392 Analyses of Books. [May 



tion and caught hold of the brancli of a neighbouring tree, he then 

 proceeded towards the heart of the forest." 



When resident at Para, near the mouth of the Amazons, Mr. 

 Burchell kept two full grown Sloths and a young one of a three- 

 toed species, in a garden enclosed with strong stockades ; they were 

 kept tied up to the pillars of a verandah to prevent their escape ; 

 against these pillars they always placed themselves in an erect posi- 

 tion, embracing the pillar with all four legs ; when not tied to the 

 verandah they got up into trees in the garden ; they slept both day 

 and night, always fixing their arms round something or other ; their 

 food consisting of branches was brought to them in the verandah ; they 

 appeared extremely stupid, and would never come to the food ; they 

 would eat no leaves but those of the Ceerypia. 



None of these animals were ever seen to dfink. The full-grown 

 ones were never heard to utter any sound, but the young one occa- 

 sionally (though rarely) gave a short cry or whistling squeak of a 

 single note. They shewed no indication of fear and seemed to give 

 attention only with their eyes. They took no notice of the boy that 

 carried them often across the garden to their place in the verandah with 

 their long arms sprawling — the only objects of their regard were trees 

 — they fight on their backs and grapple their enemy to strangulation. 

 The use of the long wool that covers the body and even the face, seems 

 to guard them from the annoyance of insects. 



Much as we admire the feeling which has dictated the criticism 

 of Dr. Buckland, we cannot help remarking, that the observations 

 which he has collected, although they tend to shew that the animal 

 is fitted to its state, confirm the suspicion that that state is a wretched 

 one, and bears few relations to that of ordinary, animals. 



II. — Facts, Laws, and Phenomena of Natural Philosophy, 6fc. 

 Translated from the French of Professor Quetelet of 

 Brussels. With Notes by Robert Wallace. Glas- 

 gow, 1835, 12mo. 



For this translation we are indebted to the industry of some young 

 ladies in the vicinity of Glasgow. Mr. Wallace the editor states, that 

 having been called to give lessons to some young ladies who were de- 

 sirous of acquiring a knowledge of Natural Philosophy, he proposed 

 that they should employ M. Quetelet's work as a text-book. This 

 proposal was adopted, the work translated, and the result of their 

 labours is now presented to the public. It is extremely gratifying to 

 see the tender sex not only enriching our books of science with their 

 pencils, but actually studying something more than mere superficialities. 

 M. Quetelet is concise in his statement of facts, of which the work 

 forms a good digest. The translation appears well executed, with 

 the exception, that the English proper names are in general not 

 translated. The recent important discoveries in electricity by Dr. 

 Faraday have entirely escaped the notice of the author, but should 

 have been introduced by the editor, as they include some very curious 

 phenomena and constitute a very essential part of the science. This, 



