"Sweet is the balmy evening hour, And soft the breeze that sweeps the flower suggest to the mind a beautiful evening in summer; and true to its purpose, the music seems absolutely redolent of the perfume of the flowers, after a sultry day in July. A languor steals over the balmy evening hour; the introduction to which is commenced pianissimo, and a gentle crescendo leading to a dolce, ushers in the subject. The time is slow of course, and the movement six-eight, being the most tranquil and soothing for all smooth and pastoral subjects. The other duet, Go gentle Zephyr, is of a more simple character, reminding us slightly, in its structure, of the Carnival of Venice, though here its similarity ends. As a chamber duet it is particularly attractive, and being remote from difficulty, will probably become the more popular of the two. Some may consider our praise of these compositions as beyond their desert;" but we are confident that our opinion will be verified by every accomplished musician. The Singing Master: containing instructions for teaching singing in schools and families, the notation of music, rudiments of the science of harmony, and a selection of popular airs, arranged as songs, and also harmonized for three voices, as glees, or short chorusses, adapted, with suitable words, for the use of children, and young persons of different ages. London: E. Wilson, Royal Exchange. 1836. EXCELLENT in plan and able in execution, this little work has for its aim the cultivation of the ear at a period much earlier than is generally thought either necessary or expedient. The author considers that the chief cause-and one of the chief causes it undoubtedly is of the difference between the musical talents of children, is their greater or less habitude of hearing such music as they can understand, from their earliest years,-while one infant in arms is suffered to cry itself to sleep, another is constantly amused with lively nursery songs. Parents knowing this, will always make a good voice and "musical ear" a sine quâ non in the female attendants of young children. In teaching those of a somewhat more advanced age, such a work as the present is indispensable. Without a good guide-even supposing a competent instructor within reach-many bad habits will be contracted, which, if suffered to gain ground, are extremely difficult to eradicate. Mr. Hickson suggests the propriety of employing some instrument, such as the clarionet, to support the voice of both teacher and pupils. We should be inclined to give the preference to instruments of the violin kind, which would allow the master to sing and play at the same time, or to give hints or admonitions without interrupting the music. After the children can sing a simple air without much practice, and not till then, the author proposes to teach the rules of the science. We are inclined to doubt whether any good end would be gained by the study of these rules, and whether the pupil should not be in ignorance of them till he can find them out by himself. This, with ordinary musical talent, he will not fail to do, from the study of the classical works of great composers; if not, they can be of no use to him. In this work the easy tirability and limited comprehension of the inmates of nurseries and infant schools, for whose use it is principally intended, is judiciously consulted, in the selection of songs short, easy, and amusing. In reply to objections on this score, he well remarks," there are persons who deem this application of music a degradation to the art. The author has no sympathy with them. The learned professor, with his head full of Beethoven and Sebastian Bach, would feel his dignity compromised by amusing little children with simple and lively melodies, instead of tormenting them with ingenious modulations and profound harmonies. May little children never fall into his hands.' -Towards the conclusion are some pieces of a more scientific character, culled from the works of Callcott, Webbe, Cooke, &c. Let us hope that this work will be instrumental-and in good hands it assuredly will be— in diffusing a knowledge and love of this most delightful of the fine arts, amongst the labouring classes of this country, who form so large, yet so very inadequately cultivated, a portion of the community. MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. We understand it is in contemplation to establish a society in London for the especial purpose of promoting the cultivation of the several branches of British Natural History-to make collections of the various natural productions in this country-to form a Library of Works to elucidate the science and aid the student-to correspond with, and mutually assist the numerous provincial Natural History societies-in fact, to form a nucleus for the concentration of the labours of the British naturalist. We most sincerely hope that all who feel an interest in the laudable objects the promoters of this society have in view, will at once come forward and exert themselves to promote the success of so desirable a project. A new institution for the promotion of the fine arts has just been established at Newcastle, which is to be called "The North of England Society for the Promotion of the Fine Arts," intended for the advancement of drawing, painting, sculpture, engraving, engineering, &c., by the purchase of casts and books, &c., and procuring an adequate place where students may work under the same roof. METHOD OF CATCHING THE HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) AND VOL. V.