The Edinburgh Courant.
"Its aim is to teach the unscientific observer how to make use of his eye,—'how to look, and what to look at;' and to show him how much of wonder and beauty lies everywhere around him, if he could only recognise it."
The Scotsman.
"The Circle of the Year is a superior class of gift-book.... It is a loving and laborious exposition of a great variety of natural phenomena, as they may be observed in the course of the year by the student of natural history, written in such a pleasing style, and adorned with so many illustrations, literary and familiar, that the thoughtful youth who once commences its perusal, is certain to be carried by it through the whole cycle of the seasons."
The Queen.
"The work is replete with interesting observation; legends connected with the subjects treated upon are introduced, and the pages are interspersed with many excellent illustrations."
The Sunday Times.
"The book is charmingly got up in all respects, with good letterpress and abundance of illustrations."
The Kelso Mail.
"In a number of daily walks, a vast amount of curious and instructive information is imparted to the reader, who cannot leave these studies of nature without being wiser, and perhaps better than he was before. The illustrations are numerous and excellent, the typography beautiful, and the binding elegant."