ART. V.-The Journal of a Naturalist. London. 1829. We believe very few books, on the subject of Natural History, WE

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have met with such unqualified praise from those to whom the contemplation of the various objects of nature can afford rational amusement, as the ، Natural History of Selborne, by the Rev. Gilbert White.* The author of the little volume, with the modest title, now before us, admits that, in the collection of his own materials, he had this interesting book in his eye; that the perusal of it early impressed on his mind an ardent love for all the ways and economy of nature; and that he was thereby led to the constant observance of the various rural objects with which he was surrounded. But, as he observes, many years have passed away since the publication of Mr. White's amusing book, without its being followed up by any other bearing the least resemblance to it; and ، although, he adds, ، the meditations of separate naturalists in fields, in wilds, in woods, may yield a similarity of ideas, yet the different aspects under which the same things are viewed and characters considered, afford infinite variety of description and narratives.' This is unquestionably true; and we can assure him, that a close perusal of the two productions has satisfied us that they do not in the least interfere with each other. Both are well suited for a country library-both are almost sure to awake that degree of curiosity which promotes inquiry, and stimulates to the investigation of nature and the confirmation of truth. But the 'Journal of a Naturalist' is peculiarly calculated for this end. It brings home to its readers the structure, the splendour, and the utility of various species of the vegetable part of the creation. The peculiar habits and economy of different quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, and insects, that are found in and about a certain district of country, and the observations and reflections which the contemplation of the several objects gives rise to, are so just and admirable that they can

* We happen to have in our possession the original MS. journals of Mr. White, in five volumes, commencing in January, 1768, and ending with December, 1789, containing daily remarks, and much curious matter in the columns, that is not found in the published book. On the title-page of The Naturalist's Journal' (thus filled up) for the first year, is this inscription - The gift of the Honourable Mr. Barrington, the Inventor; and at the foot of the page is the following quotation from Thomson's Seasons; 'I solitary court

Th' inspiring breeze; and meditate the book

Of nature, ever open.'

But in those for a few subsequent years, is substituted the following inscription

:

Omnia bene describere quæ in hoc mundo adeo facta, aut naturæ creatæ viribus elaborata fuerunt, opus est non unius hominis, nec unius ævi. Hinc Faunæ et Flora utilissime; hinc monographi praestantissimi.'-Joan. Ant. Scopoli, annus secundus, Historico-Naturalis.

These Journals are kept with great neatness, the writing clear and distinct, almost without an obliteration; and we apprehend they must have been preserved with great care in the family, being handsomely and well bound.

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not fail to gratify the curiosity of the reader, and, at the same time, command his approbation and sympathy. In short, it is a book that ought to find its way into every rural drawing-room in the kingdom, and one that may safely be placed in every lady's boudoir, be her rank and station in life what they may; which is more than we can venture to say, with regard to Mr. White's volume. That good old clergyman, in the simplicity of his heart, sometimes spoke of matters in a way not exactly suited to female delicacy; but the most fastidious eye may, without fear of offence, consult the Journal of a Naturalist.'

It has often been to us a matter of surprise and regret, that the study of natural history, or of those physical objects which are perpetually before our eyes and daily strew our path, should not have taken deeper root, and even formed an elementary part of education in the scholastic institutions of Great Britain. Considering the subject on the score of amusement merely, it is assuredly one of the most delightful occupations that can employ the attention of human beings. But it has higher claims on our notice; it leads us, as our author justly observes,

'to investigate and survey the workings and ways of Providence in this created world of wonders, filled with his never absent power: it occupies and elevates the mind, is inexhaustible in supply, and, while it furnishes meditation for the closet of the studious, gives to the reflexions of the moralizing rambler admiration and delight, and is an engaging companion, that will communicate an interest to every rural walk.'

In fact, every object in the creation may truly be said to be worthy of regard in the philosophy of nature. They are all the formation of Supreme Intelligence; they are all created for some definite purpose; and we shall find, on a minute examination into the mechanism and structure even of the meanest reptile that crawls, the most obvious and nice adaptation of the means to the end; thus furnishing to our narrow understandings some faint conception of the powers of Infinite Wisdom.

But should these higher considerations fail to give an interest to the innumerable and infinitely varied objects that fill the universe, it might be supposed that the exquisite beauty of some, the intrinsic value of others, and the indipensable utility of many, would be sufficient inducements to lead to the investigation of their properties, habits, and economy; and to make the study of natural history a subject of systematic education. In all these respects the researches of each department will amply repay the labour of the student. The geologist, for instance, finds his reward in the knowledge he obtains of the formation of the crust of the globe we inhabit, and which, thin as it is compared with the

whole

whole mass, supplies the precious metals that constitute the representatives of our wealth; the diamonds, the emeralds, the rubies, and all the varieties of precious stones, which add brilliancy to beauty; the marbles, and granites, and porphyrys, which contribute to the strength and splendour of our public buildings and private dwellings. The botanist takes a deep interest in the contemplation of the vegetable world, from which we derive most of our comforts and our luxuries; our food, our clothing, and our fuel; wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to give him a cheerful countenance.' The zoologist is instructed to what species of the animal part of the creation we are most indebted for assistance and security-which of them, while living, aid us most in our enjoyments and necessities, and which, when dead, contribute their share to our food and raiment. It is, however, to the vegetable part of the creation that the great masses of mankind, inhabiting the equinoctial and tropical regions, are principally indebted for their sustenance: in the temperate climates, where grasses abound, man mixes animal food with the produce of his agricultural labours; and the nearer he approaches the Arctic circle and the Polar regions, the more he has to depend on animal food; till having arrived at the extremes of the habitable world, he disputes the possession of seals and whales with the bears and foxes, gorging himself with their flesh, with the avidity of those beasts of prey that prowl about in these desolate and inhospitable regions.

