Bibliographical Notices. 431 



oldest specific name, and ought perhaps to be employed under any 

 circumstances ; but we would certainly admit very little proof as 

 sufficient for the dismissal of so incorrect a name as recurva. 



Athyrium filix-fcemina. — The account of this plant is well deserving 

 of careful study, as we suspect that the plant named A. rhceticum by 

 Roth will be found to be a distinct species. 



It appears to be highly probable that Trichomanes speciosum is iden- 

 tical with T. radicans, as stated by Sir W. J. Hooker in his ' Species 

 Filicum' ; indeed his series of specimens is so perfect, that it is hardly 

 possible to come to any other conclusion. That our plant is the T. 

 speciosum (Willd.) is certain, and we also feel quite convinced that 

 the supposed new species named T. Andrewsii by Newman is only 

 one of its forms. 



We have been considerably amused by observing the credit which 

 our author takes to himself for his figures of our two Hymenophylla, 

 that of H. Wilsoni appearing to us to be by far the most unsatisfac- 

 tory figure contained in his book. 



Having now occupied so much space, we cannot enter upon the 

 consideration of the many valuable observations contained in other 

 parts of the work before us, but protest against an endeavour made 

 in the Synopsis, the last written part although the commencement 

 of the book, to change two known and recognised generic names 

 solely because they were originally employed specifically for the 

 plants upon which the genera are founded ; Scolopendrium Mr. New- 

 man would change into Phyllitis, and Ceterach into Notolepeum. He 

 would also separate Asplenium septentrionale, germanicum and ruta- 

 muraria from that genus, and give them the name of Amesium, We 

 doubt if the want of a distinct mid vein to the ultimate divisions is a 

 sufficient reason for the formation of a new genus. 



In conclusion we again compliment Mr. Newman upon the excel- 

 lent book which he has produced, one which must find its way into 

 the hands of all botanists, who cannot fail to be struck with the 

 great powers of discrimination, accuracy of description, and critical 

 acumen of its author. In beauty of illustration also it is a worthy 

 companion to the elegant and valuable series of works on British 

 Natural History which have been published by Mr. Van Voorst. 



Faune Ornithologique de la Sicile. Par Alfred Malherbe. 8vo. 

 Metz, 1843. Pp. 242. 



This valuable contribution to the zoology of Southern Europe is an 

 extract, published as a separate volume, from the * Memoires de 

 FAcademie Roy ale de Metz.' After a brief resume of the numerous 

 subjects of interest which Sicily presents to the historian, the anti- 

 quarian, the geologist, the botanist and the zoologist, the author pro- 

 ceeds to the especial object of his treatise. He enumerates no less 

 than 318 species of Sicilian birds, a number which might surprise us, 

 did we not consider that Sicily, from its intermediate position be- 

 tween Europe and Africa, is resorted to by many species of birds 



