390 Miscellanies. 



ed upon the natural properties of form, specific gravity, hardaess 

 and lustre. 



7. The Journal of a JYaturalist. Philadelphia : Carey &i Lea : 

 1831. — This small volume of scientific literature comprises much 

 valuable knowledge, and rational entertainnaent. 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 ta 

 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 enthusia-sm 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 unfre- 

 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 of 

 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 acquire 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 laid 

 on the pallet or saucer, and with a few drops of water, only enough 

 to make it work easily, be most thoroughly united and incorporated 

 by the finger, ivith the sun shining upon the mixture, adding more 

 Gamboge repeatedly during the operation, until the blue is subdued, 

 and a clear green produced. It is a tedious operation, yet persever- 

 ance will ultimately produce a very brilliant permanent green." The 

 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 factSy 

 and replete with moral and scientific instruction. 



