192 Scientific Intelligence. 



various strata. A considerable portion of the work is dedicated to an in- 

 quiry into the changes which are still going on to alter the surface of the 

 globe. Dr Hibbert, preparatory to the completion of his work, is visit- 

 ing the continent with the view of satisfying himself on some important 

 questions connected with the subject of rocks of igneous formation. For 

 this purpose he is undertaking a personal examination of several of the 

 most noted volcanic districts of Europe. 



22. Mr Scrapes Memoir on the Geology of Central France. — We 

 regret much that we have been obliged to postpone an analysis of this 

 interesting work to our next number. In the meantime, we may assure 

 our geological readers that they will find it one of the most valuable me- 

 moirs that for a long time has been given to the world. The memoir it- 

 self consists of a quarto volume of nearly 200 pages, and is illustrated with 

 18 folio plates, several of which are of great size, and exhibit at the same 

 time a geological and a picturesque representation of the remarkable volca- 

 nic district of which it treats. Our coadjutor, Dr Hibbert, has gone to ex- 

 amine the same region, and will zealously take up the subject where it 

 has been left by Mr Scrope. 



ZOOLOGY. 



23. System of Ornithology. — Captain Thomas Brown, F.R.S. E. &c. has 

 published Number I. of his " System of General Ornithology." It con- 

 tains Six Imperial Quarto Plates, on which are represented twenty-four 

 birds, coloured after nature. It is intended in this work to give figures 

 of all the known species, distinct varieties, with the female, and occasion- 

 ally the young birds. The whole are to be drawn from nature and en- 

 graved by the author, from these superb collections, the Jardin du Roi at 

 Paris ; the Museum at Haerlem ; and in Britain from the British, Edin- 

 burgh University, and East India Company's Museums. This work is to be 

 published in numbers every two months, containing six plates; from twen- 

 ty to twenty-four figures. The descriptive letter-press will be brought 

 forward every six months, with complete descriptions of the birds pub- 

 lished in the preceding numbers, including their instincts, habits, locali- 

 ties, and comparative anatomy. 



We understand that these splendid figures are finished by Captain Bro\ 

 himself, which will give a fidelity of representation unusual in such worksi 

 In short, the birds in the number we have seen are so highly finishec 

 that they may be taken for drawings. 



BOTANY. 



24. Natural History of the Auricula,— Ca^taixx Thomas Brown, F. R. S. 

 &c. is preparing for publication a work on the Auricula, which is to appea 

 in 4to numbers every two months, containing four plates coloured after^ 

 nature. This work will contain about sixty of the most beautiful varieties 

 of that esteemed flower, with a complete account of its natural history, 

 mode of cultivation, admixture of soils, &c. and a list of the known varie- 

 ties, by whom they were raised : together with a catalogue of the best col- 

 lections in Great Britain. 



