3554 Notices of New Books : 



" Sunday at Barham Parsonage was always a day of cheerfulness ; 

 there was nothing to cast a shade or gloom upon it ; it differed from 

 all other days, and was stamped with a mark peculiar to itself: this, 

 however, was not the badge of a slavish yoke, but the stamp of a cheer- 

 ful dedication. Entomology, notwithstanding the connexion it ever 

 had with religion in his mind, and the extent to which it was inter- 

 woven in his sermons, was never pursued in any way whatever on this 

 day of rest. There was danger, in his view, of its engrossing the 

 mind; and, however innocently, or even profitably, the eye might 

 wander over the treasures of his drawers, he considered that there was 

 something due in the way of example towards the members of his 

 household, which he would not withhold. 



" The arrangement of his time was with Mr. Kirby a matter of fore- 

 thought and consideration. The following may be taken as the divi- 

 sion ordinarily adopted at the time when he pursued Entomology with 

 the greatest vigour : — 



" The time before breakfast was devoted to reading portions of 

 Scripture in Greek or Hebrew. After breakfast, one of the Fathers 

 until noon, with a classical author on alternate days: this was followed 

 by exercise until an early dinner. The afternoon was devoted to Na- 

 tural History, and the evening to miscellaneous reading, correspon- 

 dence, &c, &c. Wednesday and Friday were devoted to systematic 

 visitation in his parish. 



" These rules were observed with great accuracy for a very long 

 period of his life : latterly his custom was to read the New Testament 

 in Greek after breakfast (which he always did aloud), and it was rarely 

 that this was neglected. 



" It is by no means an uncommon circumstance to find that men 

 who have acquired great celebrity have abridged the hours of sleep ; 

 this was not the case with Mr. Kirby ; his hours were observed with 

 great regularity, and his habit was to rise early, and retire at a rea- 

 sonable hour to rest. He never encroached upon the period of repose, 

 which, by experience, he found essential to the well-being of mind and 

 body. There are, indeed, to this some notable exceptions to be made; 

 for more than one entomologist can tell of Mr. Kirby's zeal and ener- 

 gy in pursuit of his science by night, — not, however, by the light of 

 the midnight oil, but with that of a common lantern, visiting, at some 

 distance from the Parsonage, the oak woods, to ascertain, if he could, 

 the proceedings of the insect world; more especially being curious to 

 know whether the Formica rufa really carried on its operations by 

 night. Upon this point, accompanied by Mr. Spence and Mr. John 



