Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Log-Book of a Fisherman and Zoologist . By Frank Buckland , M . A ., late Student of Christ Chnrch , Oxford , Inspector of Salmon Fisheries for England and Wales , & c , & c , Illustrated . London : Chapman and Hall , 193 Piccadilly , 1875 .
THERE are few more genial , more deservedly popular writers than Mr . Frank Buckland , whose contributions to tho natural history columns of Land and Water are so justly esteemed . Mr . Buckland , indeed , was one of the gentlemen to whom tho establishment of that journal is due , and the bulk of tho contents of the vohvmo before ns have appeared from time to time in its pages , so that we hail their
re-appearance in a collected form with immense satisfaction . The bare mention of natural history is at once suggestive of a marvellous array of horrid technicalities , barbarous incomprehensible Latin names , and a number of other disagreeables which it is given to only a very select few to appreciate , while still fewer understand them thoroughly . But Mr . Buckland narrates his experiences
in good p ' ain English , just for all the world as if he were talking with his readers over a genial glass of wine and choice Havana cigar . Technical terms occur of course , and their appearance is very appropriate , but they never intervene between the reader and his comprehension of the subject . Mr . Buckland goes heartily to work , being scientific enough to satisfy even the most
exigeant naturalist , and at the same time thoroughly intellgn'bie by all classes of readers . The contents are various enough to suit every variety of taste , some of the entries in the log-book being highly amusing . Mr . Buckland ' s philosophy has a large admixture of fun in it , at the same time he exhibits in tho proper place , and at the proper time , the deepest reverence for the wondrous power of the Great Architect of all thinffg . Wo like the book all the
more for the serious touches introduced hero and there . We can hardly picture to ourselves , indeed , a naturalist who evinces not his respect for the Architect of Created Things . Such a person—if there be one—must be cjnito as singular a phenomenon as the octopus or any other of the strangers
which Mr . Buckland has here delineated . To note , however , some of the more interesting of these delineations . Tho author presents himself , iu the first instance , in the chaiaeter of an art critic . He is "At tho Royal Academy without a Catalogue , " and ho notes chiefly the animal pieces , and landscapes , smartly , too , as thus : —
A fishing smack just come to an anchor . An old fisherman landing his fish—scenery like the coast at tho north of Berwick-on-Tweed . The fisherman has got a very miscellaneous lot of deep-sea fishskate , john-dory , ling , conger , plaice , gurnard , & c He must have been working both " long lines " and " trawl-net , " as some of those fish aro caught only by the trawl , others only by the long lino . Tho
painter is not a deep-sea fisherman . The basket of fish is put into scales . They don ' t sell sea fish like this by weight . Fish nicely done . I wish tho painter would touch up some of the casts which I havo painted . Au animal , I suppose meant for a red deer , wounded—a bullet-wound
on tho left side . A wound at this part would not bleed much , because the scapula would act as a valve to keep the blood inside the thorax ; and yet there is no end of blood . A miserable production , and , as far as the animal goes , not fit for a public-house sign . The rest of tho scenery good . "
Kiug Charles the First ' s Parrot" is an amusing practical joke which some of tho troopers of the 2 nd Life Guards attempted to play Mr . Buckland when he was assistant surgeon of the regiment . The illustration gives a capital idea of the character of the joke , and speaks well , not only for the author ' s ' cnteness in detecting the trick
at onco , but for the inventive power of Life Guard troopers . " Exhibitions outside the Cattle Show , " and " Netting the fish in the Serpentine " arc most cutertaiuing , and from the latter we quote the following extract , with all the greater pleasure that it introduces to us another popular naturalist , Mr . Henry Lee , whose name is so familiar in connection with tho Brighton Aquarium : —
"Mr . Chamberlayue , one of the authorities , had ordered three wafercarts to be brought close to the railing , ancl as the fish were taken out of the net they were transferred in buckets to the carts . Besides the big bream that we caught at the second haul wero a great number of little roach and one or two big ones . Finding that our net was not long enough , and that the old man had several others in his boat , we
made him join them all together , so as to have a good sweep of the whole water . While this was being done , Lee and myself got on the watering-cart and rode up with the old mau to the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens , whore the fish were to be deposited . I never rode on a water-cart before ancl particularly one like the present , that had no springs . Tho jolting was something tremendous , but we
managed to hold on , and after all it was not bad fun to ride down the drive , among tho smart carriages , on a water-cart . When wo arrived at the Round Pond we tilted the cart up , let as much water run out of it as possible , and then turned tho fish out with our hands , as the apei turc at the top of tho cart was not large enough to admit a net . This first cart-load of lish , which was by uo means a heavy one , contained about oOO fish , little and big . We came back to tho
Serpentine on the water-cart at a trot , —about the roughest riding I ever experienced—aud found that tho men had joined all the nets together , ami were preparing for a grand haul ; the not was exceedingly heavy us we drugged it towards the shore , ancl our expectations wero not disappointed . The old fisherman was delighted . 'Lor ' , sir , ' said he , ' there ' s all twenty pounds' worth of fish in the net , and if it hud been f ! : e Jews' holidays there might be thirty pounds ' worth . ' At all events there was a tremendous lot in tbo net , We
Reviews.
