366 CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. 



single plant of Rosa canina flowered in the hedges before June 19, and then 

 very partially. 



The Doncaster Lyceum, &c. 



I find I must at present considerably abridge what further observations I had 

 intended to make. I greatly admire the fearless spirit in which you speak out as 

 to the Doncaster Lyceum. Squeamish persons may, as usually happens, wince 

 and hesitate, but the plan you have pursued is the only way for improvement. 

 Constant adulation is the ruin of many institutions, the heads of which keep 

 bowing and bowing to each other, till, with their backs turned to real truth and 

 science, the recoil of their courtliness hurries them down the precipice of ruin. 

 You are, in my opinion, quite right in saying that these institutions should be 

 patronized by the countenance of noblemen and country gentlemen ; but no class, 

 professional or not, should evidently have the hand of fellowship held out to it 

 more than others. If so disgust ensues, and justly I must say, that in Worcester 

 all our literary and scientific societies are somewhat faulty — Politics in one, 

 jealousy and monopoly in another, and a true scientific spirit absent from all. 

 Hence great cry and little wool. I am afraid human nature wants another 

 century of rubbing down ; for while selfishness and charlatanism prevail in the 

 world as they do at present, true observing but quiet science is sure to wither, 

 and parade and ceremony are the sorry substitutes for investigation and research. 

 I speak generally, though I admit it is perhaps unwise so to speak (except con- 

 fidentially), for human nature recoils from the pill that is not gilded by flattery. 

 I shall, however, always give my opinion freely. 



Believe me to be, my dear Sir, 



Yours very sincerely, 



Dryadville, near Worcester, Edwin Lees. 



Aug. 7, 1837. 



Concerning two Errors in a Review of Hewitson's " British Oology." 



To the Editor of the Naturalist. 



Dear Sir, — In your May number (p. 112), I perceive a review of my twin 

 No. (xxx. and xxxi.), which must have been written without the least regard to 

 accuracy. In the first place, in criticising plate cxviii., in which the eggs of the 

 Chiff Chaff and Wood Wren are figured, it is stated, in reference to the former 

 (which is in the new nomenclature called the Darklegged Warbler), that it ought 

 to be " Sylvia loquax, and not S. hippolais, as given by Mr. Hewitson." Now 

 I should much like to know what authorities your reviewer has for setting me 

 right on this point, and beg to give mine for its adoption, which are to me quite 



