WOODCOCKS BREEDING IN ENGLAND. 255 



sources, to carry this idea into execution, the "utilitt" of such an 

 edition would, in this case, be equally incontestable, and probably no 

 one would be better able to appreciate its value than Louis Agassiz 

 himself. We believe the number of copies of Agassiz' work sold 

 in this country exceeds one hundred, and were this demand sup- 

 planted by an English translation, we would not venture to predict 

 how many more livraisons of the 'Poissons Fossils' would be forth- 

 coming. Of this we feel satisfied, that the ' Fossil Conchology' would 

 never have been undertaken, if its authors (the Messrs. Sowerby) had 

 anticipated such a course as that pursued in the present instance by 

 Agassiz, and if his first speculation succeed, we suppose he will fol- 

 low it up with a regular system of piracy upon the literary produc- 

 tions of English naturalists. 



Personal knowledge, and a feeling of respect for the proud position 

 in the zoological world occupied by the author of the ' Poissons Fos- 

 sils, ' make us, on the present occasion, most reluctant censurers. — 

 Agassiz has met with the most cordial support on all sides, and in 

 various ways, from the cultivators of science in this country ; and al- 

 though it may appear harsh thus to express ourselves, we do not he- 

 sitate openly to declare our conviction, that in editing a transcript in 

 the French language of the 'Mineral Conchology of Great Britain,' 

 its author cannot be said to have really promoted the objects of sci- 

 ence, still less to have added to his own reputation. 



SHORT COMMUNICATIONS. 



Breeding of the Woodcock in England. — On the 24th of 

 March a woodcock was flushed in a wood near my house ; 

 and on examining the spot from whence it rose, a nest with 

 four eggs in it was discovered. It was not disturbed for four 

 or five days ; when, finding it deserted, the eggs were taken 

 and brought to me, and are now in a glass case. They had 

 not been sat upon, as upon blowing them they were perfectly 

 fresh.— E. Eardly Wilmot.—Berkswell, April 11th, 1839. 



Iconographie des Insectes Coleopteres, par De Laporte 

 Comte de Castelneau et H. Gory. — According to the prospec- 

 tus, the above work was to consist of 20 livraisons ; having 

 just received the 27th and 28th, I beg leave to offer to your 

 readers some observations on the publication. Livraison 27 

 contains twenty-three figures in five plates ; — livraison 28 on- 

 ly thirteen. The anatomical details are not worthy of com- 



