48 
reviews of new publications. 
haying studied at Oxford or Cambridge. At p. 39 our author alludes to the 
“ Blind-worm’s sting” a mistake which may well be excused in him, as Anguis 
fragilis does not occur in Ireland. For a rectification of the vulgar error respect¬ 
ing the “sting” of this creature, see our Yol. III., p. 325. Mr. Patterson 
notices (p. 44), with just reprehension, the omission of scientific names, and the 
erroneous use of English technical terms, in some recent publications. Our 
readers will be able to appreciate the confusion thus engendered, if we cite the 
instance of a well-known and highly interesting volume, W aterton’s Wanderings 
in South America. 
The following, though not so characterised by the author, are manifestations of 
the faculty of Secretiveness :— 
“ I have often been amused, on taking the common Dor Beetle, at observing the manner in 
which it feigns death. Its legs are set out perfectly stiff and immoveable, which is its posture 
when really dead, and, no matter how much it is tossed about in the hand, it will not, by the 
slightest movement, betray its stratagem. The only way to restore its activity is to allow it to 
remain for a minute or two undisturbed. It is said by this procedure to deceive the Rooks, which 
feed upon it, but which do so only when their captive is alive. A curious example of a similar 
instinct in birds is given in Time's Telescope for 1833:—‘ A gentleman had a Corn Crake brought 
to him by his Dog: it was dead to all appearance. As it lay on the ground he turned it over with 
his foot: he was convinced that it was dead ; standing by, however, some time in silence, he sud¬ 
denly saw it open one eye. He then took it up ; its head fell, its legs hung loose, it appeared 
again totally dead. He then put it in his pocket, and before very long he felt it all alive, and 
struggling to escape. He took it out: it was as lifeless as before. He then laid it upon the 
ground,and retired to some distance; in about five minutes it warily raised its head, looking 
round, and decamped at full speed.’ ”—p. 72. 
If by the often-cited passage— 
-“ The poor Beetle that we tread upon 
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great 
As when a giant dies,” 
the poet intends to convey the opinion that the sensibility of an insect is as great 
as that of man, it will not stand the test of truth; but no doubt the true meaning 
of the lines is that the mere act of summarily depriving a man of life causes as 
little pain as a similar operation would do to an insect. The bard wishes, in 
fact, to express in a forcible manner the small amount of suffering caused in 
killing any animal, provided the proper means are employed. 
Mr. Patterson incidentally states, at p. 83, that he has procured specimens of 
Blethisa Borealis and Bembidium paludosum , “ insects which had not before 
been taken in this neighbourhood [[Belfast], and which I believe had not pre¬ 
viously been recorded as Irish.” Alluding to a passage in “ All’s Well that Ends 
Well,” our author says :—“ Hazlitt was so well pleased with the passage, that, 
in his Characters of ShaJcspeare s Flags , he quotes the commencement of it, and 
remarks, with a note of admiration, c What an exact knowledge of Natural 
History is here shown although every boy who has spent his summer holidays 
