brown," to be the Philippine Grosbeak (Loxia Philip pina); a little bird which he finds is a native of the Philippine Islands, and endowed by nature with instinctive notions of preservation and comfort, nearly approaching to human intelligence: that it constructs a curious nest with the long fibres of plants or dried grass, and suspends it by a kind of cord, nearly half an ell long, from the end of a slender branch of a tree, that it may be inaccessable to snakes, and safe from the prying intrusion of the numerous monkeys which inhabit those regions: at the end of this cord is a gourd-shaped nest, divided into three apartments, the first of which is occupied by the male, the second by the female, and the third containing the young; and in the first apartment, where the male keeps watch while the female is hatching, is placed, on one side, a little tough clay, and on the top of this clay is fixed a glow-worm to afford it's inhabitants light in the night time. That the English student may be possessed of this treasure, comprehending and illustrating all nature, through the three kingdoms of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals; a translation has been published by Lackington and Co., from the last edition of the Systema Naturæ of Linné, by Gmelin, amended and enlarged by the improvements and discoveries of later naturalists, by Dr. Turton, in 6 vol. 8vo. 31. 3s. [Prospectus.]

The

The most complete and best introductory work on Botany is Dr. Hull's Elements, 2 vol. 8vo. The best Pocket Linnean Arrangement of Plants is the British Flora, by the same author, in one volume, price 8s 6d bds. most complete botanical arrangement of plants is by Dr. Smith in the Latin language, called Flora Britannica, 4. vol. 8vo, 2l 2s bds. The cheapest and best figures of plants, may be found in Sowerby's English Botany,

published in monthly numbers, price 5s. each; the 175th appeared in June 1806. Professor Martyn's tran

slation of Rousseau's "Letters on the Elements of Botany, addressed to a Lady," with 24 additional Letters, and a volume of 38 plates, is a most pleasing and familiar introduction. Dr. Withering's Arrangement of British Plants, 4 vol. 8vo. 17 11s 6d bds. notwithstanding the singularity of the language, contains many original remarks. Professor Martyn's Language of Botany, is an excellent Dictionary of Terms, with familiar explanations small 8vo. 5s bds. Dr. Milne's Botanical Dictionary, is also a valuable work, on which the late Mr. Curtis, it is said, always placed his principal reliance in all cases of reference, and which Dr. Thornton uses as a text-book; a thick 8vo, 25 plates, 1/1s bds.; coloured, 1/ 15s. Symonds.

MINERALOGY.

The principles of the mineral kingdom, when compared with the known species of plants and animals, are few indeed: but they exist not in nature in their simple state; and their combinations present a senseless and perplexing variety of appearances, with súch minute and almost imperceptible shades, that external characters cannot always be safely assumed as a basis of distinct classification; while a knowledge of their component parts, is, in many cases, to be acquired only by troublesome and difficult processes, and by modes of investigation not exempt from falacy. [Mon. Rev. N. s. xl. 535.]

The celebrated Prof. Werner has effected a revolution in this science. Mr. Jameson, author of the Mineralogy of the Scottish Isles," is also author of "A Natural History of Fossils," according to the system of the professor of Freyburg. Mr. Jameson studied two years under this illustrious naturalist. The following may be mentioned as very valuable works.

A Practical Essay on the Analysis of Minerals, exemplifying the best Methods of analysing Ores, Earths, Stones, inflammable Fossils, and Mineral Substances in general, By Frederic Accum, 12mo. Clarke's Mineralogy; or, an easy and simple Method of arranging the Substances of the Mineral Kingdom, into Classes, Orders, Genera, Species, and Varieties, according to their Distribution on the Surface of the Globe. Jameson's System of Mineralogy; comprehending Oryctognosie, Geognosie, Mineralogical Geography, and Economical Mineralogy, 2 vol. 8vo, 1/ 4s bds. Longman. Analytical Essays towards promoting the Chemical Knowledge of Mineral Substances. By Martin Henry Klaproth. From the German, 2 vol. 8vo. 12s bds. Cadell.

Other valuable works on the Subject of Natural History.

