latter system has also now given place to that of Vigors and Swainson. Mr. Hewitson could not have done better than follow the arrangement adopted by Selby in his admirable "Illustrations of British Ornithology" in every particular, and even now we would advise him, when the work is completed, to arrange the plates in exactly the same order as the birds come, in the second edition of the last mentioned work. The "Oology" would then form a valuable addition to the "Illustrations" of Mr. Selby.

In fine, notwithstanding the defects of this work, we may safely recommend it to all those who wish to possess a complete work on British Oology; it is also an elegant work for the drawing-room, and we are happy to see the names of several ladies amongst the numerous subscribers, and also many of the first British Naturalists. We hope that Mr. Hewitson will figure the eggs of all the birds described by Selby, and even a few more, such as Cypselus Alpinus, Regulus ignicapillus, and Motacilla neglecta of Gould (Yellow-headed Wagtail). The "British Oology" was commenced five years ago, and, if continued at the same rate as hitherto, will not be completed for ten years to come.

The Naturalist's Library. Ornithology. Vol. IV. Part II. Game Birds, 32 plates engraved on steel by Lizars; with a portrait and biographical sketch of the life of Raffles. By Sir Wm. Jardine. Foolscap 8vo. London, Edinburgh, and Dublin.

This Volume-or rather part-is decidedly superior to the preceding Ornithological vols. of this work, both as regards the plates and the letterpress; it is prefaced by a beautiful portrait of Raffles, copied by permission from that which accompanies the interesting history of the "Life and public services of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles." The life of this modern Sir Hans Sloane cannot fail to be of great interest to every British Naturalist, and is written in an easy flowing style.

On the title page is a beautiful vignette, consisting of a pair of Red Grouse; the female surrounded by a numerous family, some of which are perching on her back, and the male standing beside her with all the watchful solicitude of a good father. The descriptions are generally well written and interesting, particularly the long and full account of that noble bird the Wood Grouse-now, alas extinct in Britain, and has been so for more than half a century. The plates are, for the most part, very fairly executed, especially that of the Wood Grouse, evidently taken from Bewick's wood-cut. The figure of the Black Grouse is also very good; altho' the tail is not so well finished as in Selby's plate, from which it is copied. The author speaks of the elegant Coromandel Quail, but unhappily the figure of this bird does not support his testimony, as it appears to our vision to be remarkably clumsy. It is, however, perhaps unfair to criticise any of the plates very severely, as they are generally good, and the volume is certainly remarkably cheap.

We understand that the next Ornithological volume of this work is to be on the Columbida (Pigeon family), from the able pen of Mr. Selby, the well known author of the " Illustrations of British Ornithology.”

Faculties of Birds: forming a vol. of the Lib. of Entertaining Knowledge. By James Rennie. 12mo. 1835.

This volume, like all others published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, certainly does answer

the desired end of promoting useful knowledge, but then the knowledge imparted is too much pilfered from other authors. Thus free scope is allowed to this "Prince of Compilers," as the Spectator justly styles him, to draw upon sterling authors whose works are the product of years' patient observation and investigation in the field of Nature-such are the delightful volumes of Wilson, Audubon and Mudie, from the first of whom our author-compiler we meant-has made no scruple to take copious draughts, especially in the "Architecture of Birds," and which he has had the effrontery to cram in amongst his "conglomerates of dust and slime." We will now proceed to investigate the contents of this volume.

The first chapter is devoted to the "Vision of Birds." Rather than take a masterly and original view of this subject, as Mudie would have done, the Professor has chosen to string together a series of facts and anecdotes related by other authors, with here and there a remark which he would fain have us believe to be his own; they are, however, almost entirely culled from higher authorities. Yet at p. 8 we are actually startled by a "fact observed by J. R;" but, alas! it is buried in an overwhelming mass of quotations.

Chap. II. is on the " Hearing of Birds." We must not omit to remark the lamentable want of Phrenology in this division of his subject. For instance, at p. 55 he says; "The anatomical structure and conformation which constitutes what is called a musical ear, remains hitherto unknown." We could hardly have supposed it possible that any person who has read-as we believe the Professor has-Dr. Gall's excellent work "Sur les Fonctions du Cerveau,” would still retain the absurd opinion that the love of music depends on the anatomical structure of the ear. It of course depends on the comparative size of the innate organ of tune (see Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. VII, p. 567). The remaining chapters treat of the other faculties, and in these the compiler, as usual, puts into requisition the theories and opinions of every Naturalist from the time of Aristotle to the present day, without coming to any decided conclusion of his own. This loose and unscientific method of proceeding may diffuse entertaining knowledge, but it certainly does not advance science. The "Natural History of Birds" of Mr. Mudie-in common with the other works of this delightful author-answers both these ends.

This, then, is the volume which-with the other two-we are told, "completes the subject of Ornithology." Completes it, forsooth! and in what manner? By stringing together a series of facts, anecdotes, theories, opinions and remarks of other authors who are thus robbed of their lawful property, merely to please the multitude. We are certain that were we informed of any one department of Ornithology on which this literary Lestris" were going to write, we could furnish a review of it before we had seen it.

This person in all his compilations, seems to wish to show that he is a "well read man," by conspicuously placing the titles of books quoted in the margin, which is literary filled with them. We cannot help wondering why the Professor should not sometimes treat us with remarks of his own, as those which he has from time to time given to the world, are by no means devoid of interest; such as those in his "Architecture of Birds:" but as if not satisfied with having lodged them there, he must needs fall back into his old habits, and transfer them into his edition of that delightful work "Montague's Ornithological Dictionary."-We must now finish our review of this volume, and leave the Professor to do as he, in his profound wisdom, may think fit in his next "conglomerate.'