CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 327 



animals. None of the Quadnmana possess, like him, a peculiar muscle for 

 the extension of the fore- or pointing-finger,— see Kxtenseur, 5. He 

 alone prepares his food by subjecting it to the action of fire : and, having 

 acquired the means of protecting his body, by artificial coverings, from the 

 influence of atmosj)heiic vicissitudes, is fitted to inhabit every accessible 

 region of the globe. The species, the only one of the genus to which he 

 belongs, will be found to exhibit the six following races : the Caucasian, — 

 race Caucasique ou Arahe Enropeene, F. ; the Northern, — Hyperhoreene ; 

 Mongolian, — Mongole ; American, — Americainc ; Malay, — Malaie ; and the 

 Negro or Ethiopian, — Negre ou E'thiopienne. Each of these races, or varie- 

 ties, is distinguishable by peculiar characters drawn from the figure of the 

 skull, the features of the face, texture of the hair, and colour of the skin. 

 See Lawrence,' Z/^c<<(n's on the Physiology, Zoology, and Natural History of 

 Man, 8vo., London, 1S19; and Prichard, Researches into the Physical History 

 of Mankind, 2 vol. 8vo. 



British Song Birds ; being popular Descriptions and Anecdotes of 

 the Choristers of the Groves. By Neville Wood, Esq. London: 

 Parker, West Strand. 1836. 



T/ie Ornithologist's Text- Book: being Reviews of Ornithological 

 Works ; with an Appendix, containing Discussio?ts on various 

 topics of interest. By Neville Wood, Esq. London : Parker, 

 West Strand. 1836. 



Natural History, amongst the enlightened and contemplative, 

 is nowr so universally studied that every writer on the subject, how- 

 ever small may be the portion which he oflTers to the general stock, 

 is looked upon with more than complacency — he is welcomed as a 

 valuable fellow-labourer in this pleasing and instructive science. 

 If such, then, be the reception extended to an ordinary writer, with 

 how much more favour may we consider the emanations of an 

 author to be entitled, who, well versed in theory and in practice, 

 devoting his assiduous attention to an almost exclusive study, and 

 discarding the fanciful illusions of mere abstract contemplation, 

 draws his conclusions from the unerring source of vigilantly applied 

 personal investigation. 



Natural History is no longer a subject confined to observation, but 

 by recent discoveries it has become one of the deepest philosophic 

 investigation — consequently it is a far loftier and more diflficult 

 study than formerly. To Mr. Neville Wood the science of orni- 

 thology is greatly indebted ; his various publications in scientific 

 journals, which have been numerous, attest his capability and know- 

 ledge ; and his recently published works, now before us, are evi- 

 dences of his powers of investigation, his accuracy of description, 

 and his practical experience, which will always insure him a high 

 standing amongst the votaries of ornithological science. 



From The British Song Birds we give the following graphic 

 account of the Longtailed Tit, which will afford an interesting 

 specimen of the mode in which the author has treated his subject :— 



"This beautiful and somewhat remarkable looking bird, is equally widely 

 and abundantly distributed throughout the British islands with the four pre- 



