Among the extraneous fofils, which Mr. P. enumerates, we meet with one, which we believe to be a non-defcript. "The moft remarkable extraneous foffil, that was ever found in this county, was lately discovered," fays Mr. P. " in a bed of stiff clay, on Chapel Farm, in the parish of Cruwys-Morchard. It is called fofil bacon. It is certainly an animal fubftance, and, if I may form any judgment of it, from a large fpecimen, which I immediately procured, I think I may fafely pronounce it to have been originally hog's flesh." P. 74. Mr. G. S. Gibbes's experiments on "the Converfion of Animal Substances into a fatty Matter," published in the Philofophical Tranfactions, prove that Mr. Polwhele's conjectures concerning the nature and origin of this foffil-bacon are wellfounded. For a curious and entertaining account of the dif covery of this fubftance, we must refer our readers to the work itself, pp. 74, 75. As we flatter ourselves that we have awakened the curiofity of our readers by the extracts we have made concerning lavas, we think ourfelves bound to give them a fpecimen of what Mr. Polwhele writes upon the fubject of volcanos. "That our red-loam was produced by a volcano, refembling in richness, as well as other qualities, the foils of the neighbourhood of Vefuvius and Etna, and thofe of other volcanic countries, hath been more than once afferted. Many volcanic fubftances can certainly be traced, in a line nearly twenty miles from Exeter, and through the very diftrict of the red foil; though at feveral intermediate fpaces, interfected and infringed by other ftrata of a different origin. That our red clay is alfo volcanic, is more than probable, fince this very fubftance, which is diffufed at large, in feveral parts of Devonshire, is found en clofed in the ftone of Exeter caftle and in the heavitree-ftone. Indeed, the cellular lava degenerates into red clay." P. 77. But where, it may be asked, are the volcanos which gave birth to all these various forts of lava? Mr. P. furnishes us, in the next page, with a fufficient number of probable ones. "The conical fhape of many of our hills naturally difpofes a fpectator to form conjectures refpecting their origin; and with the appearance of probability, to fuppofe them to have been hills raised by fubterraneous fires, which in fome former period of time fubfifted under them, and to which they were fpiracula. The caftle at Exeter was probably the crater of a volcano. But the most remarkable conical hills in the neighbourhood of Exeter, are Knoll-hill, between Alphinton and Countefs-wear Bridge; the hill at Exwell, and a hill, we fee from Woodbury common looking towards Budleigh. To the fouth of Exeter the heights of Hennock afford fufficient evidence of a volcanic fire, which hath fufed in feveral places thofe enormous ledges of iron-fone, called Bottor-rock; as well as other rude heaps of the fame L12 ftone, ftone, that are scattered on the downs." Here (fays Mr. Hill of Hen nock) I have discovered the crater of a volcano. Brent-torr and feveral other torrs on the weft fide of the river, are undoubtedly volcanic." P. 78. In this part of Mr. P.'s work, we confefs, that we were difappointed; we expected a greater number of facts inftead of conjectures and affertions. As thefe hills are chofen to account for the volcanic fubftances which are fcattered over the country, we could have wished to be informed of more particu lars refpecting their fituation, ftrata, form, and other cir cumftances, which might lead us to form a probable opinion concerning them. We truft, however, that Mr. Polwhele has faid enough on this very interefting fubject, to excite the fpirit of enquiry in the geologift, and to convince him, that in Devonshire an extenlive field is opened to exercife his fagacity; and may it be exercised unfettered with the trammels of any favourite fyftem! The fifth chapter contains a copious and entertaining catalogue of Devonshire plants. Mr. Polwhele gives us the names of feveral gentlemen, and of one lady, from whom he has received afliftance; and the authorities are, with great candour and propriety, affixed to the names and defcription of particular plants. We are forry to fee a note, in which the author fpeaks with fome degree of farcaftic bitterness of certain other gentlemen, who might also have added to the botanical contribution. Symptoms of the fame angry fpirit are difcoverable in fome other paffages of this work; and highly unbecoming do we think it, to give a permanency to fuch petty provocations and petty refentments, by thus entering them upon record. We prefume that Mr. Polwhele's Hiftory of Devonfhire will reach pofterity; the author therefore fhould be reminded (if higher motives cannot reftrain him from making fuch a work a ve hicle for thefe effuGons) that, if he hands down to pofterity a memorial of fuppofed neglect and injury, a ftrong fufpicion of a jealous irritability of temper on his part muft infallibly accompany it. We fuggeft this hint to him, from the respect we entertain for his abilities and general character. We fhall felect a fpecimen of this author's manner of treating botanical fubjects, from Clafs V. "Primula Veris, the common cowflip. It is found in feveral places on the borders of Somerfet. I have obferved the cowflip in the parishes of Beer and Seaton, particularly at Bovey, where I faw a large field covered with it, but poffibly it might have been fown in this field, and thence have spread over fome of the circumjacent grounds. The cowflip grows alfo in Talaton parish, and at Leyhill in Peahembury." The cowflip, though fo common in Somerfetfhire, and in many many other counties, is here much otherwife. The only plant I have met with in a state of luxuriant vegetation, was between Awlifcombe and Buckerel, by the fide of a narrow rivulet, which falls into the Otter. I have feen fome very indifferent ones in the vicinity of Axmin fter, and I have been told, that they are not unfrequent in fome meadows near Henbury-Fort. Mifs Burges."-" I have feen it very common near Axminster, but in the north of Devon never, except in the parish of Berrynarbor, where cowflips grow moft plentifully, in one fmalt field, though not a fingle plant is to be found in any of the adjoining felds or hedges. So abundant is the produce of this field, that I am informed, that the rector has been enabled to make cowflip-wine. W.U.” Were not the feeds fown in this field?" The cowflip grows in a field near South Zeal. Wefton."-Mr. Templer, of Lendridge, has feen the cowflip near Teigngrace. The fteep cliff about a mile and half from Torkay, where we fee the two openings of Kent's hole is not only covered with brush-wood, but enamelled with a profufion of flowers, particularly the cowslip." Class VIII. Erica vulgaris, common heath. The Danes drew an intoxicating liquor from the Erica, or heath. In a note, Mr. Polwhele informs us, that there is a tradition, that the Erica multiflora of Gonhilly Downs in Cornwall, arofe from the dung of the little Spanish horses, which were fhipwrecked at the Lizard in the time of Queen Elizabeth; the race of Gonhilly ponies is now almost extinct.” As Devonshire is a Cyder county, we fhall extract the following account of the apple-tree. "The apple trees in the neighbourhood of Totnes have grown to tan immenfe fize: a fingle tree has been frequently known to bear a ton of cyder. There is one at Sharpham, that measures eight feet feven inches in girth, and is thirty feet high: three feet from the ground it. divides into nine branches, the largest of which measures three feet four inches. Its whole fpread is fixty-four feet. The tree fpecified has feveral times produced five hogfheads of cyder. It has not born any great quantity of apples for eighty years past." Chap. VI. treats of Land-birds and Water-fowl. Ch. VII. Infects. Ch. VIII. Fishes of Rivers, Lakes, and the Sea. Ch. IX. Reptiles: and, Ch. X. Quadrupeds. In thefe Chapters, the readers will find much interefting information, and entertainment. As many curious facts in Natural History are afcertained from the obfervation and report of credible and intelligent witnefles, we are forry, that we must neceffarily comprefs our felections from this part of Mr. Polwhele's work, within very narrow limits, We fhall make an extract from Chap. VI. concerning the Royston Crow. "It * It has been said, that the Royston-Crow often takes up cockles to a confiderable height, and lets them fall againft ftony ground, as the eagle is reported to carry the tortoife in the air, and dafh it againft the rocks; this, however, has been numbered among the fabulous embellishments of Natural Hiftory. Yet Mr. Cornifh, of Totnes, vouches for the fact, from his own obfervation. He has been, mo.e than once, an eye-witnefs of the Royton Crow's perfeverance in attempting to get at the meat of the cockle, after frequent unsuccessful efforts to break the fhell; at one time carrying it to a greater height than before; at another, letting it drop on a fharper prominence; and a third time feeming to exert all its ftrength to dash it against the rock." That "Watered with numerous rivers," fays Mr. P. at the beginning of Chap. VIII. " and almoft furrounded by the fea, Devonshire muft, from its natural fituation, be fupplied with a variety of fifhes. our tables are well furnished with fish, is fufficiently proved by daily experience; and many