The Scottish Naturalist. 295 



There is a singular variety in the quality of the popular 

 Zoological articles contained in the publications of the Messrs. 

 Chambers; and this is not surprising when we consider the 

 number and variety of the said publications themselves, and 

 the length of time during which they have been continuously 

 issued from the well-known warehouse in the old High Street 

 of Edinburgh. As a rule, the articles in the " Encyclopaedia " 

 and " Miscellany" are excellent, whoever the authors may have 

 been or may be. In the " Journal," on the other hand, there 

 are some signal exceptions to this general rule. For instance, 

 Dr. William Chambers frankly confesses, in his letter above 

 quoted, that " the article on Animals in ' Chambers's Journal,' 

 November 1, was written by an unfortunate being, to whom I 

 cannot refer. The same was the writer on Dogs." Again, the 

 article on " Canine Sagacity," in the " Journal " for February 

 19, 1876, is a typical instance of that serving up of "old 

 stories," which I have met with in so many modern popular 

 works on Natural History. I have elsewhere repeatedly read all 

 the anecdotes there given concerning "Canine Sagacity;" just 

 as one constantly encounters in print the " Dog of Montargis," 

 the " Dog of Corinth," the " Geese of the Roman Capitol," and 

 other historical animals. The first incident related by the 

 writer on "Canine Sagacity" — a subject, by the way, terribly 

 hackneyed — is stated to have happened " some twenty years 

 ago " — itself a statement calculated to arouse suspicion ; for 

 the facts so far as, or if, true, can surely be confirmed by more 

 authentic recent events. In short, all three stories given by our 

 author are hack or hackneyed, and may be but " stories " after 

 all — unworthy of credence — no voucher being given for their 

 authenticity. 



Of a very different character are the following contributions 

 to " Chambers's Journal :" — 



(1) " Recent Observations on Ants ;" recounting the results 



of the experimental researches of M. Forel, a Swiss 

 Naturalist : Number for January 1, 1876. 



(2) " Curious Phases in Natural History ;" pointing out the 



inter-relations of Ants and Aphides : Number for May 

 6, 1876. 



(3) "Cats :" Number for July 3, 1875. 



(4) "Swans :" Number for July 17, 1875. 



(5) "Partridges :" Number for October r6. 1875. 



