Our Cover.
By Worthington G. Smith. F.L.S.. M.A.,
Every work of art, whether important or unimportant, should be able to speak for itself, and tell its own tale. It has been suggested, however, that the designer and engraver of the mew Cover of the "Midland Naturalist" should write a few lines of description of the picture on the outside wrapper, and he has complied, with pleasure, by writing the few brief sentences which follow:—
Some of the ideas for the Cover belong to Messrs. Badger, Tait, and Harrison, others are the writer's; the general design is intended ta give a sort of conventional reflex of the chief Sciences. The study of animals recently extinct is indicated by the sketch of the Mammoth, (Elephas primigenius,) in the ice, and of living animals by the drawing of the Red Deer, (Cerrus Elephus.) The philosophical instruments at the top. Spectroscope, microscopes, and telescopes, need no word of explanation. The Cromlech, flint arrow-head, and stone hammier point to pre-historic Archæology; the Cromlech represents the magnificent monument still standing near the village of Clynnog, in Carnarvonshire. The cup stone of this Cromlech is profusely dotted over with the enigmatic "cup-markings;" the original sketch for this outline was made by the writer from the actual structure in August last. The botanical vasculum, the geological hammers, anemometer, ground thermometer, barometer, and rain gauge point to the respective studies in which these instruments are used. The Bee (Bombus terrestris) is introduced as a typical British Insect to represent Entomology, and the Wild Rose, (Rosa canina,) and Cowslip, (Primula elatior,) are given to indicate the Phanerogamous section of Botany. The Actinopharis, (Actinopharis Elhornii,) on the right points to the Rhizopods, and the Ferns and Fungi beneath are representatives of Cryptogamic Botany. The Apteryx, (Apteryx Australis,) and Octopus, (Octopus vulgaris,) represent rare and curious animals, and at the same time point to Ornithology and the Mollusca. The Ichthyosaurus at the base is a representative of animals long extinct, and now found in a fossil condition only.
As there is always an interest attached to the method of doing things, it may not be out of place here to say that the design, (with all its defects,) was drawn direct on the box-wood block, and engraved at once, without a slip, false line, or alteration. Many readers of the "Midland Naturalist" will probably be self-taught men, who busily follow industrial occupations every week-day. It may therefore interest such readers to know that the writer of these lines never had any teacher, either artistic or scientific, other than he always found supplied to him by close observation, careful reading, experience, and constant perseverance.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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