-No. XVIII. 2x OTHER SMALL BIRDS. The difficulty of entrapping the House Sparrow by the usual means of catching small birds, has been alluded to by many authors. I have, however, always found that I can catch as many as I wish in trap-cages. I generally use wicker cages, made for the purpose, and have taken as many as two dozen in a single day. Indeed, scarcely a day passes that we do not take a dozen out of the trap, which is generally placed near the pea-rows in the garden. It rarely happens that an old bird is caught, though this is sometimes the case. Now and then a Robin Redbreast gets in, and does mischief by preventing the Sparrows from entering; occasionally, also, a Hedge Dunnock (Accentor modularis), and Willow Warbler (Sylvia melodia) are caught, the latter only when the cage is baited with fruit or peas. With these exceptions, I am not aware of any other species being captured in these trap-cages.-J. D. SALMON. Thetford, Norfolk, July 28, 1836. [The most efficient means of destroying the House Sparrow, with which we are acquainted, is by taking them at night with bat-fowling nets. We have heard of two hundred being captured in this manner in the course of a few days.-EDS.] THE MEALY LINNET (Linaria canescens, GOULD).—The Mealy Linnet is closely allied to the Redpoll Linnet (L. pusilla), but is larger and stouter, with a somewhat longer and thicker bill, and whitish rump; but having no sign of the pinkish tinge over the tail, so conspicuous in the Mountain Linnet. I have a live Mealy Linnet, a red-breasted specimen, but of course not very bright at this time of the year (Dec.), nor will it become so, judging from analogy with the other species. It is very healthy, but has not yet begun to sing. I have seen a specimen of it from Japan, and several from the neighbourhood of Lake Ontario. It appears to inhabit more northerly districts than the Redpoll Linnet, and is the species which Wilson describes under the name of "Lesser Redpoll Finch," as the figure in the original edition and the dimensions, he states, sufficiently testify.-EDWARD Blyth. SUPPOSED "COCK-NESTS" OF THE IVY WREN ( Anorthura troglodytes).— There has been much nonsense written about "cock-nests," as some have been pleased to term them, hardly worth notice. I cannot imagine any naturalist believing that the male bird builds them, or that they are made for the sake of concealment. I think we should find, on examination, that the greater number of these afterwards deserted nests are built with an idea of completion, but that this jealous little bird becomes dissatisfied with the situation; and no bird is more easily caused to desert, though I know one instance where the old bird allowed herself to be handled repeatedly while sitting, and yet brought out her young. This little creature, besides its jealous nature, is particularly liable to have its jealousy aroused, from being so early a builder, when there is little covert, and from building often in low, exposed situations. I have given some attention to this circumstance, and feel assured that there is no peculiarity about it.-M. N. F. FACTS RELATIVE TO THE TITS (Parus).—The chattering notes of the Garden, Blue, Coal, and Marsh Tits, can scarcely be distinguished from each other, but the first named species soon discovers itself by its "pink, pink." The Garden Tit is much less active and less ceaselessly in motion than the other Tits above alluded to; a fact which becomes obvious when the species are seen in company.-CHARLES LIVERPOOL, M.D. Bristol, Oct. 16, 1836. DEPARTURE OF THE WILLOW WARBLER (Sylvia melodia) IN 1836.-The majority of this lovely little creature departed this year, as usual, about the first week in September; but we heard one at Campsall, near Doncaster, so much later as the 29th of that month; and we observed a second, the same morning, in the grounds of Michael Tasburgh, Esq., at Burghwallis, near Campsall. It is remarkable that the first mentioned individual was singing.-ED. THE ACADEMIE DE MÉDECINE OF PARIS AND ITS DECISION ON PHRENOLOGY.-The Académie de Médecine has been called upon to decide the important question of Phrenology. The discussion occupied four sittings, Dr. Broussais, who is at the head of the Phrenological School, maintained the principles which he had laid down in his lectures. M. Gueneau de Mussy had to sum up the arguments on both sides, and in conclusion gave an opinion that the system ought not at present to be adopted. The Academy, concur. ring in this opinion, deferred its decision till the system was established upon more solid basis.