392 REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



most complete catalogues extant of the birds of Europe and America, it is 

 equally valuable to the ornithologist. 



Essays on Natural History, chiefly Ornithology. By Charles Waterton, 

 Esq., author of " Wanderings in South America." With an Autobiography of 

 the author, and a View of Walton Hall. London: Longman and Co. 1838. 

 pp. lxxxiii., 312. l2mo. Cloth, lettered. 



These essays are reprinted from the old series of the Magazine of Natural 

 History, formerly edited by Mr. Loudon, and are published at his expense. The 

 only original portion of the volume, therefore, is the detailed, and of course highly 

 interesting, biography of the author. This is valuable on account of the faithful 

 manner in which circumstances are recorded which delicacy would have prompted 

 a friend to omit, in writing the biography of a living author. For instance, at 

 p. xiv., Mr. Waterton observes that on looking at himself in the glass, he can 

 see at once that his face is anything but comely, and adds in a note : — " A late 

 worthy baronet in the North-Riding of Yorkshire, having taken up the Wander- 

 ings, and examined the representation of the nondescript with minute attention, 

 ' Dear me ! ' said he, as he showed the engraving to his surrounding company, ' what 

 a very extraordinary -looking man Mr. Waterton must be !' " 



The family of the Watertons, once influential, has resided at Walton Hall 

 some centuries, and previously dwelt at Waterton in. the Isle of Axeholme, in 

 Lincolnshire. In their independence they seem determined to be islanders, the 

 present family mansion being situated upon an island. The same spirit has 

 determined Mr. W. not to take Sir Robert Peel's oath respecting the Church 

 Establishment. 



" I don't believe that Sir Robert cared one fig's end whether the soul of a Catholic went up, 

 after death, to the King of Brightness, or descended to the king of brimstone : his only aim seems 

 to have been to secure to the Church hy law established, the full possession of the loaves and 

 fishes. But as I have a vehement inclination to make a grab at these loaves and fishes, in order 

 to distribute a large proportion of them to the poor of Great Britain, who have an undoubted 

 claim to it, I do not intend to have my hands tied behind me : hence my positive refusal to swal- 

 low Sir Robert Peel's* oath."— p. xix. 



Mr. Waterton possessed an inherent love of Nature almost from his earliest 

 days, and his attachment appears to have grown with his years. He was born 

 at Walton Hall, some five-and-fifty years ago. We have visited his beautiful 

 and extensive Park, which is walled all round, and in which the sound of a gun 

 is never heard ; and consequently a more delightful spot for the true naturalist 

 can hardly be conceived. 



*•* I do hereby disclaim, disavow, and solemnly abjure any intention to subvert the present 

 Church Establishment within this realm," &c. (See Sir R. Peel's oath.) 



