28 
REVIEWS. 
Life,” and other works; but we are inclined to prefer these two volumes to all 
the other productions of the pen of our cheerful, chirping cricket. Acheta, 
if thou wert “born in ages dark—could trace thy pedigree to Noah’s ark, 
yet we would fain hope that thou would still abide with us in these more 
modern days, and enliven, refresh, and instruct us by thy “ April 
Showers ” and by thy “ May Flowers,” and this too, albeit we be but men 
of yesterday, and date our birth even one epoch later than that which 
ushered that showy upstart, the basking butterfly, and that moping creature, 
the modest moth, into life. We, as young, can the better appreciate the 
sayings of the elderly. * 
The first volume contains “ Rambles in the Garden of Amphitrite.” 
Then, emerging from the deep, and leaving the company of a rosy-tinted 
Nereid, we see in “ Late Awakings,” and in “ Hedges in Winter,” how 
exhaustless to the eye and mind which have been awakened are the par¬ 
ticulars lying utterly hidden within the generals of nature; after which we 
have a delightful “ Rummage in a Stone Cabinet,” and this is the pleasant¬ 
est chapter in the book. The usefulness of this chapter is in contrast to 
the next one, which tells of “ Two Elm Trees,” and is a story—a possible, 
not-probable one, but, withal, well told. “ Voices in the Air, concerning 
the World’s Show,” bring these “ April Showers ” to a conclusion, and 
prepare the way for “ May Flowers.” No pen of mortal mould, says our 
author, could work out all the beautiful significance of such a title. With this 
we entirely agree, and are inclined both to overlook great defects and to 
take pleasure in small things. Those that know nature know how they 
love her small things. First, we have a chapter on “ Bird and Man,” 
and we would feign take from it a hint, and train our minds, not to be eagle- 
minds, nor yet humming-bird minds, but the sky-lark mind, which risest 
heavenward, joyously, melodiously, and bringest its music and its piety down 
again to earth, to spread delight and harmony around them. Next, in 
happy sequence, comes “ Goldfinches in general, and ours in particular,” the 
latter portion of which is an interesting goldfinch biography. Then come 
“Animals of air,” “The Harpy that broods in every corner.” We wish this 
Harpy would take to itself wings, and fly far away. “Things and Thought s 
in a Thicket.” After reading this chapter we would never again be at a loss 
for things to see, and thoughts to think in any thicket we might chance to 
find. And, finally, we have “ Leaves of Insect Appropriation.” This is a 
chapter for the microlepidopterist; for he knows of minute atoms that ap¬ 
propriate for themselves habitations in almost every sort of leaf. We have 
given the contents as it were of the twelve Chapters which the two volumes 
onsists, and it remains but to recommend them strongly to our readers’ atten- 
