REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 225 



" It is granted that shooting stars occur in greater or less number at all seasons of the year, and 

 that they are usually frequent in every clear night in the autumnal months ; and before we are 

 authorised to infer any remarkable exhibition of them on the morning of Nov. 13 of the present 

 year (1837), it is necessary to compare the phenomena as observed on that morning with such as 

 were observed on the mornings preceding and following that." — p. 9. 



A comparison is then instituted between the meteors of Nov. 13 and those of 

 the preceding and subsequent days, illustrated by a table. But for this and all 

 further particulars we must refer our readers to the pamphlet itself, or to the 

 paper in the American periodical. 



A History of British Birds. By "William Yarrell, F.L.S., V.P.Z.S. Il- 

 lustrated by a Wood-cut of each Species, and numerous Vignettes. London : 

 John Van Voorst, Paternoster-Row. Part v., March, 1838. 



The part before us contains the Song and Redwing Thrushes, the Ouzels, the 

 Golden Oriole, the Dunnocks {Accentor), the Robin Redbreast, the Blue-throated 

 Fantail, and the Common Redstart. The figures of the Black Ouzel and th e 

 Robin Redbreast are the best in the number, and the vignettes are very good. 



We have received a letter from a correspondent respecting the character of the 

 wood-cuts in this work. We shall place the epistle before our readers next 

 month, until which time we postpone all further observations on the publication. 



The Phrenological Journal, and Magazine of Moral Science. Vol. XI. — No. 

 lv. New Series, No. ii. March, 1838. Published quarterly. London: Simp- 

 kin, Marshall, $ Co. ; Maclachan fy Stewart, Edinburgh. 



Amongst the numerous periodicals of one kind or another transmitted to us 

 weekly, monthly, and quarterly, there are very few in which we have time or 

 inclination to read more than a few pages, or rapidly to skim their contents. 

 But the Phrenological Journal has always been a favourite with us; and we 

 cannot more forcibly express our approbation of the present number than by 

 stating that we have attentively perused every paragraph of its contents. Ever 

 a valuable and an interesting work, we cannot but think that it has improved in 

 more ways than one under the conductorship of Mr. H. C. Watson. In the first 

 place, the Journal has ceased to be the organ of a party ; 2nd., the arrangement 

 of the contents is superior to that of former Nos. ; and 3rd., there is considerably 

 more unity of style and sentiment in both the editorial articles and the general 

 tone of the periodical. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that the 

 work should prosper, and that. the first edition of No. i. (N. S.) should have dis- 

 appeared shortly after publication. 



Phrenology still continues to have its retarders, as well among its would-be 



TOL. III. — NO. XIX. 2 H 



