7302 Notices of New Books. 



In this way does Mr. Gosse pleasantly discourse of every species 

 as it comes in turn before him, always convincing his reader how 

 intimately he is acquainted with the beautiful flower-animals he is 

 describing. 



' A Guide to the Isle of Wight: By the Rev. Edmund Venables, 

 M.A. ; and eminent local Naturalists. Demy 12mo ; 526 pp. 

 letter-press, and a detached map. London : Edward Sandford, 

 6, Charing Cross. 1860. 



At first I felt greatly astonished that a book of 500 pages could be 

 written about the Isle of Wight, the subject having been so thoroughly 

 worked by previous literary adventurers. Mr. Venables seems to 

 anticipate this feeling, and meets any objections that may arise in the 

 following manner: — 



" The number of books professing to direct the tourist to the chief 

 beauties of the Isle of Wight, and to point out to him its principal 

 objects of interest, is already so great that the publication of another 

 work with the same end in view may seem almost to need an apology. 

 Numerous, however, as the Isle-of- Wight Guides are, it has been felt 

 by many that they have hitherto hardly kept pace with the progress 

 of modern research, and that there is still room for one which, while 

 it presents a faithful picture of every part of the island, and furnishes 

 details essential to the rapid holiday-maker and ordinary seeker after 

 the picturesque, may also promote and direct the habits of observa- 

 tion now happily becoming so general, and supply such information 

 respecting the history, antiquities and architecture of the island, as 

 well [as] the natural treasures it contains, as may satisfy every taste, 

 and aid the tourist in the pursuit of his favourite science, whatever it 

 may be." — Preface. 



With respect to the " rapid holiday-maker," I can scarcely fancy 

 him driving about the island with a tome of 500 pages under his arm; 

 neither do I think that " the progress of research" has added much to 

 " the history, antiquities and architecture of the island ;" but that 

 branch of Isle-of-Wight science which it is the province of the 

 ' Zoologist' to notice has received, and is receiving, constant acces- 

 sions and illustrations : of course I allude to its Zoology ; and this part 

 of the work has been chiefly compiled by Mr. A. G. More, than whom 

 a more careful, more competent or more enthusiastic coadjutor could 

 not have been found. 



