392 
REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
most complete catalogues extant of the birds of Europe and America, it is 
equally valuable to the ornithologist. 
Essays on Natural History , chiefly Ornithology. By Charles Waterton, 
Esq., author of “ Wanderings in South America.” With an Autobiography of 
the author, and a View of Walton Hall. London: Longman and Co. 1838. 
pp. lxxxiii., 312. 12mo. Cloth, lettered. 
These essays are reprinted from the old series of the Magazine of Natural 
History , formerly edited by Mr. Loudon, and are published at his expense. The 
only original portion of the volume, therefore, is the detailed, and of course highly 
interesting, biography of the author. This is valuable on account of the faithful 
manner in which circumstances are recorded which delicacy would have prompted 
a friend to omit, in writing the biography of a living author. For instance, at 
p. xiv., Mr. Waterton observes that on looking at himself in the glass, he can 
see at once that his face is anything but comely, and adds in a note :—“ A late 
worthy baronet in the North-Riding of Yorkshire, having taken up the Wander¬ 
ings , and examined the representation of the nondescript with minute attention, 
4 Dear me ! ’ said he, as he showed the engraving to his surrounding company, 4 what 
a very extraordinary-looking man Mr. Waterton must be !’ ” 
The family of the Watertons, once influential, has resided at Walton Hall 
some centuries, and previously dwelt at Waterton in the Isle of Axeholme, in 
Lincolnshire. In their independence they seem determined to be islanders, the 
present family mansion being situated upon an island. The same spirit has 
determined Mr. W. not to take Sir Robert Peel’s oath respecting the Church 
Establishment. 
“ I don’t believe that Sir Robert cared one fig’s end whether the soul of a Catholic went up, 
after death, to the King of Brightness, or descended to the king of brimstone: his only aim seems 
to have been to secure to the Church fty-law established, the full possession of the loaves and 
fishes. But as I have a vehement inclination to make a grab at these loaves and fishes, in order 
to distribute a large proportion of them to the poor of Great Britain, who have an undoubted 
claim to it, I do not intend to have my hands tied behind me: hence my positive refusal to swal¬ 
low Sir Robert Peel’s* oath.”—p. xix. 
Mr. Waterton possessed an inherent love of Nature almost from his earliest 
days, and his attachment appears to have grown with his years. He was born 
at Walton Hall, some five-and-fifty years ago. We have visited his beautiful 
and extensive Park, which is walled all round, and in which the sound of a gun 
is never heard; and consequently a more delightful spot for the true naturalist 
can hardly be conceived. 
*“ I do hereby disclaim, disavow, and solemnly abjure any intention to subvert the present 
Church Establishment within this realm,” &c. (See Sir R. Peel’s oath.) 
