8 ROUND THE YEAR 



way the mere immersion of pieces of living tissue in 

 pure water quickly renders them unfit for microscopic 

 investigation. The quicker the process of thawing the 

 greater the risk. Hence the well-known rule of treating 

 frost-bites by rubbing with snow in the open air has 

 theory as well as experience to support it. The noon- 

 day sun of winter is more deadly to plants and certain 

 peculiarly exposed animals than the midnight frost 

 itself. 



WHITE OF SELBORNE. 



Gilbert White's name brings up the most delightful 

 recollections. I can, after forty or four hundred 

 readings, take up the Natural History of Selborne 

 again, and brighten with it that last hour of the day 

 when work is put aside, and the house is still. What 

 is it which gives this unfailing charm to the memoranda 

 of the quiet old curate of Selborne ? First of all, 

 he had a considerable knowledge of his subject, which 

 is a condition not to be dispensed with. Then he was 

 a keen observer and a diligent recorder. How much 

 he rescued from forgetfulness by that habit of noting 

 things down at the time ! " Half a word fixed upon 

 or near the spot is worth a cart-load of recollection," 

 says the poet Gray, who was naturalist and antiquary 

 as well as poet. White loves circumstance, and one 

 is, at first sight, inclined to think that he is interesting 

 merely because he gives you all the particulars. Try 

 your own hand at writing about nature, and see 

 whether you get a lively narrative by setting down all 

 the facts, great and small ! Voltaire says : " le secret 



