fishes have been iconographically displayed by Pennant and Donovan, and re- 

 cently, in a style of surpassing excellence, by Yarrell, we have, at present, no il- 

 lustrated publication on the British Mammalia at all comparable, in extent and 

 comprehensiveness of design, or in correctness of execution, with them. The 

 British Zoology, of Pennant, contains indifferently drawn figures of only seven- 

 teen species of animals belonging to this Class : the History of Quadrupeds, by 

 Bewick, not more than thirty-four species. Of the shewy and expensive History 

 of British Quadrupeds, by Donovan, — the only monograph on the subject with 

 which we are acquainted, — justice forbids us to speak in any other terms than 

 those of unqualified reprobation and contempt. Contemplated either as a work of 

 Science or of Art, it is alike disgraceful to its author, and unworthy of the age 

 and of the country on which it has been obtruded. Under these circumstances, 

 we hail, with no ordinary feelings of gratification, the appearance of the first two 

 Parts of the History of British Quadrupeds, some time since announced by 

 Mr. Bell. Our expectations, highly as they have been excited by a knowledge of 

 the character, talents, and opportunities of the author, even a cursory inspection 

 of the commencement of his work has completely satisfied. It is quite worthy 

 to occupy the same shelf, in the zoological library, as Yarrell's British Fishes :■ a 

 more eloquent eulogium than this, we are unable to pronounce. If the illustrated 

 works on British Birds, Reptiles and Amphibia, Crustacea, and Zoophytes, re- 

 cently announced for publication, correspond as closely in correctness and beauty 

 of execution, as is contemplated in form and style, with the two productions 

 already before us, a new and most auspicious era will have dawned upon the 

 hitherto obscure and entangled paths of British Zoography. 



Parts 1 and 2 of Mr. Bell's work exhibit a description of the genera and spe- 

 cies belonging to the Vespertilionidce and Rhinolophidce, of the Order Cheirop- 

 tera, and the Hedge-hog and the Mole, respectively arranged under the Erina- 

 ceadce and Talpidce, of the Order Insectivora. The notices of the internal struc- 

 ture, of the generic and specific characters, and the habits and economy, of the 

 various animals are singularly accurate and luminous, frequently original, and 

 always interesting. The figures of the bats are, moreover, without one solitary 

 exception, uncommonly spirited and characteristic : and those of the hedge-hog and 

 the mole, in particular, so powerfully executed that they would make our old 

 favorite Bewick, were he allowed to behold them, " start from the dreamless 

 slumbers of the grave." If the volume be completed in the spirit, and with the 

 zeal and talent, which the opening parts display, it will prove to the student of 

 zoology in general, and more especially to the British naturalist, a most instructive 

 and delightful work. 



Until the appearance of Dr. Fleming's valuable History of British Animals, 

 six species only of the Bat-Family were recognized by systematic writers, as na- 

 tives of the British islands. To this scanty catalogue, a seventh species, the 



