359 Horizontal Appearance of the Sun and Moon. suited to the place of their abode. Of this, the hair of the polar regions is a remarkable example, which becomes first grey, and then white, as the winter advances; as also does the dog from the Mackenzie river. The chameleon, which is an animal of slow motion, assumes the colour of the surface on which it rests. This is effected by the texture of the skin resembling shagreen, the slight asperities of which, by their smooth surfaces, reflect the rays of light proceeding from the substance on which it is placed. It seems probable that the whole of the lizard tribe possess this faculty in a degree. I have seen the water-newt, when disturbed, draw its legs under it, straighten its body, depress its head, and, assuming the colour of the ground, appear like a dry stick. The crocodile when watching for its prey, crouched in the dank mud of the river's bank, appears, from his dark and motionless form, like an inanimate log. The inquiry might doubtless be pursued much further, and we should find that in this respect nature has adapted the colour of every animal to its locality and habits. It may, however, be observed generally, that such individuals as have the quickest motion, as birds and winged insects, are adorned with every variety of colour, their facility of escape precluding danger. The Bones of birds.-The bones of birds are not only thinner, and consequently lighter, than those of quadrupeds, but the internal hollow is constituted of a cellular substance; which, independent of marrow, is divided into air-cells, which renders the body specifically lighter, while probably the animal heat, rarefying this air, adds to their buoyancy. Digestion in dogs.-The powers of digestion in dogs, in consequence of their feeding much on bones, proves the gastric juice must be of a very solvent, and probably even corrosive, at least of very highly fermentative, quality. The action of this on the coats of the stomach, occasions the animal to suffer frequent hunger, as also to require water in considerable quantity to weaken its strength. It appears probable that this fact may serve in some degree as a clue to the theory of canine madness, a subject which must be ever deeply interesting to the public. The gastric juice, like all other secretions of the animal body, is naturally exalted by heat, and its acrimony considerably increased. Now it has been long established as a fact, that dogs, even in the hottest weather, never perspire except in the tongue; and a recent writer in the Lancet having taken much pains to investigate the fact, has 360 founded upon it a mode of treatment for hydrophobia, of which phlebotomy and salivation form the basis. This has been successful in some instances, and it is to be fervently hoped it will be more closely investigated. What I would further observe is, that though this saliva, which flows from the tongue, may be beneficial to the animal in a healthy state, yet when there is a degree of fever in very hot weather, it may probably be in an acrid state, and thus be painful to the animal, occasioning rabies. This acrid saliva, conveyed into the human system by a bite, would inoculate it with the same disease. I am not certain whether graminivorous animals are naturally subject to rabies, but I should think not, as their gastric juice, being fitted for the solution of vegetable matter, cannot be necessarily of so solvent a quality as that of dogs, &c and therefore not so liable to become acrid. E. G. B ON THE HORIZONTAL APPEARANCE OF THE THE cause of the sun and moon appearing Alhazen, a writer on optics, supposed that it was caused by the sight apprehending the heavens as a flat surface; whence would arise the imagination of a different distance under the same angle; and therefore the luminaries would appear larger when near the horizon, because we then imagine them to be at the greatest distance. Other writers, (see the Imperial Encyclopædia, art. Astronomy, part i. sect. 12.) attempt to explain the cause of our imagining a different distance under the same angle, from the great number of objects on the surface of the earth, interposed between the eye and the horizon, which make us think those parts of the sky near the horizon to be the most remote, and hence the sun and moon will then appear larger. These opinions, as the writer of the abovenamed work remarks, are hardly tenable, since the sun and moon often change their magnitude very suddenly when near the horizon. I think the following observations will, at least, prove the cause of this phenomena to be of a refractive nature. Take a bit of paper, and prick a hole through it with a pin, and when the sun appears very large, 361 Eccentricity no Proof of Genius.-Huggate Dykes. on holding the small hole to your eye, and Draycott, near Derby. ECCENTRICITY NO PROOF OF GENIUS. pro THOUGH many of the most eminent individuals whose genius has been abundantly exhibited in their productions, whether in the fields of literature or science, have exhibited considerable eccentricity, yet this pensity is not, as many imagine, any proof of the possession of genius. The existence of pre-eminent talents in any branch of study, and the rapid acquisition of principles, together with the new and interesting discoveries that result from reflection, on an induction from them, is so superior to the common range of human intellect, as to lead us to expect something extraordinary, either in the manners or appearance of the individual; and these peculiarities, which often really exist, are considered as eccentricity, and are by many ascribed, though falsely, to the presence of genius, of which they are concluded to be a demonstrative proof. Genius may be defined to be a superior mental aptitude to comprehend the principles of any art or science with facility and correctness, and to apply then, by the immediate operation of mental 362 association, to existing circumstances. Hence will result new discoveries and ingenious deductions. Thus genius is not only a quality, but a habit of the mind, absorbing all its active faculties in the favourite subjects, and raising the mental powers