4930 Notices of New Books. 



are tastes confined to the few. Mr. Stainton is one of these ; and it is 

 also his constant aim to go to Nature herself as the fountain-head of 

 such knowledge : for myself, I have long since learned that it is 

 dangerous and inexpedient to elicit materials from any other source: 

 frequently as the writings of others may guide us to the truth, they 

 should be availed of simply as guides to the source, and not as the 

 source itself: nothing should be substituted for personal observation, 

 except when personal observation cannot be brought to bear. Mr. 

 Stainton entertains and has often advanced these views, but it appears 

 to me that he scarcely carries them out in that thorough-paced manner 

 which he himself would recommend to the rising generation of natu- 

 ralists. As an example : Degeer is an excellent guide, perhaps the 

 very best in many cases, but it is making rather too free with this 

 eminent naturalist to occupy so many pages with an extract from his 

 description of Nepticula anomalella, an insect so abundant that, as 

 Mr. Stainton observes, "if we examine our rose-bushes in the months 

 of July and October we can hardly fail to observe on some of them 

 that many of the leaves are marked with its 'pale serpentine tracks."' 

 Mr. Stainton evidently has all the materials for a history of the 

 insects, and he is quite right in fairly acknowledging the value of 

 Degeer's previous labours ; but he need not have cited them either in 

 addition to or in lieu of his own. There is a strong reason for noticing 

 and even dwelling on this point, namely, that if we have each indi- 

 vidual history thus doubly elaborated, the work becomes extended 

 beyond the limits actually required to render the subject clear and 

 intelligible ; and the eventual completion of the work is indefinitely 

 procrastinated. 



The letter-press is in four languages, English, French, German and 

 Latin, printed in four parallel columns, the object of which is to 

 extend the circle of readers, and, as a consequence, the sphere of 

 utility. I should demur to this expensive proceeding as unnecessary, 

 believing English sufficient for ourselves and Latin for all other 

 nations, did not the price at which the work is issued show that the 

 author is totally regardless of pecuniary compensation ; indeed we are 

 told, and 1 readily believe it, that the plates alone absorb the entire 

 price of the volume. This principle of ignoring profit seems to per- 

 vade the whole of Mr. Stainton's literary labours. We accept this 

 as a generous act in each individual instance : we feel indebted to 

 Mr. Stainton for selling us a handsome volume at the mere cost of 

 colouring the plates ; but how will it act hereafter ? what effect will 

 be produced by comparing this price with that of future works pub- 



