THE EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



To know any natural object, however, does not merely consist in having seen it, or 

 in recollecting its name. For we cannot be justly said to be acquainted with a plant 

 until we know its rank in the vegetable kingdom, its structure and habit, vrith all the 

 other circumstances already explained- 



There is hardly a child who cannot at once name a ranunculus, or tulip ; but how 

 few, even who cultivate these deservedly-admired productions of the garden, are 

 aware that these two plants, however nearly they may be allied as fine flowers, are 

 very difi^erent, in point of rank, in the scale of vegetable creation! They belong to 

 separate fundamental divisions of plants, and the organization of the one is much more 

 perfect than that of the other. They display totally different characters of structure 

 and physiological economy, from the seminal embryo, through every stage, to the per- 

 fect plant. The ranunculus belongs to a division of plants characterized by a reticu- 

 lated, or net-like structure, in their parts. It will admit of portions of its leaves be- 

 ing broken, or cut off, without impeding the remainder of the leaf in the performance 

 of its functions; or, in other words, the leaf will continue to grow, and arrive at a 

 state of maturity, although deprived of a portion, or limb. Now, the tulip belongs 

 to a division, the structure of whose fibres are parallel, and will not admit of part of 

 the leaves, more particularly their extremities, being cut off, without impeding their 

 fxmctions, and, consequently, injuring the present health of the plant, and affecting 

 its vigour for the following year. Here, then, we have another example of the utility 

 of natural knowledge ; for any one who has paid the slightest attention to the ana- 

 tomy or physiology of plants, will at once be able to know the distinctive structures 

 of these two divisions; and, if only a part of a leaf be presented to him, the division 

 to which it belongs will immediately be detected by him, and, consequently, the 

 fundamental arrangements, culture, and general management of the plant, as far as 

 regards its most important organs ; for leaves are analogous to the lungs of animals. 

 Thus we have the increased pleasure of not only knowing the plant by its name, but 

 also its rank in vegetable physiology, and the manner in which its various functions 

 are exercised. 



One of the most extraordinary phenomena in nature is the endless variety of forms 

 in the distinct species of animals, plants, and minerals; and still more wonderful are 

 the infinite modifications of form in the same species. For it is our conviction, that, 

 since the creation of the world down to the present tirco, there never has been two 

 individuals of the same kind, formed exactly alike in all their parts. This leads us 

 naturally to an expression of our admiration of the works of Providence, in the words 

 of the Psalmist, '* O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made 

 them all !" 



This idea is subUme ; and, however erroneous it may appear to those who have not 

 deeply studied Nature, we firmly believe that it is nevertheless true. Let us illus- 

 trate this by another example from the vegetable kingdom. Behold the stately oak 

 of the forest, spreading his branches afar on every side, rearing and shedding his 

 millions of leaves for a series of hundreds of years, but never producing two leaves 

 exactly ahke ; nay, even consider the leaves of the countless oaks existing at the same 

 moment on the face of the globe, ever varying in appearance ; yet a general similarity 

 of form has been, and will be, maintained to the end of time ! Let any one who is 

 sceptical on this point repair to the forest, and patiently examine every leaf which has 

 clothed one of its largest oaks, and he will never be able to find two of them perfectly 

 alike in size, shape, and particular structure; nay, he may extend his search to aU the 

 oaks of a forest, and he will discover that he has been seeking for that which, like the 

 philosopher's stone, will never be found. So it is with all the works of creation, 

 whether animate or inanimate. One uniform and fundamental plan has been estab- 

 hshed, alike in its grand leading principles, but exceedingly varied in its detail ; and 

 we are thence led to admhe the profound wisdom of the Creator and Preserver of the 

 universe. Let us for a moment suppose that all mankind were formed exactly similar. 