forts of fifh alfo, which are not eatable, and which attract the attention of the naturalift much more closely, than thofe of common occurrence, are often obferved pear the shores of Devonshire." P. 102. We fhall ferve up one of each fort in our bill of fare, for the entertainment of our readers. Amongst the fecond divifion of fish, the cartilaginous lampreys are common in the river Exe, and are sometimes met with in the Tor ridge. The leffer lamprey is alfo caught in the former river." P. 114 We have alfo fkate, and the feveral rays, particularly the Elearic Ray, numbffb, or Torpedo, which is frequently," fays Pennant, "taken at Tor bay; but there is feldom more than one taken at a time: nor can the proper feafon for taking torpedos be afcertained, as they have been seen at all times of the year. The ufual depth of water, in which they are caught, is from thirty-fix to forty fathom. As to the time when their young are to be feen, no fatisfactory information can be obtained. But it is imagined, that the feafon for the torpedos, and other fithes of the ray-tribe, is the fame. Few or no fmall torpedos are to be met with at Torbay; thofe hitherto caught weighing from ten to eighty pounds. The torpedo has been alfo taken in the Dart. The torpedo is fo far amphibious, as to exift in the air twenty-four hours. In fre water it does not furvive much longer. Well-boats, kept in falt wa ter, and not put into much motion, may beft fuit it." In refervoirs on fhore, on the fea-coaft, it is fubject to be annoyed (notwithftanding its electrical armour) by the fea-leach and the comman fea crab. In confinement, it neglects all kinds of prey. Its frequent and perhaps favourite fituation is to lie in concealment under fand. If left in the hollow of any fandy beach, where the tide has juft returned, he fwims to that brink, where the water is ftill draining away, and, if he is unable to follow it, buries himself in the fand, in which which situation he gives his most forcible ftroke, which throws down the perfon, who inadvertently fteps on him." P. 115. We shall content ourselves with one more extract from the last chapter, concerning an animal which is but too well known. "The black-rat was one of the moft pernicious of our smaller quadrupeds till the appearance of the great grey-rat, which has the fame difpofition with fuperior abilities for doing mischief. Before the grey-rat was known in England, the black-rat had overrun Lundy Iland; indeed the craggy pyramidical rock, already noticed there, hás obtained, from the frequency of this animal, the name of Rat Island. The introduction of the prefent deftructive race of grey-cats into this country, is within the memory of many old men. An old carpenter of the neighbourhood of Plympton, who was born in the year 1723 informed me, that when he was a lad, and worked with his father, there were none but black rats known; but, that about this time, a fhip, which arrived at Creftone in the river Plym, and was there broken up, brought this kind of rat. The veffel is better remembered, I fuppofe, than if the had brought a bleffing. He faid it was called the Elizabeth, the mafter's name Henley, but he did not know whence the ship came, or to what country we are indebted for them, though they are generally called Norway-rats, and are infinitely more destructive than the black-rat, and they feem to make a full ufe of the right of conqueft, having almost extirpated their predeceffors." P. 129. The copious extracts which we have made from the prefent work, muft convince our readers that we confider it as poffeffing confiderable merit. In the courfe of our review of it, we have indeed pointed out a few imperfections; but, if we confider the magnitude and the difficulty of the undertaking, those imperfections must be loft, in the general approbation to which it is fairly entitled. Although Mr. Polwhele's (tyle fometimes betrays marks of hafte, it is, in general, chaste and correct, and fuited to his fubject. We have noted down two words, which we confider as provincial; leat and clomb. context leads us to conclude, that the one (p. 52) fignifies a ftream of water; the other (p. 60) pottery. The Natural Hiftory of Devonshire contains 135 folio pages, with a good type and paper, and containing a great number of valuable notes in addition to the text. The We cannot take leave of this author without thanking him for the amusement and information he has afforded us in his valuable performance, and exprefling our withes, that it will foon be in our power to congratulate him on the honourable and fuccessful termination of his hiftorical labours, and the public on being put in poffeffion of the fruits of them ART. |