THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 145 



A Popular Guide to the Observation of Nature ; or Hints of Induce- 

 ment to the study of Natural Productions and Appearances in their 

 Connexions and Relations. By Robert JUudie, 3s. Gd. 1832. 



This is a sweet little volume — sometimes deep and 

 profound, but always fascinating. It contains, how- 

 ever, we are sorry to see, evidences that the author 

 is utterly ignorant of the true philosophy of the 

 mind, and like all others in that state, has erred 

 accordingly. We have only space to extract one 

 short passage: — " The dew forms into beautiful 

 drops on those surfaces, between which and it there 

 is a sort of repulsion. Vegetable leaves when in 

 action have that quality, and hence the beauty of 

 the morning dew on the grass. If those who are 

 fond of looking at gems would get up in the morning 

 when the dew-drops are large on the grass, and the 

 sun's rays low and slanting, they would, by just 

 sitting or standing a few minutes with their back 

 to the sun, get a gratis sight of a far finer casket 

 than any monarch on earth can boast of possessing. 

 Many people make a boast of having been at court, 

 and having seen the Queen in her jewels ; but if 

 they would get up in time, they might, almost any 

 sunny morning, see the Queen of Nature in her 

 jewels, and gain both health and time by the sight." 

 p. 198. The whole volume is characterised by close 

 observation and originality of thought, which, how- 

 ever, would have been more generally appreciated 

 had the style of the author been more transparent. 



