GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 9 



Williams ; and the incorporation of the Morphological views of Owen with 

 the chapter on the Vertebrata. 



With all these improvements, however, we still believe that the book has 

 fallen short of what it might be. Why, for instance, do we hear nothing 

 of the researches of Stein on the Infusoria, and the remarkable " Encysting 

 process" and " Acineta forms," undergone by these animals ? Why are we 

 told nothing of the Hectocotylus of the Cephalopods, whose history con- 

 stitutes one of the most remarkable features in the present phase of zoolo- 

 gical science ? Why are the Bryozoa left with their old pseudo-relatives, 

 the Radiata ? Why are the Suctorial Crustacea divorced from their true 

 relations, and placed in the same connection ? Other instances of a like 

 kind might be mentioned in which our author has not fully represented the 

 present state of zoology; and yet, always making allowance for these defi- 

 ciencies, we have no hesitation in recommending the second edition of the 

 ;' General Outline of the Animal Kingdom" as a good and useful book, with 

 which the student will have no reason to regret having furnished himself. 



G. J. A. 



The Entomologists' Annual, for MDCCCLVII. 12mo. London : 

 Van Voorst. Price, 2s. 6d. 



Our gay-looking little contemporary has just arrived in time to receive a 

 rapid inspection, but no more. It professes to be the old-established, 

 '' original" edition, in contradistinction from two other forms in which the 

 same contents are simultaneously published ; but it is most decidedly smaller 

 in size, so the public must try to accept in simple faith the counterbalance of 

 solid value implied by its not very bashful motto, " Vires acquirit eundo." 

 This latter principle seems to be that on which the Editor chiefly builds 

 his expectations of success in so energetically and indefatigably endeavour- 

 ing to urge his favourite theme on the notice of the community ; yet we 

 cannot conceal an apprehension that the desired elevation, when reached, 

 may prove a giddy one. In other words, that the novelty of rapidly 

 appearing and naturally ephemeral publications may wear off, and the pas- 

 sing interest they excite disappear like the effervescence of all popular 

 favour. 



We are not going to say a word against the desire to render Natural 

 History popular. We are most anxious it should be so ; but it does look, 

 in our estimation, very like absurdity to expect a book like the Annual to 

 be made the ornament of the drawing-room table, and to publish a grand 



C 



