1861.] REVIEWS. 247 



variety of the topographical books now in circulation. The fourth 

 estate has good reason, not only for being contented with this 

 branch of literature, but for being proud of the excellence of the 

 guide-books now current. They are prepared for others than 

 wayfarers who go to a place to tarry only for a brief period, and 

 they may be perused with pleasure and improvement by a higher 

 class of readers than those who only want to know how far it is 

 from Cowes to Ventnor, and the names of the best hotels, and 

 where the most comfortable quarters are procurable. 



The antiquary, the historian, the geologist, and the botanist, 

 can now get trustworthy information in these works, which are 

 compiled to supply the wants of the genuine student as well as 

 to fill up the spare hours of those who seek only relaxation, 

 exercise, fresh air, and novelty, and who come here to admire 

 and enjoy the beautiful and the picturesque. 



Murray's handbooks to several parts of England, viz. to the 

 south coast, Kent, etc., have long been in great repute for the 

 comprehensive character of their contents. 



Stanford's ^ Guide to the Isle of Wight' is not inferior to 

 Murray's celebrated handbooks in the interesting information it 

 contains. The author and the publisher may think this high 

 praise, for Murray's topographical publications are deservedly in 

 the highest estimation for their excellence. 



The new ' Guide to the Isle of Wight ' has one distinguishing 

 feature, viz. the Natural History portion ; and this has been very 

 carefully compiled from existing works, verified and enlarged by 

 the personal observations of the authors. This feature is not 

 peculiar to this Guide, for most guide-books introduce a little 

 botany, etc., not always judiciously selected, from more general 

 works. In the present work, the authors of the chapters on Na- 

 tural History have given their names as vouchers for the truth 

 and usefulness of what they have compiled on these subjects. 



The geological portion of the work has been contributed and 

 condensed from memoirs furnished by the many excellent geolo- 

 gists who visited this Isle and have written on the formations uf 

 its singularly formed exterior. The labours of the late lamented 

 Professor Edward Forbes, we are glad to perceive, are not for- 

 gotten by the reverend author of this new ' Guide to the Isle of 

 Wight.' 



The articles on the botany, entomology (in part), and zoology. 