 What would be the consequence? Endless monotony, confusion, and crime. The 

 variety of form and intellect in the human species, creates in us those varied sensa- 

 tions of pleasure, which are derived from the admiration and love of one object beyond 

 that of another, for some real or fancied quality. If all were alike, the love of one 

 particular object could not exist, and a disgusting monotony would every where sur- 

 round us. A man would not know his own wife, nor a child its parent ; perpetual 

 scenes of confusion would prevail, and crime could not be traced to its perpetrators. 

 There would be a total want of those varied sentiments which hold their sway over 

 the human heart, and from which emanate every thing that is pleasurable in eristence. 

 It has, however, pleased the Dispenser of good to order every thing otherwise ; and 

 we now behold the world one vast machine, infinitely varied in its parts, but all of 

 them tending to the furtherance of one mighty design. 



The study of Nature teaches us to discover that, in the animal kingdom, there seems 

 to be one great chain of being, from man down to the lowest scale of animated exist- 

 ence ; and it is not impossible but that this may prevail even through tha vegetable and 

 mineral kingdoms, although man has hitherto been unable to detect the connecting 

 links. 



Each shell, each crawling insect holds a rank 

 Important in the plan of him who form'd 

 This scale of beings ; holds a rank, which lost. 

 Would break the chain, and leave behind a gap 

 Which Nature's self wcold rue. 



Stillihgfleet. 



Natural history is a study calculated in an especial manner for elevating the cha- 

 racter of the labouring classes of society. Indeed, it may be said to be a study in 

 which most labourers and mechanics ai-e abeady engaged. Their implements, and' 

 the materials which they manufacture, are aU derived from the field of Nature, and 

 are only mothficd by the experienced hand of man from his knowledge of the several 

 qualities which appertain to each. Besides, it requires less preUminary information 

 than almost any other branch of study; and even the humblest individual has within 

 his reach the means of contemplating Nature in one form or another. It is a 

 much more rational manner flf spending time than in dissipation, which debases the 

 mmd and undermines the constitution. While other branches of study have the 



effect of improving the reasoning powers of the mind, natural history may be said to 

 improve and humanize the whole man. The intimate connexion between moral con- 

 duct and the love of animals and plants, will be thought intimate cr remote according 

 to the ideas of different individuals ; but the more we consider and trace tho design 

 and purpose of the works of creation, shall we not sympathize tho moro v.'ich the fit- 

 ness of man to the ends of human conduct? The deeper we enter into the detaila 

 of nature, shall we not increase our relish for facts? This is nothing less than laying 

 the foundation for the love of order, of justice, and of honesty. 



Even those who have no knowledge of scientific zoology, derive great pleasure from 

 their observations on the manifest variety in the forms, habits, and instincts of ani- 

 mals ; and mankind are accustomed from these observations to transfer to some of the 

 higher quadrupeds many of the virtues of humanity. We speak of the courage of 

 the horse, the generosity of the Hon, the sagacity of the dog, and the innotsnce of 

 the lamb ; we are delighted with tho melody of the songsters of the grove ; the in- 

 dustry of the bee holds up to man a useful lesson ; the. gay attire of the butterfly 

 pleases us ; and the noxious and disgusting appearance of various reptiles eicite in us 

 varied emotions. But all these are nothing when put in comparison with the pleasure 

 derived by the scientific zoologist. He who can trace the varied degre-M of power 

 and intelligence, imparted by the Supreme Being to animals, from intellectusl man 

 down to the lowest animalcule, — who can trace the complicated organizaticn of beings 

 down to the minutest conferva or lichen, and who knows scientifically that man is the 

 most perfect of all created beings, enjoys a degree of exalted pleasure which scientific 

 knowledge can alone impart. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE — THE DEEB. 

 The animals of this active and beautiful tribe belong to the genus Cervus of Linnsus ; 

 they principally inhabit wild and woody regions. The species of this genus vary much 

 in size. In their contentions, both among themselves and with other animals, they not 

 only use their horns, but also strike furiously with their feet. Some of them are 

 used as beasts of draught. The flesh of the whole tribe is accounted particularly de- 

 licious, and well known by the name of venison. 



