THE NATURALIST IN LA PLATA. 
By W. H. HUDSON, C.M.ZS. 
WiTH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. SMIT. DEMy 8vo, 16s. 
SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
Mr. Alfred R. Wallace in ‘‘Nature” says:— 
**It is so far as the present writer knows, altogether unique among books on natural 
history. What renders this work of such extreme value and interest is, that it is not written 
by atraveller or a mere temporary resident, but by one born in the country, to whom its 
various tribes of beasts, birds, and insects have becn familiar from childhood ; who is imbued 
with love and admiration for every form of life; and who for twenty years has observed 
carefully and recorded accurately everything of interest in the life histories of the various 
species with which he has become acquainted. When we add to this the fact that the writer 
of this volume is well acquainted with the literature, both old and new, bearing upon his 
subject ; that he groups his facts and observations so as to throw light on obscure problems, 
and often adduces evidence calculated to decide them ; and, in addition to all this, that the 
book is written in an earnest spirit, and in a clear and delightful style, it becomes evident 
that not all who attempt to follow in his steps can hope to equal their forerunner, .. . These 
subjects are discussed with a fulness and originality the result of long personal observation, 
and will command the careful attention of those who are interested in the mental phenomena 
presented by animals. It remains only to add that the bnok is beautifully got up, that the 
text is singularly free from misprints, and that the numerous illustrations— photographic repro- 
ductions of drawings—are at once delicate and characteristic. Never has the present writer 
derived so much pleasure and instruction from a book on the habits and instincts of animals. 
He feels sure that it will long continue to be a storehouse of facts and observations of the 
greatest value to the philosophical naturalist, while to the general reader it will rank as the 
most interesting and delightful of modern books on natural history.” 
Mr. R. Lyddeker in ‘‘Natural Science”’ says :— 
‘Seldom, if ever, have we read with such extreme pleasure and interest any work on the 
habits and ways of animals in their native state as Mr. W. H. Hudson’s ‘The Naturalist in 
La Plata,’ a volume which is in every respect a worthy successor to Mr. Bates’s * Naturalist 
on the Amazons,’ or Mr. Wallace’s ‘ Malay Archipelago.’ Mr. Hudson is, indeed, in some 
respects unrivalled as an observer of animate nature, and is cqually at home when treating 
of the ways of large ferocious animals like the puma, or when describing the curious dances 
of the birds of the Pampas. He has also the rare charm of conveying to his readers the 
results of his observations in such bright and vivid language as cannot fail to make the 
volume acceptable to all lovers of nature. Indeed, so striking is his word-painting, that we 
seem to realize the scenes described, even without the aid of the very excellent figures with 
which many of them are illustrated.” 
The ‘‘ National Observer ” says :— 
“* Mr. Hudson’s book has a right toa place in the naturalist’s library beside ‘‘Vhe Voyage 
of the Beagle,’ Bates’s ‘Amazons,’ and Belt’s ‘Nicaragua.’ It is the pith and marrow of 
years of collecting and observing on the great plains of the Plate, by a man who knows how 
to write as well as how to observe. He gives a fascinating account of the extraordinary 
aerial and terrestrial dances and wing displays indulged in by the birds of the Pampas 
and the forests, partly in the prosecution of courtship, but largely also, as he holds, out of 
the pure joy of living ; and he describes, with something of the eye of the poet as well as 
the naturalist, the quality of their notes and the wonderful beauty of their plumage. Un- 
feathered things have also their moments of exaltation ; only, birds have more graceful and 
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