442 Minstrelsy of the Woods. 



Anon I The Minstrelsy of the Woods; or Sketches and 

 Songs connected with the Natural History of some of thes) 

 most interesting British and Foreign Birds. By the Authors 

 of "The Wild Garland," &c. 8vo, pp. 230, with 19 plates^ 

 of as many species of birds. London, 1832, Harvey and 

 Darton. I 



'^_ This is a charming little volume, and well adapted to the' 

 purpose for which it is said to have been written; namely, 

 the amusement and instruction of the youthful. The author 

 does not pretend to be a scientific ornithologist; but he is a 

 lover of the feathered race, and has studied their habits and 

 economy with attention. Birds may be considered as the poet^^ 

 of the inferior creation ; hence has arisen a kind of fellowshipf' 

 between our author and the choristers of the woods. He haS^ 

 described and sung of their characters, powers, instincts, and" 

 their affections, returning song for song, in a very pleasing 

 strain. Although the execution of the plates and portraits 

 of the birds are not every thing we could wish, yet they are 

 sufficiently exact for identifying the species intended, mord: 

 especially if they were coloured; and this we would advisd 

 every young lady who has a copy to do for herself, as a very"; 

 pleasant task. But surpassing all he has said or sung are the 

 amiable feelings and pious train of sentiment which pervade 

 every page of the book. — J, M. 



Weatherhead, George Hume, M.D. &c. &c. : An Account of 

 the Beulah Saline Spa, at Norwood, Surrey; containing 

 a Description of its Medicinal Properties and Effects, of the 

 Diseases of which it is remedial, and Directions for its 

 Use. 8vo, pp. 38. London, Hatchard, 1832. 

 '* The water drawn fresh from the well is beautifully trans- 

 parent and sparkling. Innumerable bubbles of fixed air areis 

 seen rising to the surface, when allowed to stand. Its taste is 

 distinctly bitter, without being at all disagreeable, leaving on 

 the palate the peculiar flavour of its predominant saline inK 

 gredient, the sulphate of magnesia. Th-e temperature of the 

 water at the bottom of the well is 52^ of Fahrenheit; its. 

 specific gravity 1011 ; and, by an analysis of its compositioikj 

 by Faraday and Hume, the following are the solid contents, 

 in grains, of a quart of the water : — Sulphate of magnelsia, 123 ; 

 sulphate of soda and magnesia, 32; muriate of soda, 19; 

 muriate of magnesia, 18 J; carbonate of lime, 15; carbonate 

 of soda, 3 : in all, 210^ grains." As a means of comparison, 

 the saline contents of a quart of the Chehenham pure saline, 

 as analysed by Mr. Brande, are given : they are these : — 

 Sulphate of magnesia, 22; sulphate of soda, 30; muriate of 



