64 Geological Society. 



study of botany, with that energetic zeal which marks his character, 

 and which induces him to labour, not for his own improvement only, 

 but for the public good. One of the results of this tour has been 

 the publication (at Vienna) of a 4to brochure, of 100 closely printed 

 pages, under the title above given. Here are included a great num- 

 ber of most valuable observations on many new genera and species 

 of Leguminosa, chiefly from the Herbaria of Munich and Vienna, 

 where the collections were (as elsewhere) thrown open to him with 

 a liberality which has called forth his grateful acknowledgements. 

 His work, we are happy to learn from the preface, now that Mr. 

 Bentham is returned to London, is but the forerunner of a more ex- 

 tensive one on this extensive family of plants. 



The Natural Arrangement and Relations of the Family of Fly -Catchers 

 or Muscicapida. By William Swainson, Esq.* 



This work, one of the cheap and beautifully illustrated volumes of 

 Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library, well sustains the charac- 

 ter of that popular series. Mr. Swainson's talent as a zoological 

 writer appears to be peculiarly fitted for works of this description, — 

 his slight sketches combine the beauty of a work of art, with the di- 

 stinctness and accuracy so requisite in subjects connected with na- 

 tural history. The text is an extension of the author's remarks on 

 this family, originally published in the Ornithological volumes of 

 Lardner's Encyclopaedia, and contains much useful information, 

 conveyed in an agreeable manner, and illustrated by thirty accurately 

 coloured plates, beautifully engraved by Mr. Lizars. The work is 

 published at such a moderate price as to place it within the reach of 

 any person wishing to pursue the study of natural history, but who 

 may hitherto have been prevented by the high price at which books 

 on such subjects are usually brought out. 



Much, however, as we are pleased with the general execution of 

 this little volume, we cannot but regret that Mr. Swainson has not 

 been more accurate in the orthography of the scientific names. 



The same volume also contains an interesting memoir and plate of 

 Baron Haller, the poet, the physiologist, and the naturalist. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



April 4. — A paper was read, entitled, " A Description of Viscount 

 Cole's specimen of Plesiosaurus macrocephalus (Conybeare)," by 



* Jardine's Naturalist's Library : Lizars, Edinburgh ; Highley, London. 