White's Naturalist's Calendar, 8vo, 176 pages; 1 plate, 65 bds. White. Stillingfleet's Miscellaneous Tracts relating to Natural History, &c. 8vo, 7s, Bewick's History of Quadrupeds, 8vo. 10s 6d, bds. Longman. Bewick's History of British Birds, 2 vol. 8vo. 17 2s 6d bds. with incomparably fine Engravings on Wood. Buffon's Natural History, by Smellie, 9 vol. 8vo. 4l 1s. Buffon's Natural History, by Barr, 15 vol. 8vo, in bds. 5l 1s 6d; in 12mo, 3/ 15s. Symonds. Dr. Shaw's General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History, with figures engraved principally by Heath; in thick 8vo. volumes, at 1412s 6d each, of which six had appeared the beginning of the year 1806. Kearsley. Dr. Shaw's Naturalist's Miscellany, with coloured Figures, the Descriptions in English and Latin. Publishing in Monthly Numbers. Dr Lettsom's Naturalist and Traveller's Companion, 8vo. 4s 6d. bds. Mawman. White's Works in Natural History, containing the History of Selborne; the Naturalist's Calendar, and Miscellaneous Observations, by W. War. wick, 2 vol. 8vo 14s. White.

SCIENCE IN GENERAL.

In electricity, chemistry, &c. my pupil begins by experiment, under the eye of a master, and thence either deduces his own general rules, or confirms

those of others. This is the order of nature, she pre sents us with facts, from which we must deduce our reasoning. This method of beginning with experiment has been most admirably illustrated, and enforced by Lavoisier in his Elements of Chemistry; see also his Preface. One advantage accruing from this practice must by no means be omitted, that the ardour of my pupil will thus be less liable to be repressed, or intimidated by scientific terms. Of all inventions, whose tendency is directly to retard the efforts of the mind, that of hard unmeaning names, holds indubitably the first rank. It deters thou

sands from scientific pursuits, it distracts the memory of the learned themselves, and hence checks their improvement. It gives encouragement to quackery in science, because a smattering of knowledge will have the appearance of something more perfect. "The word," as Lavoisier has well observed, "ought to produce the idea, and the idea to be a picture of the fact." I cannot sufficiently express my abhorrence of those preposterous appellations with which sciences are overburdened; nor do I think that any man of intellect can enlist in a better cause, or do more essential service to his fellow creatures, than to use his utmost endeavours to abolish them. Impressed fully with this persuasion, I published in the year 1796 the third of my "Triplet of Inventions," containing a new anatomical nomenclature, as far as related to the bones of the human frame; and this I did, tho' fully satisfied of my inability to do it well, in hopes that the efforts of some of my more able countrymen would be roused to greater exertions, as well in that, as in other sciences; my expectations are hitherto deceived, and it is left to chemistry No. 68.

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alone to claim her Morveau, her Bertholet, her Fourcroy, and her Lavoisier. [Northmore.]

Learning and science, or rather learned and scientific terms, when introduced out of season, become what is called PEDANTRY. The subject may have merit, the terms be precise, and yet, notwithstanding, the speaker be a pedant, if he talk without regard either to place or time. The following instance may illustrate this subject perhaps much more strikingly than an ellaborate disquisition. A learned

doctor of Paris was once purchasing a pair of stockings, but unfortunately could find none which were either strong enough or thick enough. 'Give me,' said he to the hosier, stockings of matter continuous, not of matter discrete.' [Quoted from the Menagiana by Mr. Harris.] No province will admit of directing the pupil, without force, to such a number of objects fitted to occupy his time, employ his activity, and improve his strength or constitution, so well as natural history and natural philosophy. Do not be alarmed at the presumption of introducing children among the ostentatious philosophers of modern times: it is not the first occasion, in which you may observe philosophers deriving their fame from puerile employments. In order to give factitious dignity to natural history, it is obscured by a barbarous jargon, or by fanciful systems. These must be avoided in the instruction of children; and the distinctions, properties, or uses of objects, be associated merely with their names, to answer the purposes of a rational education. [Williams's Lectures on Education.] · The object of all science and philosophy being utility, we are possessed of an excellent criterion, by which we may judge of all