tilled three water-carts as full as wo dared with these fish , and away wo went again to the Round Pond , Lee sitting on tho advance cart , and myself on the rear cart . This time we had a strong escort of hundreds of dirty little vagabonds , shouting , laughing , and wild with excitement . Looking into tho water-cart , I found a few dead fish on tho top , and when we got
into Kensington Gardens among thfl trees , in answer to a cry , ' Give us a fish , master , ' I threw them out for a scramble . The little urchins raced after them like greyhounds , and fought for them on the ground , a dozen at a time , like hounds breaking up a fox . It was quite a treat to see how these boys enjoyed themselves ; being English boys I suppose they have a natural love of sport in them . I don't believe
they wanted the fish a bit ; but it was the fun of seeing us draw the net , hunting the water-cart , and scrambling for tho dead fish that seemed to amuse them so much . Wo had so many fish in these three carts that I found ifc perfectly impossible to count them ; so I got tho men to run tho cart as near to the edge of the water as they could , and then wo tilted it up as far as wo dared . Having done this I
opened the door of the cart , and there poured ont a regular cataract of struggling fish . About twenty or thirty of them wero sickly , but altogether we lost really very few indeed . The water-cart which carried the third load of fish was of a different construction from tho others , and Lee and myself found it very difficult to get the fish out of it . We , therefore , backed it a little way into the water on the
sloping bank , while the men on shore tilted up the shaft , and it was here an accident occurred . Lee was standing in the water , taking the fish out of the hole in the cart , and I had that instant moved on , one side , when I saw the cart moving deeper down into the water . ' Look out , Lee / I cried , ' she ' s got way on her , ' but in a moment ,, before there was time for thought or action , this infernal water-cart ^
fish , water , and all , ' turned turtle , ' and made a summersault cleam over , ' end for cud . ' The great shafts came rushing down from above like two scaffold poles , and tho body of the cart fell right over into tho water , wheels uppermost , making a tremendous splash and sending the water flying high into the air . My first thought was for my friend Lee ; ho had luckily run backwards when ho heard my
shout , but could not get far enough to escape the shafts ; something came down upon him with a tremendous crash , ancl he disappeared clean under tho water . I rushed immediately into the water , nearly to a swimming point , and got hold of his collar : ho came up in a second , blowing like a grampus , and I was glad to seehe did not appear hurt . I think , however , that ho wf # 3 a littles stunned , although ho said he was not . "
Of course a volume of this kind would bo incomplete without a notice of tho Brighton Aquarium , and no such notice would be entertained with any degree of favour which omitted to mention the Octopus . For a description of this animal we must refer onr readers to the book itself , but of the enormous size of these monsters tho following , from Mr . Harvey ' s account of a perfect specimen of tho large cuttle , will give an excellent idea : —
" Since tho appearance of the large cuttle in Conception Bay , I have been fortunate to obtain possession of a perfect specimen , though far inferior in size to tho monster whose arms were amputated . It was taken in a net near Logy Bay . The body is upwards of seven feet in length , and about five feet in circumference From tho head ten arms radiate , two of them each being twenty-four feet in length .
