7298 Notices of New Books. 



impertinent; but I have sought to paint a series of pictures, the 

 reflections of scenes and aspects in nature, which in my own mind 

 awaken poetic interest, leaving them to do their proper worli." — 

 Preface. 



In these words does Mr. Gosse herald in his new publication, which 

 is one of the most readable and agreeable of all his readable and 

 agreeable books. The plan, if there be a plan, is most desultory — 

 just that touch-and-go style which will secure the attention even of the 

 most indolent reader : thus we leap from lions to butterflies ; then 

 plunge into brine and boiling springs; ascend the blue vaults of 

 heaven after insects, and seek flying fish in bed and shoals of swim- 

 ming fish in a parlour: next we enjoy a sojourn with serpents; then 

 wander among groves of Cacti; and then mount the dragon tree of 

 Oratava. Afterwards we are introduced to the whale and (he ele- 

 phant, the mammoth tree of California and life in a drop of water : 

 to the jackal, the wolf and gorilla; and witness a fatal encounter with 

 bees. 



I have really enjoyed this book, it is most delightful ; and although 

 the mixture of subjects strikes one as rather heterodox in a work on 

 Natural History, there will be found a method running through the 

 whole that strings the diverse subjects together, producing a pleasant 

 combination, like beads of various size and colour. 



.\'r. Gosse patronizes the sea serpent, and pleads for him apolo- 

 getically, but gives us without any hesitation the history of that arch- 

 myth the tsetse : I believe, whenever a competent naturalist shall 

 investigate the subject he will find the tsetse a disease, which the 

 ignorant aborigines have falsely attributed to an insect : but this is of 

 no moment; difference of opinion detracts nothing from merit; and I 

 may truly say that I never read a book with more real pleasure than 

 the 'Romance of Natural History,' and I know none that I can more 

 cordially and unhesitatingly recommend to my subscriL;ers. I hope 

 to return to it again and asi^ain for amusing and instructive scraps to 

 insert in the pages of the ' Zoologist.' 



' Aclinologia Britannua : a History of the British Sea Anemones 

 and Corals'' By Philip Henry Gosse, F.R.S. Demy 8vo ; 

 400 pp. letter-press ; twelve plates, printed in colours. Lon- 

 don : Van Voorst, Paternoster Row. 1860. Price 21*. 



1 do not like the first title. Mr. Gosse, as we have just seen, 

 abjures the Dryasdust school, abjiues the must and dust of the 



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