scapes of to-day and grand in its relics of that earlier age when the mammoth and rhinoceros browsed on its banks. It has not been left to the writer of these pages to reveal for the first time the charms of Nature around London; he well knows that the taste for rural pleasures is no new thing among Londoners, especially among holiday-makers of an humbler condition. But as the companion and occasionally the leader in rural excursions of some who have but recently come into possession of the Saturday Half-holiday, he sees Nature with something of the freshness and zest of his fellowramblers. To them the Saturday Half-holiday has come not as a matter of course, but as a coveted and long-deferred privilege, attained at length through persistent effort and after weary waiting. They now see a beauty, a vividness, and a wonder in Nature they never saw before, and to them these reminiscences and pictures of rambles enjoyed together will not appear exaggerated. So far as these papers deserve it, may they be acceptable to the newer circle of lovers of Nature "in populous City pent" to whom they are now to be introduced. In the columns of a City journal friendly to the Saturday Half-holiday, they have already found a sympathetic public. May they be helpful in popularising still further the Saturday Half-holiday in the interest of thousands of Londoners who are still in grievous need of it. H. W. CONTENTS. HORNSEY IN THE OLDEN TIME: ITS CLIMATE AND ZOOLOGY. Spring.-Palm Season at Highgate.-Saturday Afternoon Symptoms in the HAMPSTEAD HEATH: LANDSCAPE HISTORY. Nearness to London of grand Geological Phenomena.-Fairy Tales of Science at Hornsey.-Another Ramble.-Saturday Afternoon Aspects in Cheap- side.-To Hampstead Heath.-Wayside Geology.-The Navvy Fraternity. -Selenite; its History.-Highgate Archway.-Hampstead Heath; its Aspect to-day.-Relics of Constable.-Geological Scenery.-Object of the Visit. View of the Thames Valley.-Landscape History.-A Grand Revelation. Mr. Prestwich quoted.-Stupendous Operation of Nature between Hampstead and Norwood.—Origin of the Valley by Excavation : Evidence.-The Thames Valley now in Ruins.-Tennyson on Geological June Invitations.-The Londoner's Saturday Afternoons.-Pursuits of the Blossom.-A Poet's Description.-Etymology.of Horse Chestnut.-The No. IV. LONDON PARK AND FOREST TREES--(continued.) Landscape Scenery and Vegetation around London.-Travellers' Opinions.— No. V. THE OLD SEA-BED IN MIDDLESEX. A Return from the living Landscape to the subterranean World.-Nature's No. VI. THE OLD SEA-BED IN MIDDLESEX-(continued). Professor Huxley on the Absence of Aldermen from the London Clay.— No. VII. SURREY: AUTUMN TOURS ROUND GODALMING. The Autumnal Holiday Season.-Saturday Afternoon Ramblers abroad.— by the Author of the "Sentimental Journey."-Youthful Naturalists. -By Rail to Godalming. - Surrey its Landscape Scenery. - Hills and Heaths.-Surrey Trees.-The Chestnuts of Salvator Rosa.-Visit to Hascombe Beeches.—To the Burgate Chestnuts: Description of the Trees. -To the Peperharrow Cedars.-To the Yews at Hambledon Churchyard. -Tennyson's Lines.-Murray on the Yew Trees of Surrey Scenery.- Review of Surrey Scenery.-The District of the Wey.-Wells and Springs -Iron-stone: Local Manufacture.—The End of our Holiday.—Esau re- Autumnal Pleasures round London.-Sylvan Nature.-The City at Two o'clock on Saturday. - Captive Cynthias according to Crabbe. - The Journey to Slough.-Thames Valley Scenery: Brickmaking.-The Ancient Thames: Prof. Morris and Mr. Whitaker.-From Slough to Stoke Pogis. -The Scenery of Gray's Elegy.-From Stoke Pogis to Burnham Common. -Burnham Beeches.-Description of the Trees: their Natural History.- Samson shorn of his Locks.-Cowper's Description of Pollard Trees.— The Typical Beech.-Foliage in Autumn. The Sylvan Scene at Burnham. -Fair Humanities of old Religion.-Burnham Beeches described by KNOCKHOLT BEECHES A RAMBLE IN KENT. A Manchester Naturalist on Landscape Scenery around London.-Autumn ELSTREE RESERVOIR A SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE QUEKETT." The Quekett Microscopical Club: its Work.-Field Excursionists of the Period. Elstree its Geography. By Rail from the City. - Hendon Reservoir: a Suburban Fishery.-Middlesex Landscapes and the Chalk Country.-Elstree Station.-Field-Naturalists on the Highway.-Hertford- shire "Pudding-stones": anciently used as "Querns."-Mr. Prestwich quoted.-Elstree Village.-Landscape Views. -Elstree Reservoir. The Aborigines.-Herons at the Lake.—Pond-hunting: its Charms.-The Quekett at Work.-A Malayan Traveller outdone.-Botany and Geography BATTERSEA PARK: THE SUB-TROPICAL GARDEN. Battersea Park in the Eyes of the Cognoscenti.-Saturday Afternoon Visitors. -Love of the Poor for Flowers: Cowper.-The Sub-Tropical Garden: an Oasis amid London Streets.-Route from the City.-General Aspect of the Sub-Tropical Garden.- Huge-leaved Vegetation.- Contrasts: the Northern Flora.-Minute Leaf-Embroidery.-The green Turf: Chaucer. -Landscape Surroundings of the Sub-Tropicals.-The History of Bat- tersea Park.-Battersea Fields transformed.-The Palm in an English BATTERSEA PARK: THE ALPINE FLORA. Saturday Afternoon Attractions for Londoners. Nature and Art in the Parks.- Review of the Sub-Tropical Scene at Battersea.-The growing Taste for Alpine Flowers.-The Alpine Hills at Battersea Park: a puzzling Spectacle.-Geography and Description of the Flora.-Reminiscences of Switzerland.-Rev. T. G. Bonney and Mr. Robinson on Alpine Plants.- Domestic Alpine Horticulture: Rockeries of the Period.-Rocks at Bat- tersea Park. Lake Ornithology: Sub-Tropical and Sub-Arctic.- Bat- tersea Park a wonderful Out-door Museum.-A Landscape View of the A SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN KEW GARDENS. City Botanists in the Seventeenth Century.-Gerarde, the Herbalist.- |