vi Preface. 



twenty to thirty miles. With scarcely an exception, 

 the whole are described from personal acquaintance. 

 The circulars issued by the author to the members 

 of the Field-Naturalists' Society, during the last six 

 summer-seasons, have been largely made use gf, so 

 as to embody in this volume the best and most 

 interesting portions of the information they contained, 

 and to this has been added a large amount of en- 

 tirely new matter. The book does not pretend to 

 be exhaustive. Several places indeed, of which some 

 mention may be expected, have been designedly not 

 spoken of, the author not possessing personal or 

 authentic knowledge of them. 



The descriptions of the several places of course 

 refer to their aspect upon fine days, and at such 

 seasons of the year as they are best visited. The 

 loveliest scenery is not infrequently a blank, if sur- 

 veyed at an unpropitious hour. It is necessary, more- 

 over, for the enjoyment of them, to carry with us, in 

 all cases, a disposition to be pleased, and especially 

 with the little and the simple things of Nature, which, 

 if we do not preserve and cultivate the love of, we 

 shall find ourselves less able to appreciate the grand 

 and majestic. 



