80 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



smallest which cau be obtained ; and 'although 

 camel-hair pencils will do, sable would be infinitely 

 better and more lasting. After using, each brush 

 should be rinsed in benzole and wiped before putting 

 away, and then be dipped in benzole again before 

 using. 



Erom a mere casual reading of the preceding 

 instructions it might be imagined that the whole 

 thing is a very tedious affair, and a great waste of 

 time that might be more profitably employed. Erom 

 such] an opinion, however, I beg most strenuously 

 to dissent ; for " whatever is worth doing at all is 

 worth doing well " ; and if an object be worth the 

 trouble of mounting at all, it is undoubtedly worth 

 the expenditure of a few additional minutes to 

 make it perfectly safe and lasting after it has been 

 put up. The process naturally divides itself into 

 two stages, the latter of which is unquestionably 

 a "just as you like" matter, and the only part 

 which can in any way come under such a stigma ; 

 but when it is stated that over three dozen have 

 been " finished off " on a summer's morning before 

 coming down to an eight o'clock breakfast, while an 

 hour or two in the evening has sufficed to prepare 

 an equal number for another morning's diversion, 

 and has thus formed cnly an agreeable occupation 

 for a part of the time which most people generally 

 take for recreation, it can hardly be deemed a 

 wasteful expenditure of time which possibly might 

 be put to a better purpose, although it is very pro- 

 bable that in many cases it also might not be. But, 

 with regard to the primary part of the process, 

 however, this ought to be looked upon as indis- 

 pensable and never to be neglected. With amateur 

 mounters it is a common practice to put up several 

 objects, and then, when covered up, to select such 

 as it is desired to retain, and to transfer the rest to 

 the duplicate box, either for distribution, exchange, 

 or to be sent to the dealers ; but to whatever des- 

 tination they may be doomed, the " foundation " 

 stage ought invariably to be completed, and in such 

 cases it will be desirable to let the last coating of 

 the foundation cement extend on to the edge of the 

 cover for both security and appearance, and then 

 into whosever hands they may fail, there will be no 

 fear of insecurity, and any subsequent] ornament- 

 ation may safely be left to the taste and fancy of 

 the possessor. W. Kencely Bridgjian. 



Norwich, Dec. 1875. 



AN OLD NATURALIST. 



TT is with much pleasure that we notice the pub- 

 -*■ lication, by Messrs. Elliot Stock, of a facsimile 

 reprint of the first edition, published in 1653, of 

 Izaak Walton's " Compleat Angler." Paper, type, 

 illustrations, and even the binding, are all restora- 

 tions of the original book. This is one of the few 



works of the seventeenth century that Englishmen 

 love to keep on their library shelves. Scores of 

 editions, annotated and " corrected," have appeared 

 since f the "gentle Angler" gave his piscatorial 

 experience, sagacious reflections, and semi-baccha- 



; t =fj?£Sfc 



Fig. 38. Facsimile of original illustration of Carp, in 

 " Walton's Angler." 



nalian songs to the world ; but, for ourselves, we 

 prefer Izaak Walton undiluted. There is a fresh- 

 ness of green fields and babbling brooks and cool 

 shady dells about its quaint pages. They make 



Fig. 39. Fac-simile of original illustration of Perch, in 

 " Walton's Angler." 



one long to get away from the study and the desk, 

 to where the trout are rising, the lark singing, and 

 the meadow flowers blowing ! And then the clean- 

 sanded kitchen, the well-cooked finny captures, 



Fig. 40. Fac-simile of original illustration of Barbel, in 

 " Walton's Angler." 



seasoned with the healthy sauce of hunger ; and the 

 social glass and cheery companion afterwards ! The 

 " Compleat Angler " is not only one of the best 

 books on the subject ever written ; it is a valuable 

 contribution to natural history as well. We have 

 been allowed by the publishers to reproduce some 

 of the facsimile woodcuts, and our readers cannot 

 but be struck with their vigorous boldness and 

 accuracy. 



"The mode of reproduction amongst mollusca 

 varies. Some, like the Valoatidce, change their sex 

 after a time, being at first male, and then female." 

 — liar ting 's Rambles in Search of Shells. 



