140 CRITICAL NOTICES O*'' NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



between each species, which have so good an eftect in IMr. Morris's 

 list. 



Two Lectures on Modern English Literature, delivered in the Li- 

 terary and Scientific Institution at Staines, in November, ]836. 

 By the Rev. Robert Jones, D.D., M.R.S.L., &c. London : 

 Harvey & Darton. pp. 44. 



These lectures — printed at the desire of the members of the 

 Society to whom they were delivered — are written in the usual chaste 

 and elegant style of Dr. Jones. They will, doubtless, fulfil the 

 desired end, of exciting an interest in English literature ; but the 

 sketch is so extremely brief and rapid as scarcely to bear criticism. 

 Dr. Jones is fully competent to write a much more detailed trea- 

 tise on the subject, and we should be most happy to see such a vo- 

 lume from his classical pen on our table. 



The Naturalist's Library. Conducted by Sir Wm. Jardine, Bart., 

 &c. Mammalia. Vol. VI. Ordinary Cetacea, or Whales. 

 Edinburgh : Lizars — London : Highley. 1837. fcap. 8vo. 



The present volume of this popular series is one of more than 

 ordinary interest. To the general reader the accounts of the Whale 

 fishery cannot fail to be amusing ; and the book contains many ob- 

 servations of value to the naturalist. Much confusion has hung 

 over the Cetacea, and any additional attempts to elucidate their his- 

 tory deserve the thanks of the cetologist. The chapter on the com- 

 parative anatomy of the Cetacea is exceedingly well written, and 

 contains many valuable observations ; the descriptions of species are 

 replete with interesting details, and the plates are as numerous and 

 excellent as usual. It is not for us to institute an analysis of any 

 portion of a popular volume like the present, but we will present 

 our readers with an extract from the observations on fossil Ceta- 

 cea : — 



" There are distinct records of portions of skeletons of Whales having been 

 discovered on the continent of Europe, as well as in various parts of Britain, 

 &c. One of these was discovered by M. Cortesi, in 1806, on the east fiank 

 of Monte Pulgnasco, one of the Apennines, about 600 feet under the summit, 

 which is itself elevated 1200 feet above the neighbourinff plain. In this part, 

 the hill consists of regular beds of blueish clay, inclined towards the north, 

 and filled with marine shells. The Whale was found lying in the same di- 

 rection with the strata which inclosed it, the head pointing northwards. 

 This skeleton was nearly perfect, although some of the ribs were somewhat 

 out of their proper position. The vertebrae were lying on the right side ; a 

 great many teeth ot a small species of Shark, and innumerable shells sur- 

 rounded it^ especially a small variety of Oyster, many of which were attach- 

 ed to the left side of the vertebrae, lying uppermost. The regular attach- 

 ment of these Oysters is well worthy of consideration, as it goes to show that 

 they must have been fixed to their position while alive, and, consequently, 

 that the skeleton had long lain at the bottom of the ocean. • « « 

 M. Cortesi discovered another skeleton in 1816, in the same kind of strata, 



