69 SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



and we can answer for it, that if any of our readers once 

 commence the book they will finish it. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



The Report of the Rugby School Natural History Society, 1868, 

 contains some very interesting papers read during the past 

 year, and several illustrations. An excellent arrangement of 

 the appearances of diiferent animals and flowers appears at 

 the end. 



Quarterly Magazine of the High Wycombe Natural History 

 Society, April, 1869. The members of this Society are 

 admirably doing their work towards making a catalogue of the 

 plants and animals of their district. Mr. Britten gives a list 

 of the Orchids, with notes; and Mr. Sharp does a similar 

 work for the birds. The paper on " Fern Freaks" is very 

 interesting. 



"The book, perhaps which turned the tide in favour of 

 Natural History, among the higher classes at least, in the 

 south of England, was White's " History of Selborne." A 

 Hampshire gentleman and sportsman, whom every body 

 knew, had taken the trouble to write a book about the birds 

 and the weeds in his own parish, and the every day things 

 which went on under his eyes, and every one else's. And all 

 gentlemen from the Weald of Kent, to the Vale of Blackmore, 

 shugged their shoulders mysteriously, and said " Poor fellow!" 

 till they opened the book itself, and discovered to their sur- 

 prise, that it read like any novel. And then came a burst of 

 confused, but honest admiration ; from the young Squire's 

 " Bless me ! who would have thought there were so many 

 wonderful things to be seen in one's own park!" to the old 

 Squire's more morally valuable " Bless me ! why, I have seen 

 that and that a hundred times, and never thought till now 

 how wonderful they were." 



KINGSLEY. 



Local Names. — It is desired to collect as many as possible of the 

 local names of British plants and the assistance is requested of a!I 

 who take an interest in the subject, or who may have the opportunity 

 of ascertaining and recording them. Any lists sent to Mr. James 

 Britten, High Wycombe, or to Mr. Eobeet Holland, Mobberley, 

 Knutsford, will be thankfully received and acknowledged. 



