364 French Boohs. 



like a general Fauna of our country. Pennant's British Zoologi/, at the 

 time of its original appearance a most excellent work, and a model in many 

 respects for all similar undertakings, is now grown in a great measure obso- 

 lete, and is, besides, defective, as regards the lower animals ; the illustration 

 of which, with the exception of the shells of the Mollusca, formed, in fact, 

 no part of its plan. Donovan's works are by far too expensive for general 

 circulation, and contain only partial illustrations of the subject. We have, 

 it is true, several enumerations, such as Turton's and Fleming's, unaccom- 

 panied by figures ; but these are, in the greater part of their contents, little 

 more than compilations from previous writers, and the want of plates ren- 

 ders them unattractive to the mass of mankind. Of publications devoted 

 to a single branch of the science, we have a few that are excellent in their 

 kind. Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary/ and Bewick's Birds, for example, 

 have rendered that department of natural history popular throughout the 

 land. Other works, of a more expensive kind, illustrate other departments. 

 Our native shells, for instance, are better known, through the labours of 

 Montagu, of Maton and Rackett, and of Turton, than those of any other 

 country : but we have yet no Fauna. Such a work can be creditably exe- 

 cuted only by a union of naturalists, each especially qualified by his previous 

 studies for the department he undertakes; and we would willingly hope 

 that at no distant time a British Zoology may be produced worthy of a place 

 on our shelves by the side of the English Botany. Until that time arrives, 

 we can only recommend, as a substitute for a Fauna of England, that of 

 the country most nearly adjacent, and, consequently, most closely resem- 

 bling our native soil in its animal inhabitants. It 'is well executed; and 

 although the price of the whole work, even in its least costly form, will 

 necessarily be considerable, is as cheap as a work so extensively illustrated 

 by copper-plates can possibly be. Wood-engravings, and a greater share of 

 popular information, might perhaps, by insuring a more extensive cir- 

 culation, enable a similar work to be produced in this country at a lower 

 rate ; although for this we are scarcely prepared to answer. 



It is right to add, that the publication of the Faune Frangaise has been 

 once suspended, owing, as we are informed, to the long illness and sub- 

 sequent death of the first editor. At that time seventeen numbers had 

 been published. In June of last year the publication was resumed, and six 

 or seven numbers have since appeared; and it is stated that the mass of 

 materials which has been accumulated is such as to secure the appearance 

 of at least one number per month. It is in the 8vo form, and each num- 

 ber contains five sheets of letter-press and ten plates ; its price being, on 

 common paper, with the plates uncoloured, 4 francs; coloured, 10 francs; 

 on fine paper, with coloured plates, 4to, 1 5 francs ; and with proofs in 

 addition, 20 francs. 



Cuviery F, : Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes, avec des figures originales 

 colorizes. Livr. 59. Paris. Folio. 15s. 



Duperrey: Voyage autour du Monde, en 1822 — 1826. Premiere division : 

 Zoologie. Livr. 9. 4to, fig. col. 1 Is. 



Werner: Atlas des Oiseaux d'Europe. Livr. 1 1. Paris. 8vo. Fig. col. 65. 

 Qd. ; noir. Zs. 6d. 



Lesson: 



1. Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux-Mouches. Paris. Gr. 8vo. Livr. 1. 

 et 2. Fig. col. 5s. each. 



2. Compl^Tient des (Euvres de Buffon, ou Histoire Naturelle des Ani- 

 maux rares, decouverts par les Naturalistes et les Voyageurs depuis la 