above the consideration of common and insignificant occurrences, so that the individual becomes intensely studious and thoughtful, and often totally abstracted from the consciousness of surrounding objects. This abstraction, which sometimes occasions ludicrous contortions, though often mistaken for eccentricity, is merely a natural effect of this habit of the mind, and totally beyond the control of the individual; and is one, however singular such conduct may appear to the thoughtless and inconsiderate, which the sensible will ascribe to its real cause. Eccentricity, either of manner or appearance, is the result generally of bodily habit; and though thus intimately associated with the manners of the man, yet it is not the effect of thought or reflection, and is under the command of the reason, if properly exerted for its suppression. It is sometimes assumed either in order to excite attention, or to cover the real character from impertinent investigation, and the same individual is a totally different person in a mixed company and in the retirement of his closet. Eccentricity often consists rather in words than action, and is marked by sallies either of wit or whim. In this case it is employed to relieve the mind from the tedium of study, and relax it from that tension which results from the abstruse operations of profound speculation. There is scarcely an individual of superior genius, but, either from habit or design, has contracted some degree of eccentricity, either in speech, manners, or appearance; yet as these peculiarities are observed in thousands who have never exhibited any evidences of genius, we cannot conclude that they furnish any proof of that, without which it can exist; nor, on the contrary, can we determine, that bodily habits and peculiarities, under the control of the will, are a priori proofs that real genius exists in the individual. E. G. B. HUGGATE DYKES, NEAR POCKLINGTON, THE word dyke is of Scottish origin, and 363 Huggate Dykes-Poetry. The dykes at Huggate, to which Hinderwell, in his History of Scarborough, alludes, were brought into notice by the late Lord Burlington, some years ago. His lordship got a plan of them engraven, and some copies of them thrown off, but one of them I have not been able to procure. Neither do I know his lordship's opinion of their design or use. It appears from the connexion in which Hinderwell refers to them, that he thought they were a species of Roman Road. But this opinion will be shewn to be erroneous. These dykes lie nearly south-west and north-east. At the east end they are seven in number; but two merging into one about the middle, there are but six at the west end. They are 520 yards in length, 88 yards at their greatest width, and 68 yards at the least. In some places they are 7 or 8 feet deep, but must originally have been above 12 feet, for the plough and the spade have, in many places, considerably dimin- | ished their height. They are situated upon a neck of land, which separates two deep dales. At the east end they are approached by a single road from the direction of Driffield, which probably connected with the Roman road from Sinus Salutaris, i. e. Bridlington Bay, to York. At the west end three roads branch out from them: one near the summit, another about the middle way, and a third along the bottom of a deep dale. Of the use of these three roads, conjecture is in favour of their having been for a retreating army, to baffle the intentions of a pursuing enemy. This will sanction the opinion of these dykes having been military encampments. General Roy describes a species of earthen camp, used by the Romans for temporary purposes. And Dr. Henry, in his History of Great Britain, mentions a similar encampment on the south side of the Wall of Agricola, which was used by the Anglo-Romans to defend themselves from the excursions of the Scots and Picts, after the Roman armies were withdrawn from the island. As the Anglo-Romans retreated southward to the higher grounds, the probability is, that the dykes at Huggate were an encampment which they formed upon a Roman trackway, which had been originally made by the ancient Britons, and which they would use in their march southward. They would also use the tumuli for watch stations by their out-posts; and when the Scots and Picts approached, even at a distance, those who were encamped would have sufficient time to make their exeunt by the three roads at the west end, and 364 elude their pursuers. Or they might divide, and escape a general attack upon their whole body. The number of military tumuli' to the south of the dykes, is in favour of their having been military encampments; for the tumuli are general indications of some stations or encampments being at no great distance. The dykes are also much calculated to impede the march of an enemy, either from the north or south, as a small army in these entrenchments could easily oppose a very superior force, and drive it into some of the neighbouring deep dales, where it would be at the mercy of its assailants. Allowing that the celebrated Delgovitia, which was a Roman station, was either at Londsborough or its neighbourhood, and that the Anglo-Romans knew of it, yet the higher wolds would be much preferable for their purpose. For the neighbourhood of Londsborough being much lower, it is unfit for a good exploratory station. Viewing then these dykes as the remains of a military encampment, they differ from the Danish camp, which was circular; from the Anglo-Saxon, which was semicircular; and from the Roman, which was oblong, and divided into compartments: the inductive conclusions are in favour of their having been "an Anglo-Roman encampment." Huggate, Jan. 23, 1830 POETRY. WINTER. Now surly Winter rules the infant year, Far in the north 1 heard him loudly knock Upon the entrance of a cavern drear, Until his trusty messengers awoke. T. R. Then to the various storms he roughly spoke, Where are the flowers that bloomed in beauty's pride? Where are the birds that erst did sweetly sing? Yet on their Summer's store they live at ease, Cloud follows cloud athwart the gloomy sky,— And lighten misery's burden to the