THE BEST COLTNTY-"
Some delightful material wherewith to answer the old question, " Which is the best of the' counties ? "- ifir given by Canon Raven, who is one of the most eager and charming of all our writers in natural history ; and he has written nothing better than some of the little essays and experiences in his Musings and Memories (Hopkinson: 7s. (ld.). He comes down strongly in favour of Norfolk : " there is no county like it for variety of scenery and fauna." He has some pleasant adjectives for other inferior counties: " Hert- fordshire," he says, " is to me the highest common factor of England," an ingenious form of praise, and • Suffolk he describes as " holy " ; but perhaps Norfolk better deserves the epithet, for it is fuller of sanctuaries. I have often thought that counties should acquire constant epithets. Lamb has called Hertfordshire " Happy, homely Hertford- shire." " Q." writes of " the Delectable Duchy." The rather vague "glorious" is attached to Devon. Kent is the garden of England ; two counties share " The Lakes," and we speak of " the British Riviera " ; but more precise, more characteristic attributes might be annexed as a pleasant form of propaganda.
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