13 



but from her own productions. An ardent admirer of 

 her operations, an observer of her phenomena, a stu- 

 dent of her mysteries, in fine, a genuine naturalist, - 

 one of practical observation, arid of sound, solid know- 

 ledge may seldom or never have occasion to consult 

 other than 



" books in the running brooks, 

 " Sermons in stones and good in every thing." 



The pleasing volume of the " Natural History of Sel- 

 borne" has long held its character of general interest 

 and value, and displays the results of attentive obser- 

 vation with slight materials of operation and appar- 

 ently limited means of acquiring scientific truth. Still 

 later, the deservedly popular work of the delightful 

 " Journal of a Naturalist," confirms us in our asser- 

 tion, that the technicalities of science, are neither 

 absolutely necessary to its study, nor serious objec- 

 tions to its pursuit. Scarcely a subject is there to be 

 found from the gigantic oak of centuries' duration, 

 and monarch of the hills, to the elegant and fugacious 

 mushroom of a few hours existence from the exten- 

 sive operations of agriculture to the minute detail of 

 its younger sister, horticulture ; quadruped, bird, 

 insect, their admirable economy and unsurpassed 

 beauty, falling under the cognizance of a limited 

 field of observation, which is not rendered in these 

 fascinating pages the instance of some interesting 

 consideration. Who in reading the simple and inar- 

 tificial description of Audubon on the feathered deni- 

 zens of our Western world, and has marked the 

 enthusiasm, which infancy exhibited, and matured 

 years have not served to diminish ; has been led to 

 3 