—Paris Journal.—[This sagacious decision proves to us most clearly, that the learned Academicians either could not or would not rightly understand the true science of the mind.-EDS.] POWERS OF THE PIANO-FORTE.- Composers of solos for other instruments, seem anxious to combine every possible variety of style and expression, while those who write for the piano-forte, seem afraid of exposing its defects, and accordingly display nothing but its peculiarities. But if we consider this instrument as an amusement for home and solitude, we cannot consent to give up the sublime and beautiful for the ornamental alone, to neglect the higher and cultivate only the lower walks of the art. Played on the piano-forte, every species of music, both vocal and instrumental, ancient and modern, sacred and secular, may be more or less enjoyed. The imagination readily supplies the absent words of a finale, or chorus, previously heard at the opera or oratorio. The piano-forte seems to speak, and the qualities and tones of different instruments, seem almost distinguishable.—Crotch's Musical Lectures, p. 157. HEREFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY, PHILOSOPHIC, ANTIQUARIAN, AND LITERARY SOCIETY.-Under this comprehensive title, an institution has been recently formed at Hereford, and has already received most extensive patronage. The Dean of Hereford presided at the preliminary meeting, which was attended by 150 influential individuals, most of whom enrolled themselves as members. EARLY ARRIVAL OF THE FIELDfare Thrush (Turdus pilaris) ÎN DUMFRIESSHIRE.—The Fieldfare Thrush has appeared remarkably early this year, having already been seen here in large flocks. These pretty foreigners were first observed at the beginning of September, or even earlier. Whether the ripening of the berries of the Mountain Ash, which have been early this year, and upon which they greedily feed on their first arrival, may have attracted them, or not, I cannot say..-JAMES STUART MENTEATH, Closeburn Hall, Dumfriesshire, Oct. 25, 1836.—[Up to this time (Oct. 30), we have not met with a single Fieldfare Thrush in the north of England.—ED.] OBITUARY. It is our painful duty to announce the deaths of two men whose names will ever be held in deserved estimation by the zoologist and botanist Dr. Leach and Mons. A. L. de Jussieu. Dr. L. died at Genoa, of a few days' illness from cholera; Jussieu expired at Paris, at the advanced age of eighty-nine. We hope, ere long, to be able to present our readers with some account of the valuable labours of these truly able indivil duals in the field of natural science.-We have also to record the demise of Edward Turner Bennett, Esq., Secretary to the Zoological Society, who died on the 21st of August, 1836, after a short illness. He is well known as the author of the Tower Menagerie and Menagerie of the Zoological Society, and as an Editor of the Transactions of the Zoological Society. He has likewise published an edition of White's Selborne, and was one of the most efficient office-bearers of the Society to which he was Secretary. A fourth edition of Combe's admirable System of Phrenology has just been published. The extensive sale of this work would of itself speak sufficiently for its merit but if we can find room, we propose giving it a more detailed notice in a future number. Shortly will be published, with numerous plates, the Wonders of Geology, by Dr. Mantell, F.G.S., F.R.S., &c., &c. A liberal subscription has been entered into amongst the literati of St. Petersburgh, in aid of the renovation of the tomb of Shakspeare, in Stratfordupon-Avon Church. The Princess Bariatinsky is at the head of the list. A Translation of Menzel on German Literature will shortly appear. ABRIDGED LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS, From September 9 to December 8, 1836. Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise on Geology, &c., 2 vol. 8vo., 35s. Cambridge Philosophical Transactions, vol. 6, part 1, 4to., 13s. Coleridge's (S. T.) Literary Remains, by H. M. Coleridge, 2 vol. 8vo., 21s. Combe's Ancient Marbles in the British Museum, part 7, 4to., 42s. Cooper's Residence in France, 2 vol. post 8vo., 21s. Craigie's (Dr.) Elements of Practice of Physic, 8vo., 18s. Curling's (T. B.) Treatise on Tetanus, 8vo., 8s. Doyle's Flower and Fruit Garden, 12mo., 2s. Duncan's (Dr. H.) Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons, vol. 1, 12mo., 6s. Edinburgh Cabinet Library, vol. 21, (Circumnavigation of the Globe, &c.) 5s. Finden's Tableaux, Scenes of National Character, &c., imp. 4to. 42s., 1. p. 63s. Guy's Hospital Reports, vol. 1, 8vo., 12s. 6d. Hamilton's Observations on Midwifery, part 2, 8vo., 7s. 6d. Hooker's (W. J.) Figures, &c. of New and Rare Plants, part 1, 8vo., 14s. Hoppus's Sketches of the Continent in 1835, 2 vol. post 8vo., 21s. Higgins' Atlas of the Earth, 4to., 31s. 6d. coloured, 42s. Inche's (Jas.) Letters on Emigration to Canada, 12mo., 5s. Ingleby's (J. T.) Tracts and Cases in Obstetric Medicine, 8vo., 9s. |