NEW WORKS IN NATURAL HISTORY. '45 



thought to have proved enough, would still be a result sufficiently inte- 

 resting to repay the trouble of the attempt.* 



Mr. Town's paper is illustrated by a number of coloured and beauti- 

 fully executed lithographic drawings, and his observations contain seve- 

 ral other matters of great interest, but into the details of which we do not 

 enter ; our object having been rather to point out the channel through 

 which he has made public his experiments and deductions, than to dis- 

 cuss the physiological considerations they involve. 



The first step has just been taken to establish a Society for the promo- 

 tion of Natural History by means of microscopical observations, and a 

 meeting, with that object in view, was held a few days back at the Hor-. 

 ticultural Society's rooms, in Regent Street. Our own feeling is strongly 

 opposed to the multiplication of scientific bodies, upon the principle 

 that one association of the kind, well supported, can do more to promote 

 the interests of science, than can be efi'ected by the exertions of half a 

 dozen, when each is restricted to a particular department of research, 

 and, from that very restriction, probably cramped in its available re- 

 sources for prosecuting the contemplated purpose of its formation. In 

 the present instance, however, the proposed institution cannot justly be 

 regarded as any off-shoot from a parent stock. The nature of the enqui- 

 ries it contemplates pursuing, is as independent and distinct as the field 

 which lies before it is boundless ; and if only a reasonable share of sup- 

 port be proffered it by the cultivators of science, its establishment must 

 eventually give rise to the happiest results. 



The new year opens with a rich promise of additions to our scientific 

 literature. Messrs. Whitehead and Co. announce for publication an il- 

 lustrated work upon the history of the entire class Mammalia, in which 

 all the known species will be described and figured. Having some know- 

 ledge of the great capital embarked in this undertaking, and entertain- 

 ing a high opinion of the zoological acquirements of the author — Mr. 

 Martin, we anticipate in this work a contribution to Natural History of 

 no ordinary importance. Mr. Bowerbank is ready with the first part of 

 his history of the Sheppey fossil fruits, — a work which will put the sci- 

 entific world in possession of the contents of his unique collection, and 

 the result of many years most diligent research into the history of this 

 little-known class of organic remains. A wide and comparatively untrod- 



* It would of course be necessary that the e^g should have a column 

 of mercury above it, equal to the ordinary weight of the atmosphere. 



