NEWS FOR NATURALISTS.
NEWS FOR " T h o u shalt flourish amidst the wars of matter, and
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NATURALISTS. in immortal youth, u n h u r t of elements, the wrecks the crush of worlds." Joseph Addison. 1672-1719.
Historical Natural History always arrests attention.^ Though neither scientific nor strictly local, the Latin " Treatise " of Alexander Neckam (1157-1217), abbot of Cirencester in Glos., is distinctly interesting on account of its early date. Its translation was published some years ago in the Rolls series by Thomas Wright, upon whom we have to rely for the specific identity. T h e whole is a manual of Natural Science as then understood, showing an innate bent for experiment and well illustrating how prevalent was the late Norman love of Animals : folk, apparently of all classes, were then very ready to observe natural phenomena and delighted in keeping specimens. Many medieval Castles and manor-houses maintained veritable menageries of rare Beasts, such as the Lions of London Tower ; and numerous anecdotes are recounted about the populär chase and its victims. One cannot expect such a monk to avoid the superstitions of his period and the easily domesticated Raven was emblematic, in both colour and habits, of the secular clergy ; clamour among Carrion Crows foretold rain, and the Magpie is referred to. House Sparrows are termed libidinous birds, light, restless, injurious to the fruits of man's labour and, though prone to epilepsy, too astute for the fowler's wiles. He talks of Sky Lark and Nuthatch, regarding the Nightingale so local that its song was unknown upon one side of a Welsh river though frequent upon the other. Swallows were remarkable for the peculiar form and Situation of their nests ; but he says of the Cuckoo that it does nothing but repeat ' affer, affer ' (i.e. give, give), typifying avarice, and 'sang the ancient song of those who have not yet divested themselves of the old Adam ' : just what he means is obscure. Wrens are unusually fertile and, when placed before a fire to roast, turned themselves upon the spit with the utmost regularity ; doubtless Goldcrest is intended and such defunct rotation originated Neckam's name Regulus, which he derives from this ' smallest of Birds ' having adhered to and so surmounted that Eagle who claimed avian sovereignty by soaring highest in the sky. Such pride of place affords much monkish moralising. Sparrow Hawks were said to clasp some ' wild Chick ' to their breast to keep it warm o' nights and to be, in thankful recompense, safely liberated o' mornings. T h e hawker's Peregrine Falcon is naturally eulogised at great length ; he dulv acknowledges that Barnacle Geese are ' generated from the gluey