246 REVIEWS. [August, 



It was now so dark that we could not distinguish the tall Sow- 

 thistles and the wild Lettuce from the equally gigantic black 

 Mustard, and consequently the rare plants entered by the Rev. 

 G. E. Smith as found in his time within three hundred yards of 

 the Lydden Spout, were as much a myth as the story of Lear and 

 Edward, son of the Earl of Kent, a story which has given both 

 renown and a name to one of the most remarkable objects of this 

 singular coast. 



We passed along the beach a considerable way before reaching 

 the spout, which, we too rashly concluded, on reaching the beach, 

 to be as great a myth as the celebrated fountain of Arethusa, 

 which flows half a hundred times as many miles under the sea as 

 this runs underground in South Kent. 



Lydden Spout, however, to our great satisfaction, by its pleasing 

 sound informed us of our proximity to fresh- water. This spout, 

 by which water sufficient to turn an ordinary water-wheel, pours 

 down a steep incline, takes its name from Lydd, a village in the 

 interior, about four miles from the coast. Near this village 

 there is a stream which disappears by a swallow-hole^ and emerges 

 from the cliff by a large hole or cutting, a few hundred yards on 

 the Folkestone side of the rude staircase by which we descended 

 from the top of the cliff to the beach. 



It was too evident that our botanizing had terminated for this 

 day at least, unless we could have botanized by candle-light; 

 and even if this had been practicable, we had no candles. In this 

 emei'gency the best thing to be done was done, viz, to pick our 

 way in the dark between the sea and the cliff along Eastwear 

 Bay, and by the martello towers to Folkestone. This we did by 

 the combined exertion of plucky resolution and strong thews, and 

 by the useful aid of the coastguard force, who kindly pointed 

 out our way. We reached our destination rather late, and in a 

 rather weary plight. 



A Guide to the Isle of Wight. By the Rev. Edmund Venables, 

 M.A., and eminent Local Naturalists. 



The tourists, excursionists, or valetudinarians of the isles of 

 Albion, have no reason to be discontented with the extent and 



