192 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



(West), Bohlin, a newly-distinguished genus, " generally distributed 

 through all the Sphagnum bogs in the British Islands" (Plate 447, 

 Figs. 7-10), and of Ineffigiata neglecta, West, "generally distributed 

 in stagnant waters throughout the British Islands." 



BOOK NOTICE. 



NOTES AND LETTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF NORFOLK, 



MORE ESPECIALLY ON THE BlRDS AND FlSHES. From the MS. of 



Sir Thomas Browne, M.D. (1605-1682), with Notes by Thomas 

 Southwell, F.Z.S. (London: Jarrold and Sons, 1902). 



Information of a reliable nature concerning the fauna of any 

 portion of Great Britain over three centuries ago is of extreme value 

 and interest, and hence the volume under notice is a particularly 

 acceptable one. 



We have to thank Mr. Thomas Southwell for having, at the cost 

 of much time and research, given us these notes and letters on the 

 natural history of Norfolk, written in the middle of the seventeenth 

 century. It is true that the writings of Sir Thomas Browne, which 

 were many and of a varied nature, have been published in their 

 entirety ; but those dealing with zoology have not hitherto been 

 collected and issued in the form of a separate volume, nor has 

 anything previously published been illumined by such a series of 

 admirable explanatory and critical notes on the numerous species 

 treated of as those contributed by Mr. Southwell. 



Sir Thomas Browne's notes on the birds and fishes are written 

 in quaint but trite language, and though treated of somewhat shortly 

 (for the species are very numerous), reveal an amount of knowledge 

 which is surprising alike for its extent and its accuracy. The Letters 

 to Dr. Merrett, the author of the " Pinax Rerum Naturalium," are 

 also full of observations, and cover wide fields in both zoology 

 and botany. 



Mr. Southwell has supplied an interesting sketch of the life and 

 work of this very remarkable doctor of physick, and this forms an 

 appropriate introduction to a volume which we have perused with 

 great interest, pleasure, and advantage. 



