REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
3*23 
BOTANY. 
3. Church Nosegays. —A curious custom exists in the country near the Elbe, 
but no mention is made of its origin. The peasant who possesses a bit of land, 
however small, never enters the church without having a nosegay in his hand, 
thus claiming the consideration due to a landholder in the parish. In the neigh¬ 
bourhood of Hamburg there is no garden that is not in part appropriated to the 
growth of flowers for church nosegays. 
4. Novel Locality for a Plant. —A wretched fanatic, now in Bombay, took 
a slip of the Tulsi-tree, planted it in a pot, placed it in the palm of his left hand, 
and held it above his head, in which position it has remained for five years. The 
Tulsi has grown a fine shrub; the muscles of the arm which support it have 
become rigid and shrunken ; the nails of the fingers have grown out, and they curl 
spirally downwards to a great length; yet the miserable devotee sleeps, eats, 
drinks, and seems quite indifferent to his strange position, having lost his 
remembrance of pain ip public applause.—Mrs. Postans.— [The above is indeed 
a pitiable instance of the fruits of ignorance; but the poor Hindoo calls it virtue. 
In like manner does fanaticism in more civilized climes frequently pass for piety, 
and we know it not! —Ed.] 
REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
The Natural History of the Sperm Whale ; its Anatomy and Physiology__ 
Food—Spermaceti—Ambergris—Bise and Progress of the Fishery—Chase and 
Capture— u Cutting-in” and “ Trying-out”—Description of the Ships, Boats, Men, 
and Instruments used in the Attack; with an Account of its favourite Places of 
Resort. To which is added a Sketch of a South-Sea Whaling Voyage ; embracing 
a Description of the Extent, as well as the Adventures and Incidents that occurred 
during the Voyage in which the Author was personally engaged. By Thomas 
Beale, Surgeon, &c. &c. London : John Van Voorst , Paternoster-Row. 1839. 
Such is the interest and such the importance of this volume, that, despite the 
fact of its being a second edition, and the very trying circumstance of the length 
of its title, we shall on the present occasion depart from our usual custom 
touching new editions, and treat of its contents at some length. The work 
derives its attractive nature from no merit of literary composition, for to that the 
intelligent author does not aspire; but from the originality of its information, 
and the judicious manner in which this is digested. 
2 u 
VOL. IV.—NO. XXX. 
