19 JANUARY 1889, Page 22

The Home of a Naturalist. By 'the Rev. Blot Edmonston

and Jessie M. E. Saxby. (J. Nisbet and Co.)—Some of our readers are doubtless already acquainted with some of these chapters, and also with Mrs. Saxby's tale, "The Lads of Lunda." The "home" is on the Bay of Baltasound, Unst, the most :northerly of the Shetlands. The writers describe in glowing terms the days of their happy childhood, and the various pleasures and dangers which made up their usual life. Laurence Edmonston, the son of the only physician the Shetlands had in the beginning of this century, and himself .a physician and a great naturalist, must certainly have found a naturalist's, and especially an ornithologist's paradise, in his home ; and the book is filled with the description of the innumerable pets, both birds and beasts, which he and his ehildren loved. The whole forms a delightful picture of Shetland life and scenery, not the least valuable quality of which is the folk-lore which Mrs. Saxb3r's skilful pen recounts with genuine power. These and the Yuletide doings, seal-hunting, and other adventures from Mr. Edmonston form a most fascinating book, with a fine old Norse flavour about it that calls for both gratitude and praise.