In recommending the study, therefore, of natural history, we by no means wish to be understood as limiting it to the mere systematic nomenclature, or classification of natural objects; such, for instance, as that which is contained in the 'Systema Naturæ of Linnæus, which is, nevertheless, one of the most elaborate and extraordinary productions of industry and skill that we are acquainted with; and the knowledge of which is quite necessary to enable us to read, though it may not be sufficient to qualify us to understand nature; but in this, as in other studies, we must first toil through the rudiments, before we can expect to make any deep researches into the economy of nature. To teach composition without a grammar,' says the late Sir James Smith, or philology without an alphabet, would be equally judicious. Plants' (and he might have added, all other objects of nature) must be known before they can be compared, and the talent of discrimination must precede that of combination.' The advantage of the artificial classification is, that it instructs the student how to arrange all natural objects under their proper class and order, and to discriminate the several genera and species, which, however different,

may

may frequently appear to casual observers to be identical. It may be true, that no great intellectual knowledge is to be acquired by a study of this artificial system; but it is precisely for that reason that we would recommend it as an elementary branch of education, to prepare the young mind for a more philosophical investigation of the works of nature, which, at a more mature age, a person, without some previous knowledge, may feel himself less disposed to undertake.

The Systema Nature' of Linnæus has been objected to by some as artificial; and by others as absurd. Artificial it certainly is it required a most cunning artificer to reduce all animated nature into six grand classes, comprehending every living thing, from speaking man to the mute worm. One of these classes happens to include man, and the bat, and the whale, and it is this which, in the minds of those who have not considered and do not understand the subject, constitutes the alleged absurdity. Such objectors we suppose would have one of these systematic concomitants of man to be a bird and the other a fish, though they have nothing respectively in common with either, except that one flies and the other swims; whereas both have an essential characteristic common to man and all quadrupeds, and which birds and fishes have not, and this is, that they are viviparous, mammiferous, and lactiferous, and are, therefore, very properly included in the grand division of animated beings, which constitutes the mammalia. Similar objections have also been thrown out against the artificial classification of plants, as contained in the Systema Vegetabilium,' of the same author. But, as the late president of the Linnæan Society justly observed, the knowledge of natural classification being the summit of botanical science, cannot be the first step towards the acquirement of that science.' The natural historian of Selborne has some good ob→ servations on this part of the subject:

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The standing objection,' he says, 'to botany, has always been, that it is a pursuit that amuses the fancy and exercises the memory without improving the mind or advancing any real knowledge; and, where the science is carried no farther than a mere systematic classification, the charge is but too true. But the botanist who is desirous of wiping off this aspersion, should be by no means content with a list of names; he should study plants philosophically,-should investigate the laws of vegetation, should examine the powers and virtues of efficacious herbs,-should promote their cultivation, and graft the gardener, the planter, and the husbandman, on the phytologist: not that system is by any means to be thrown aside; without system, the field of nature would be a pathless wilderness; but system should be subservient to, not the main object of, our pursuit.'

Our ideas exactly coincide with what is here stated by the good pastor;

pastor; and they are also in unison with those of our present author —who, however, seems rather disposed to favour the familiar and oftimes whimsical nomenclature of the 'grave and whiskered race' of ancient herbalists, in preference of the terms derived from the classical tongues now in fashion; and to think that 'honesty, truelove, heart's-ease, and loose-strife,' with 'all-heal, poor-man's pepper, pennywort, thrift, and hedge-mustard,' were very intelligible and consoling names. Indeed, we are not sure that such a plain name as water-cress' is not as good as 'Sisymbrium nasturtium' —' dead-nettle,' as Galeopsis galeobdolon '--and 'dog's bane,' as Apocynum androsæmifolium;' or that Robert,' Bennet,' and Basil' Sweet William,' 'Sweet Marjory,' and Mary Gold,' do not sound quite as well to an English ear as Hoffmanseggia,' Hedwigia,' Schkuhria,' and Scheuchzeria.' As far as this part of the system is concerned, we are ready to admit it to be vicious; but vanity has been the parent of these, and many other patronymics equal in euphony, and vanity, we fear, will continue and multiply the race. The specific names, however, are for the most part appropriate and descriptive, and rest therefore on a better foundation; and, in censuring Linnæus and his followers for their nomenclature, we should bear in mind the extreme difficulty of assigning suitable names to two thousand five hundred genera,* and from thirty to forty thousand known species of plants.

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The author of the little volume, of which we are about to give some account, has thought fit to withhold his name; but we have no doubt he is some highly respectable country gentleman who, for many years, must have pursued his favourite study in close observation of the habits of animals: at any rate, his ‹ intervals of leisure and shattered health' have accomplished a great deal in his favourite pursuit. That he is possessed of the most humane and amiable feelings, every page bears ample testimony; and we are disposed, therefore, on every account, to assist in making his work generally known.

Our naturalist, like the historian of Selborne, opens his subject with a description of the scenery about his village, which is said to be situated on an ancient road, connecting the cities of Bristol and Gloucester-commanding extensive prospects on the banks of the Severn, and of the Welsh mountains. He describes the site of a Roman encampment in the neighbourhood—the traces that remain of the former existence of a Roman road, and other vestiges of these stern sons of conquest,' marked out

By many a grassy mound, by many a sculptured stone.' He then takes a transient view of the character of the surface and *In Persoon's Synopsis Plantarum, of 1807, are described 2303 genera.

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