81 2 Bibliographical Notices. scenery of the Lakes of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and still think and work and publish. Here is a book by Dr. Davy, full to the brim of natural-history notes, in the wide— the Linnsean— *sense of the term. The ichthyologist may derive much valuable informa* tion on the breeding and embryology of fish of the family Salmo-nidse; see pages 165-183, where the author shows himself to be a keen observer and an accurate as well as pleasing writer. Turn to page 209, where he shows how the smolt loses in great measure the transverse markings of the parr, — the very silvery scales of the smolt having much lustrous matter deposited on their inner surface, and thus hiding the markings in the true skin. But, besides Fish, Dr. Davy enlightens his readers on many other points of natural history. Sir Emerson Tennant might derive an excellent anecdote for the inimitable monograph, Biography of the Elephant, still unpublished, but eagerly expected in his great work on Ceylon, were he to turn to p. 23, where Dr. Davy gives a striking proof that the Elephant can submit, without flinching, to a painful operation as well as many a man. Dr. Davy introduces anecdotes of dogs ; — of poultry in the West Indies, see p. 26 ; — the swan's nest, and how and by whom con-structed, at p. 281. Ulpha Kirk and the beautiful lines of Words-worth lead him to the wilds of Ceylon, and the pleasure he experienced, after a long journey, on coming in sight of a cocoa-nut palm, — as he remarks that it is never met with in the wild woods, but, by its pre-sence, always marks out human dwellings (p. 245). Meteorology and geology are treated most interestingly, in cer-tain aspects that come before " Piscator" and "Amicus" as they wander amidst the scenery where William Wordsworth lived, ob-served, and wrote. What naturalist loves not to read and quote Wordsworth, particularly if wild flowers and gentle birds be his sub-jects ? This pleasant book contains much to interest him, and indeed every reader of that great poet who sung the praises of the March Celandine, and in one line fixed, for ever, the Swan, that "queen of our lakes " and calmly flowing rivers. At this autumn season, the hills have a quiet soothing melancholy pleasure in their contempla-tion ; and should any of our readers visit the hills and lakes of Westmoreland, they would thank us for recommending them to take, in addition to their guide-book, be it Adam Black's or Miss Marti-neau's, this prettily got-up green cloth pocket volume, full of facts and records of the wanderings and observations of an accomplished physician. The book is pervaded by a quiet religious and poetic tone, and is also full of kindly views of man and every lower creature. The Practical Naturalist's Guide, containing Instructions for Col~ lecting, Preparing, and Preserving Specimens of all Departments of Zoology. By James Boyd Davies, Assistant Conservator in the Natural History Museum, Edinburgh. Maclachlan and Stewart, Edinburgh. 1858, 12mo. In this little book of about 80 pages Mr. Davies has furnished the student of Zoology with an excellent manual of directions for
The practical naturalist's guide, containing instructions for collecting, preparing, and preserving specimens of all departments of zoology. By James Boyd Davies, assistant conservator in the Natural History Museum, Edinburgh. Maclachlan and Stewart, Edin
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