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 inimitable monograph, Biography of the Elephant, still unpublished, 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 



