PREFACE. 



The present volume is composed of a selection of 

 original articles on practical Natural History, which 

 have been contributed from time to time to various 

 periodicals, and are republished by the kind permis- 

 sion of the proprietors. 



From London Society are taken ' A January Day 

 at Regent's Park,' ' The Children of the New Forest,' 

 ' Turkey and Oysters,' and ' Our River Harvests.' * The 

 Home of a Naturalist ' is from the GomhUl Magazine, 

 and ' A Summer Walk through an English Lane ' 

 and ' The Repose of Nature ' are from the St. Ja/mea^s 

 Magazine. Five essays were written in the Dark 

 Blue, namely, ' A Sand Quarry in Winter,' ' Under the 

 Bark,' ' Mrs. Coates's Bath,' ' A Blackberry Bush in 

 Autumn,' and ' De Monstris.' The articles on the 



