554? Ilet?'ospective Criticism, 



day, 54°; extreme cold on that day, and throughout the month, 48°; 

 wind westerly. The wind blew from easterly points on 8 days ; on 21 days 

 from westerly points ; and on 2 days it was variable. The atmosphere was 

 clear on 15 days ; on 6 days there was partial sunshine ; and on 10 days 

 the atmosphere was cloudy. The warmest day in September was the 30th : 

 mean temperature of that day, 58° ; extreme heat, 60° ; wind easterly. The 

 coldest day in that month was the 21st : mean temperature of that day, 52° ; 

 lowest temperature, 46° ; extreme cold throughout the month, 42°. The 

 wind blew from easterly points on 5 days : from westerly points on 23 days ; 

 on 2 days the wind was variable, and on the 22d it blew a strong gale from 

 the north-west. 



The high temperature in the summer months, followed by warmth and 

 clear sunshine in August, and with little moisture in the soil, produced an 

 early and simultaneous ripening of the crops all over the country. Some 

 oats on dry and open soils ripened prematurely, and were not well filled. 

 In the early districts, there was little of the crop exposed by the end of the 

 first week in September : since then, rains have been frequent, and the air 

 generally moist. 



In the moors, the heath (Calluna vulgaris) came in flower on the 1st of 

 August ; the Coreopsis verticillata and scarlet turk's cap lily (Z/ilium chal- 

 cedonicum), in the garden, on the 2d; 14 days earlier than last year, and 

 9 days earlier than on an average of seasons. Barley that came in the ear 

 on the 28th of June was ripe on the 10th of August, a period of 43 days : 

 mean temperature of that period, 62°. Last year, barley that grew near the 

 same place was 56 days between the periods of earing and ripening, under 

 a temperature of 56-6°; giving 13 days in favour of this season, under a 

 temperature of 5*4° higher. Wheat sown in spring, that came in the ear 

 on the 29th of June, was ripe on the 22d of August, a period of 54 days : 

 mean temperature of that period, 61*2°. Partridges are in great plenty, but 

 many of the birds are unusually small. The apple moth has not been so 

 destructive in this as in former seasons ; and the wheat fly has not accom- 

 plished more than a fourth part of its usual mischief. — A. G. Oct. 1. 1831. 



Art. II. Retrospective Criticism, 



SWAlNSON^s Zoological Illustrations. — I must inform your correspondent 

 A, R. Y. (p; 459.), with all good feeling, that his arguments touching this 

 work are built on a false foundation, and that his inferences consequently are 

 unjust. 1st, The work is not published by subscription ; therefore there can 

 be no subscribers. 2d, The prospectus of the new series stated that it would 

 be published similarly to the old series. There is therefore nothing "unwar- 

 rantable" in the charge he complains of. The purchasers are told at the 

 commencement what they are to paj/, and what they are to expect. They 

 may purchase the work, or they may let it alone; but if they do the former, 

 they have no right to turn round afterwards, abuse the author, and com- 

 plain of their pennyworth. As my friend Professor Henslow very justly 

 observes (p. 459.) on the abuse that has been so unsparingly cast upon 

 Mr. Stephens, " Those who are not content with an author's mode of publi- 

 cation might easily discontinue their support, without attempting to preju- 

 dice the minds of others by asserting that the author was actuated by 

 dishonourable motives." 



I feel obliged to A. R. Y. in other respects for his good opinion, but I 

 have no cause to complain of the public regarding the sale of the work. 

 Had I the time to attend to its management, it would be a lucrative under- 

 taking. Purchasers have frequently to wait a long time before they can 