ancl armed at the extremities with a cluster of sucking discs , some of them an inch and a quarter in diameter , and furnished with small sharp teeth round their edges . Eight of the arms are each six feet in length , and nine in circumference at the junction with the head . They are completely covered on the inner surface with rows of largo denticulated suckers . Tho beak is in the middle of the centre nucleus , from which tho amis radiate , and the large eyes , which ,
unfortunately , have been destroyed , were on each side of this centre mass . The remains of one of the eyelids show that tho eyes were four inches iu diameter . They are dark and beautiful , but , when the > creature is enraged , assume an expression of intense ferocity . Tho beak is sharp and powerful . The fishermen wore compelled to kill t it by cutting off its head before it could be landed , and jit . was wifch ' i great difficulty that three men despatched it . "
Other chapters may bo mentioned , such as " My Monkeys , " which originally appeared in Temple Bar , " The Bore on the Severn , " " How I spent Whit Monday at Harting , " which are capital examples of tho points we have noted in Mr . Buckland ' s mode of writing ; but space forbids us dwelling at greater length on its merits . Wo have said enough , wo think , to convince our readers that the Log-book of ft Fisherman and Zoologist is really a most entertaining aud instructive
book . It was a source of regret to ns when , after several hours of most enjoyable reading , we found we had reached tho end of tho volume . We hope Mr . Buckland has such another work in store fop ns , aud that no long time will elapse ere we have an opportunity o ' f again tendering him our very cordial thanks for a " Log-book" No , 9 . We may add that the volume is well got tip , being well printed well illustrated , and furnished with a good index .
Death.
DEATH .
At Peterborough , on 10 th instant , Brother W . Strickland , F . ' ii J > p r
HoitowAi ' s Pitts AXD OOTHEST . —The clrsc , sultry weather which prevail . fanny the late summer months , is rcry liable to give rise to various forms of •'••brilc ami abdominal complaints , the action of heat on the vegetation causes ^ ruinations of a most deleterious cha acter to be given off , ancl these permeate the air and so are tak « n into the system by breathing ; the products of vegetable ¦ locon-position also find their way into onr water supply , and hence another < onms of danger arises . Wneucver niy symptoms arise , iutlic . itin" - that incipient fever , or diarrhoea , is developing itself , immediate resource should be had to these remedies . The Ointment must be used assiduously to theabdominal surface , and the . Pilla taken inwardly ia aperient doses .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Log-Book of a Fisherman and Zoologist . By Frank Buckland , M . A ., late Student of Christ Chnrch , Oxford , Inspector of Salmon Fisheries for England and Wales , & c , & c , Illustrated . London : Chapman and Hall , 193 Piccadilly , 1875 .
THERE are few more genial , more deservedly popular writers than Mr . Frank Buckland , whose contributions to tho natural history columns of Land and Water are so justly esteemed . Mr . Buckland , indeed , was one of the gentlemen to whom tho establishment of that journal is due , and the bulk of tho contents of the vohvmo before ns have appeared from time to time in its pages , so that we hail their
re-appearance in a collected form with immense satisfaction . The bare mention of natural history is at once suggestive of a marvellous array of horrid technicalities , barbarous incomprehensible Latin names , and a number of other disagreeables which it is given to only a very select few to appreciate , while still fewer understand them thoroughly . But Mr . Buckland narrates his experiences
in good p ' ain English , just for all the world as if he were talking with his readers over a genial glass of wine and choice Havana cigar . Technical terms occur of course , and their appearance is very appropriate , but they never intervene between the reader and his comprehension of the subject . Mr . Buckland goes heartily to work , being scientific enough to satisfy even the most
exigeant naturalist , and at the same time thoroughly intellgn'bie by all classes of readers . The contents are various enough to suit every variety of taste , some of the entries in the log-book being highly amusing . Mr . Buckland ' s philosophy has a large admixture of fun in it , at the same time he exhibits in tho proper place , and at the proper time , the deepest reverence for the wondrous power of the Great Architect of all thinffg . Wo like the book all the
