390 Miscellanies. 
ed upon the natural properties of form, specific gravity, hardness 
and lustre. : 
7. The Journal of a Naturalist. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea: 
1831.—This small volume of scientific literature comprises much 
valuable knowledge, and rational entertainment. ‘The observations 
shew the curious taste, and the discriminating researches of a keen 
and practised naturalist. While he discourses of most objects which 
fall under the eye of one engaged in rural concerns, he avoids the 
classifications and technicalities, which render science repulsive to 
the merely general reader; and treats the various topics in a lan- 
guage which, although occasionally quaint and careless, is yet intelli- 
gible to the learner, and acceptable to the scholar. 
There is an enthusiasm which compensates the student of nature 
for the toils and dangers of scaling mountains—descending into 
mines—inhaling pestiferous gases—examining volcanoes—and inves- 
tigating the mysteries of animal and vegetable life. The writer of 
‘the Journal of a Naturalist” enjoys this exulting pleasure, and his 
admiration of the wonders and beauties of the creation, not unlre- 
quently rise to sublime conceptions of the Creator. 
Nor is the book deficient in practical information. In giving direc 
tions for producing a permanent green color, he says, “The power 0 
the sun’s rays in augmenting the intensity of the hues of many things 
is well known. ‘There is an admirable color for foliage to be obtain 
ed from the union of light Prussian blue with dark Gamboge ; but I 
could never acqnire this clear and lustrous, without compounding it in 
the light of the sun. As the young artist will find this a most useful 
pigment, I may in addition say that a small bit of the light Prussian 
blue, with three or four times the quantity of Gamboge, must be lat 
on the pallet or saucer, and with a few drops of water, only enought 
to make it work easily, be most thoroughly united and incorporate 
by the finger, with the sun shining upon the mixture, adding more 
Gamboge repeatedly during the operation, until the blue is subdued, 
and aclear green produced. It is a tedious operation, yet persevel 
ance will ultimately produce a very brilliant permanent green.” 
union of Prussian blue and Gamboge, -in the common way, though 
bright at first, soon turns brown after it is used. - 
The work does not purport to be a treatise, but merely miscella- 
neous notices, commencing with soils and husbandry, and proceeding 
thence to botany, ornithology and entomology, recording many 1actSs 
and replete with moral and scientific instruction. 