The males only are provided with horns ; these are solid — branched ; and are shed 

 and renewed annually. 



Fig. 1. — The Fallow-Deer (Cervus daina.) It is this species which is kept in 

 the deer parks of Britain. It is readily tamed, and feeds upon a variety of vegetables. 

 This animal, like nearly the whole tribe, is gregarious ; and in parks where numbers 

 are kept, they frequently divide into two parties, and maintain obstinate battles for 

 some favourite parts of the pasture. There are two varieties of Fallow-Deer in Bri- 

 tain, both of which are said to be of foreign origin : the beautiful spotted kind, which 

 we have figured, is supposed to be a native of Bengal ; and that variety without spots, 

 which is now very common in our parks, was introduced from Norway by King James I. 



Fig. 2 The Virginian Fallow-Deer (Cervus Virginiamis), associate in numerous 



herds, and supply a most palatable food to the inhabitants of the back settlements of 

 North America, and to other wild tribes. This species can at once be distinguished 

 from the former by its horns being arched forwards. 



Fig. 3. — The Long-tailed Deer (Cervus macrourns.) This species is larger than 

 the Red-deer, and is distinguished by the size of its tail, which is nearly eighteen 

 inches in length. It inhabits the central and northern parts of North America, 



Fig. 4. — The Axis (Cervus Axis), is a native of the warmer parts of eastern Asia, 

 and is considered one of the most beautiful of the group of which it is a member. In 

 its general form and markings, it somewhat resembles the Fallow-Deer, but is at once 

 distinguished from it by the structure of its horns. 



Fig. 5. — The Malayan Rusa Deer (Cervus Equimis.) This animal differs from 

 most of its congeners by its neck and throat being furnished with a thick coating of 

 long bristly hair. It is a native of Bengal. 



Fig. 6. — The Guazopuco Deer (Cervus paludosus), inhabits South America, and 

 is nearly equal to the European Stag in point of size. Its horns are, however, of com- 

 pai-atively small dimensions. A distinguishing mark of this animal, is the long and 

 flowing hair which ornaments its abdomen, back of the thighs, and under side of the 

 t^l. 



Fig. 7 — The Nepaul Stag (Cervus Wallichii), is fully larger than the stag of 

 Europe, and differs from it in having two small antlers at the base of the horns, pro- 

 jecting forwards. Its colour is of a yellowish brown, mixed with gray ; it is dis- 

 tinguished by having a very short tail, and a disk of white spreading above the croup. 



Humanity of a Wken — In the end of June 1835, a person was shooting in the 

 neighbourhood of Bandrakehead, in the parish of Colton, Westmoreland: he killed a 

 brace of Blue Titmice (Parus caruleus), which some time before had been observed 

 to be constructing a nest, in the end of a house, belonging to a Mr Innes of the same 

 place. In the course of the day, it was ascertained that the Titmice had completed 

 the time of incubation, and that their death had consequently left their offspring in 

 a state of utter destitution. This, however, was not long permitted to continue, for 

 the chirping of the young birds attracted the attention and excited the compassion of 

 a Wren ; which, since that period, has adopted the nestUngs, and was daily engaged in 

 rearing and feeding them, with the affectionate kindness and unremitting assiduity of 

 a parent bird. 



Fatal Bite fhoji an AnDER In a moss in the neighbourhood of Bucklyvie, a 



farm servant, while engaged in cutting peats, a few months ago, was stung by an adder, 

 and died in consequence of the wound in about ten days. 



BIiGRATioN By wonderful instinct, birds will follow cultivation, imd make them- 

 selves denizens of new regions. The crossbill has followed the introduction of the 

 apple to England. Gleneo, in the Highlands of Scotland, never knew the partridge 

 till its farmers of late years introduced corn into their lands ; nor chd the sparrow ap- 

 pear in Siberia, until the Russians had made arable the vast wastes of those parts of 

 their dominions. 



