CORRESPONDENCE. 
261 
It was commenced in 1824, and was announced to be u complete’’ two or three 
years ago. In 1828 the enterprising Mr. Loudon set on foot the Magazine of 
Natural History. If I am rightly informed, it succeeded very well in three or 
four years’ time, remained some time in a flourishing condition, and then again 
dwindled in circulation. This must, 1 think, have been mainly owing to the 
change in its conductorship, and the introduction into its pages of a more 
exclusively technical character. There were also the Field Naturalist’s Magazine 
(edited by Mr. Rennie) and the Zoological Magazine , both of which ran but a 
brief career. Both were issued monthly, and at a small price. The former did 
not answer to its title sufficiently to please the public, and with the latter I am 
only acquainted by hearsay. Then The Naturalist and the Magazine of 
Zoology and Botany (now the Annals of Natural History ) were commenced at 
about the same time. The former is calculated to take the place of the Magazine 
of Natural History under Mr. Loudon’s management, and in some respects I 
even consider it superior to that Journal; the latter contains each month 
admirable papers; but the work is, I consider, too scientific and technical to 
diffuse a study of Natural History, which ought to be the chief object of a 
periodical devoted to a subject which cannot be said to be “popular” in this 
country. 
But the progress of Natural History in public favour, though slow, is sure. I 
can see it in our schools, colleges, and public institutions, in our magazines and 
newspapers, and in various other ways. Its march cannot now be retarded. 
I may in conclusion observe, that every single fact of interest observed by 
any of your readers ought to be duly forwarded for your inspection, and publication 
if desirable; for it is by recording isolated facts, in themselves apparently unim¬ 
portant, that we may all render essential service to science, either in the way of 
suggestions or observations. Each of your readers might with advantage furnish 
his quota towards your “ Correspondence,” “ Criticism, 1 ” and “ Chapter of Miscel¬ 
lanies.” Let even the youngest and most inexperienced take his note-book with 
him into the fields, and record the actions and general economy of every quadruped 
gambolling in the verdant hills or along the river side, of every warbler in the 
cool shade, of every insect, in all their varied localities. Thus he may, in no 
very long time, and in a most delightful manner, gain information which many 
authors have alone obtained through the medium of closet study; he may rectify 
errors into which they have fallen; and add much that is interesting to the 
general stock of information. 
It is, then, not Natural History, but a certain class of books on the subject, 
that must be voted unpopular. These books, however, are in themselves excel¬ 
lent ; and supposing the tuition of the rising generation, as well in as out of the 
schools, properly conducted, those “ dry” but valuable works will assuredly, before 
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