more for the serious touches introduced hero and there . We can hardly picture to ourselves , indeed , a naturalist who evinces not his respect for the Architect of Created Things . Such a person—if there be one—must be cjnito as singular a phenomenon as the octopus or any other of the strangers
which Mr . Buckland has here delineated . To note , however , some of the more interesting of these delineations . Tho author presents himself , iu the first instance , in the chaiaeter of an art critic . He is "At tho Royal Academy without a Catalogue , " and ho notes chiefly the animal pieces , and landscapes , smartly , too , as thus : —
A fishing smack just come to an anchor . An old fisherman landing his fish—scenery like the coast at tho north of Berwick-on-Tweed . The fisherman has got a very miscellaneous lot of deep-sea fishskate , john-dory , ling , conger , plaice , gurnard , & c He must have been working both " long lines " and " trawl-net , " as some of those fish aro caught only by the trawl , others only by the long lino . Tho
painter is not a deep-sea fisherman . The basket of fish is put into scales . They don ' t sell sea fish like this by weight . Fish nicely done . I wish tho painter would touch up some of the casts which I havo painted . Au animal , I suppose meant for a red deer , wounded—a bullet-wound
on tho left side . A wound at this part would not bleed much , because the scapula would act as a valve to keep the blood inside the thorax ; and yet there is no end of blood . A miserable production , and , as far as the animal goes , not fit for a public-house sign . The rest of tho scenery good . "
Kiug Charles the First ' s Parrot" is an amusing practical joke which some of tho troopers of the 2 nd Life Guards attempted to play Mr . Buckland when he was assistant surgeon of the regiment . The illustration gives a capital idea of the character of the joke , and speaks well , not only for the author ' s ' cnteness in detecting the trick
at onco , but for the inventive power of Life Guard troopers . " Exhibitions outside the Cattle Show , " and " Netting the fish in the Serpentine " arc most cutertaiuing , and from the latter we quote the following extract , with all the greater pleasure that it introduces to us another popular naturalist , Mr . Henry Lee , whose name is so familiar in connection with tho Brighton Aquarium : —
"Mr . Chamberlayue , one of the authorities , had ordered three wafercarts to be brought close to the railing , ancl as the fish were taken out of the net they were transferred in buckets to the carts . Besides the big bream that we caught at the second haul wero a great number of little roach and one or two big ones . Finding that our net was not long enough , and that the old man had several others in his boat , we
made him join them all together , so as to have a good sweep of the whole water . While this was being done , Lee and myself got on the watering-cart and rode up with the old mau to the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens , whore the fish were to be deposited . I never rode on a water-cart before ancl particularly one like the present , that had no springs . Tho jolting was something tremendous , but we
managed to hold on , and after all it was not bad fun to ride down the drive , among tho smart carriages , on a water-cart . When wo arrived at the Round Pond we tilted the cart up , let as much water run out of it as possible , and then turned tho fish out with our hands , as the apei turc at the top of tho cart was not large enough to admit a net . This first cart-load of lish , which was by uo means a heavy one , contained about oOO fish , little and big . We came back to tho
Serpentine on the water-cart at a trot , —about the roughest riding I ever experienced—aud found that tho men had joined all the nets together , ami were preparing for a grand haul ; the not was exceedingly heavy us we drugged it towards the shore , ancl our expectations wero not disappointed . The old fisherman was delighted . 'Lor ' , sir , ' said he , ' there ' s all twenty pounds' worth of fish in the net , and if it hud been f ! : e Jews' holidays there might be thirty pounds ' worth . ' At all events there was a tremendous lot in tbo net , We
Reviews.
