482 CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. 



hear, not going on very prosperously;* and, lastly, the Magazine of Natural History 

 — which once enjoyed an extensive circulation — has, according to current report, 

 considerably fallen off of late years. The Analyst (partially devoted to Natural 

 History) is, I am glad to find, beginning to reap the reward which its merits 

 ought long since to have earned for it. There can, however, be no question but 

 the students of Nature are rapidly increasing in number, and it is to be hoped that 

 the present infantile craving for trashy compilations with coloured daubs will 

 shortly give way to a more rational desire for works of real merit — whether 

 periodical or otherwise — scientific or popular. I am not one of those who repro- 

 bate altogether the publication of popular compilations. On the contrary, I 

 think they may, if well done, be of very extended use. I am therefore a little 

 disposed to scold you for your somewhat severe notices of certain compilations in 

 your Ornithologists Text-book. But I will not further trespass on your time and 

 attention than by subscribing myself, 



Sir, your obedient servant, 

 Lincoln, Nov. 2, 1837. J. B. Tatum. 



£Mr. Tatum's letter reached us immediately after the retrospect of zoological 

 and botanical literature published in our present number went to the press ; 

 otherwise it would have given us much pleasure to have published his list ; and 

 indeed we regret that he did not sooner comply with Mr. Hanway's request. If 

 any correspondent competent to the undertaking will furnish the catalogue desired 

 by Mr. T., we shall be most happy to give it an early insertion. — We agree with 

 our correspondent as regards the value of properly-executed compilations ; but 

 should probably differ from him in our views of a good work of that kind. — Ed.] 



CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. 



NlDlFICATION OF THE GOLDENCROWNED KlNGLET. 



To the Editor of the Naturalist. 

 Respected Friend, — In the November number of The Naturalist (p. 416) I 

 noticed a paper on the Goldcrest, in which Mr. Alington endeavours to prove 

 that the nest of this bird is never attached to the twigs or branches of trees by 



* We hope, for the credit of British naturalists, that the report is not true. But of course no 

 estimate can fairly be taken of the circulation of a periodical printed at Edinburgh or in the 

 country merely by ascertaining its London sale; which, on many accounts, may chance to. be 

 comparatively small.— Ed. 



