Bibliographical Notice. ^93 



chidae, Ghelyoidce^ HydraspididcBy Chelydroidce, Cinosternidce, 

 Emydoidce, and Testudinina. 



After pointing out the distinctions between these groups, he enters 

 at length into the characters and distribution of the species found 

 in North America, which he makes about fifty in number. It is a 

 remarkable fact, that of the Land and Freshwater division only one 

 occurs on the Pacific slope of the continent (^Actinemys marmorata)^ 

 the so-called Chrysemys oregonensis being from the Upper Missouri, 

 and not from Oregon. 



A list of these animals, according to the generic and specific appel- 

 lations adopted by Prof. Agassiz, we give below in a tabulated form, 

 which will show at a glance the result of this part of his labours. 

 With regard to the names employed, we have one or two observations 

 to make. In respect to terms misspelt and wrongly derived, every 

 thinking person must agree with Prof. Agassiz, whose well-known 

 efforts to correct zoological nomenclature entitle him to especial 

 attention on this subject. Far be it from us to defend such un- 

 grammatical barbarisms as are involved in writing * Trionycidse ' 

 for * Trionychidae,' * Kinosternon' for * Cinosternon,' *Malaclemys* 

 for *Malacoclemmys;' but we are not prepared to give up with- 

 out protest the very convenient and now generally recognized practice 

 of forming the names of families in id(B and subfamilies in incE, which, 

 though not strictly accurate, is an excellent memoria technica, and 

 guides one at once to the rank of the division intended. Now that 

 the divisions of organized beings are so numerous, some such scheme 

 is absolutely requisite, to show whether a class, order, or family is 

 intended by any particular designation. We may remark, also, that 

 Professor xlgassiz's arrangement would have been more intelligible 

 to those who are engaged in working at this group, as well as more 

 convenient for reference, if a short Synopsis of the American Testu- 

 dinata, as now known, with scientific characters of the families, 

 genera and species, and a more detailed list of synonyms, had been 

 added. To one so well ' w^' in his subject as the author of this work, 

 this would have given but little additional trouble. To those who 

 are less favourably situated for acquiring a knowledge of these ani- 

 mals, it would have been of great service to enable them to see at 

 a glance the reason of the many changes which Professor Agassiz 

 has proposed in the arrangement and nomenclature of the families, 

 genera and species. 



In conclusion, we beg to congratulate Prof. Agassiz on his array of 

 American subscribers, numbering some 2400 we believe, — an un- 

 heard-of amount of patronage to be bestowed on a purely scientific 

 work, and which shows that the American people know how to 

 appreciate a good man when they have got him. The European list 

 presents a miserable contrast ; and had it not been for the energy of 

 Messrs. Triibner (who subscribe for 50 copies), this great work must 

 have remained nearly unknown on this side of the Atlantic. 