tilled three water-carts as full as wo dared with these fish , and away wo went again to the Round Pond , Lee sitting on tho advance cart , and myself on the rear cart . This time we had a strong escort of hundreds of dirty little vagabonds , shouting , laughing , and wild with excitement . Looking into tho water-cart , I found a few dead fish on tho top , and when we got
into Kensington Gardens among thfl trees , in answer to a cry , ' Give us a fish , master , ' I threw them out for a scramble . The little urchins raced after them like greyhounds , and fought for them on the ground , a dozen at a time , like hounds breaking up a fox . It was quite a treat to see how these boys enjoyed themselves ; being English boys I suppose they have a natural love of sport in them . I don't believe
they wanted the fish a bit ; but it was the fun of seeing us draw the net , hunting the water-cart , and scrambling for tho dead fish that seemed to amuse them so much . Wo had so many fish in these three carts that I found ifc perfectly impossible to count them ; so I got tho men to run tho cart as near to the edge of the water as they could , and then wo tilted it up as far as wo dared . Having done this I
opened the door of the cart , and there poured ont a regular cataract of struggling fish . About twenty or thirty of them wero sickly , but altogether we lost really very few indeed . The water-cart which carried the third load of fish was of a different construction from tho others , and Lee and myself found it very difficult to get the fish out of it . We , therefore , backed it a little way into the water on the
sloping bank , while the men on shore tilted up the shaft , and it was here an accident occurred . Lee was standing in the water , taking the fish out of the hole in the cart , and I had that instant moved on , one side , when I saw the cart moving deeper down into the water . ' Look out , Lee / I cried , ' she ' s got way on her , ' but in a moment ,, before there was time for thought or action , this infernal water-cart ^
fish , water , and all , ' turned turtle , ' and made a summersault cleam over , ' end for cud . ' The great shafts came rushing down from above like two scaffold poles , and tho body of the cart fell right over into tho water , wheels uppermost , making a tremendous splash and sending the water flying high into the air . My first thought was for my friend Lee ; ho had luckily run backwards when ho heard my
shout , but could not get far enough to escape the shafts ; something came down upon him with a tremendous crash , ancl he disappeared clean under tho water . I rushed immediately into the water , nearly to a swimming point , and got hold of his collar : ho came up in a second , blowing like a grampus , and I was glad to seehe did not appear hurt . I think , however , that ho wf # 3 a littles stunned , although ho said he was not . "
Of course a volume of this kind would bo incomplete without a notice of tho Brighton Aquarium , and no such notice would be entertained with any degree of favour which omitted to mention the Octopus . For a description of this animal we must refer onr readers to the book itself , but of the enormous size of these monsters tho following , from Mr . Harvey ' s account of a perfect specimen of tho large cuttle , will give an excellent idea : —
" Since tho appearance of the large cuttle in Conception Bay , I have been fortunate to obtain possession of a perfect specimen , though far inferior in size to tho monster whose arms were amputated . It was taken in a net near Logy Bay . The body is upwards of seven feet in length , and about five feet in circumference From tho head ten arms radiate , two of them each being twenty-four feet in length .
ancl armed at the extremities with a cluster of sucking discs , some of them an inch and a quarter in diameter , and furnished with small sharp teeth round their edges . Eight of the arms are each six feet in length , and nine in circumference at the junction with the head . They are completely covered on the inner surface with rows of largo denticulated suckers . Tho beak is in the middle of the centre nucleus , from which tho amis radiate , and the large eyes , which ,
unfortunately , have been destroyed , were on each side of this centre mass . The remains of one of the eyelids show that tho eyes were four inches iu diameter . They are dark and beautiful , but , when the > creature is enraged , assume an expression of intense ferocity . Tho beak is sharp and powerful . The fishermen wore compelled to kill t it by cutting off its head before it could be landed , and jit . was wifch ' i great difficulty that three men despatched it . "
Other chapters may bo mentioned , such as " My Monkeys , " which originally appeared in Temple Bar , " The Bore on the Severn , " " How I spent Whit Monday at Harting , " which are capital examples of tho points we have noted in Mr . Buckland ' s mode of writing ; but space forbids us dwelling at greater length on its merits . Wo have said enough , wo think , to convince our readers that the Log-book of ft Fisherman and Zoologist is really a most entertaining aud instructive
book . It was a source of regret to ns when , after several hours of most enjoyable reading , we found we had reached tho end of tho volume . We hope Mr . Buckland has such another work in store fop ns , aud that no long time will elapse ere we have an opportunity o ' f again tendering him our very cordial thanks for a " Log-book" No , 9 . We may add that the volume is well got tip , being well printed well illustrated , and furnished with a good index .
Death.
DEATH .
At Peterborough , on 10 th instant , Brother W . Strickland , F . ' ii J > p r
HoitowAi ' s Pitts AXD OOTHEST . —The clrsc , sultry weather which prevail . fanny the late summer months , is rcry liable to give rise to various forms of •'••brilc ami abdominal complaints , the action of heat on the vegetation causes ^ ruinations of a most deleterious cha acter to be given off , ancl these permeate the air and so are tak « n into the system by breathing ; the products of vegetable ¦ locon-position also find their way into onr water supply , and hence another < onms of danger arises . Wneucver niy symptoms arise , iutlic . itin" - that incipient fever , or diarrhoea , is developing itself , immediate resource should be had to these remedies . The Ointment must be used assiduously to theabdominal surface , and the . Pilla taken inwardly ia aperient doses .