poor; SPRING. M. A. C. CHEERFUL Spring, I gladly greet thee, Were our minds, did hope not enter Watch the angler, swiftly going M. A. C. "THIS IS NOT THY REST." Os remember" this is not thy rest," It is but a fanciful dream, Though the morning of life may be balmy and clear, Yet the shadows of evening too soon will appear. Oh remember "this is not thy rest," 366 Whose soul-thrilling harmony tempts thee to roam Yet, remember this world and its trials will cease, Then turn thee from earth unto heaven, There we shall as stars in the firmament shine, STANZAS ON THE DEATH OF B. W. B. "Sigh not, ye winds, as passing o'er SWEET infant, like a vision His days have pass'd away; How bright was the transition, When from his tender clay, The spirit softly driven, As waking from a dream, Mrs. Hunter. On seraph's pinions wing'd to heaven, Too delicate a flower, For earth's dull atmosphere; The zephyrs in the bower, For him were too severe. Now mov'd to paradise, For ever on him beam Suns which ne'er set, and cloudless skies, No more a child of sorrow, His eye, tears cannot dim, I gladly would have press'd him, The cup of life below "But sparkles near the brim," ANN WEBSTER. FAIR as the rose-bud blushing in the bower, Grimsby. 367 Review.- The Ecclesiastical Polity of Dr. Hooker. -- REVIEW.-The Ecclesiastical Polity of Richard Hooker, with his Life, by Izaak Walton; and Strype's Interpolations, &c. &c. By Benjamin Hanbury. In vols. 8vo. pp. 534, 568, 535. Holdsworth and Ball, London. 1830. It is somewhat remarkable, that nearly all the leading sects into which the Christian world is divided have their respective champions, to whom they look up in times of danger, and under whose ægis they hope to find protection. The Calvinists have their Edwards, the Quakers their Barclay, the Wesleyan Methodists their Fletcher, the Papists their Bellarmine, and the Episcopalians their Hooker. All of these are master spirits, and, in their respective spheres of action, are highly deserving the fame they have acquired. Hooker was not more remarkable for his piety and learning, than unfortunate in his matrimonial connexion and domestic concerns. At an early age he was entrapped into an unhappy marriage with a woman who brought him neither beauty nor portion; and what was still worse, she was silly and clownish in her manners, and an exact counterpart of Xantippe in her temper. By this disastrous step, he lost his fellowship at college, and was obliged to quit the university before he had obtained any preferment. In 1584 he was, however, presented with the rectory of Drayton Beauchamp, in Buckinghamshire, where he spent several years in matrimonial misery. On one occasion, while in this place, he was visited by his friend and pupil Mr. Sandys, in company with a nephew of Archbishop Cranmer. On reaching his habitation, they learnt that he was in the field; and here they found him tending a small flock of sheep during the absence of the servant, who had been called away on some domestic business. Released from this task, he conducted them to his house, where they had the mortification of witnessing the churlishness of his wife, who took every opportunity of putting his patience on the rack, and of provoking him by her capricious and vexatious behaviour. Sympathizing with their valuable friend, they took occasion, prior to their departure, to express their surprise, that he could bear, with so much fortitude, the continued insults to which he was exposed. To this Mr. Hooker replied-" My dear George, if saints have usually a double share of misery in this life, I, who am no saint, ought not to repine at what my wise Creator hath appointed for me, but labour (as indeed I do) to submit my possess my soul in peace.' and 368 will to his, Mr. Sandys, on reaching his home, represented the situation of Mr. Hooker to his father, in such a light, that, through the interest of this gentleman, he was made master of the Temple in London. But finding the metropolis did not agree with his more retired and moral habits, he was anxious of making an exchange with some one for a more tranquil scene. This was to him the more desirable, as he had made some advances in his great work on Ecclesiastical Polity, to the completion of which he thought the bustle of the city unfriendly. This being communicated to Bishop Whitgift, he was presented, in 1591, by that prelate, to the rectory of Boscomb, in Wiltshire, and to other valuable preferments in the cathedral of Salisbury. In the year 1594, he was presented by the Queen to the rectory of Bishop's Bourne, in Kent, where he finished his immortal work; but the sixth, seventh, and eighth books, he did not live to publish. His death took place in November 1600, in the forty-ninth year of his age. It has generally been admitted, that Hooker's "Ecclesiastical Polity" is the best defence of church establishments that was ever published. Both at home and abroad, fame every where followed its appearance; but the author did not live to enjoy the extent of his reputation. A copy of this work falling into the hands of Clement VIII. induced the pontiff to. observe, that "there were in it, such seeds of eternity, as will continue till the last fire shall devour all learning." When James I. came out of Scotland, on his accession to the throne of England, he inquired of Archbishop Whitgift for his friend Hooker; and being answered, that "he died before the Queen, who received the information with much regret," his majesty replied as follows: "And I receive it with no less, as I shall want the desired happiness of seeing and discoursing with that man, from whose books of Church Polity I have received such satisfaction. Indeed, my Lord, I have received more satisfaction in reading a leaf or paragraph in Mr. Hooker, though it were but about the fashion of churches or church music, or the like, but especially of the sacraments, than I have had in the reading particular large treatises but of one of those subjects, by others, though very learned men; and though many others write well, yet in the next age they will be forgotten; but, doubtless, there is in every page of Mr. Hooker's book, the picture of a |