392 REVIEAVS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



paramount in this line. In the humour and admirable tact displayed in his 

 vignettes, we freely allow that Bewick leaves all his competitors at a goodly 

 distance behind him ; but no competent and unprejudiced ornithologist will think 

 of comparing the wood-cuts in Bewick's work with those engraved by Thomp- 

 son in Mr. Yarrell's History. 



"We have thought fit to say thus much respecting the illustrative portion of the 

 work, because, hitherto, we have possessed no book of moderate size and price 

 containing accurate delineations of British birds. The histories of the various 

 species have been much better cared for, having been minutely attended to in 

 several works which still continue to be quoted as valuable and standard authori- 

 ties. It is not, however, to be supposed that, in thus paying our tribute of 

 admiration to the talent displayed in the illustrations, we undervalue the 

 accompanying letter-press. On the contrary, we have much reason to be pleased 

 with the manner in which this part of the work is performed. When completed, 

 these two volumes will, of course, contain a considerably larger number of species 

 than any other author has been able to include ;* and as it is frequently im- 

 practicable to furnish much novel matter regarding birds which have been so 

 often described, Mr. Yarrell has judiciously collected whatever authentic 

 detail has been published by other ornithologists, in his descriptions of species, 

 doubtless adding any thing of interest or importance that may have fallen under 

 his own observation. 



That we take a lively interest in the progress of this work, and anticipate the 

 publication of future numbers with pleasure, we need hardly say. 



A History of British Quadrupeds. By Thomas Bell, F.R.S., F.L.S., Prof, 

 of Zool. in King's Coll., London. Illustrated by a wood-cut of each species, and 

 numerous vignettes. London : John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row. Part xi. 

 Aug. 1837- 



Having repeatedly reviewed Mr. Bell's Quadrupeds in the most favourable 

 manner, both in The Naturalist and elsewhere, we shall now only observe, that 

 the work is at length completed, in one thick and handsome volume. The 

 present part contains an index, preface, title-page, &c, and illustrates the ceta- 

 ceous animals, which figure somewhat strangely in a volume entitled British 

 Quadrupeds ; though we ought in fairness to add, that the title, in full, is, " A 

 History of British Quadrupeds, including the Cetacea." 



* In making this observation we ought perhaps to except Mr. MacGillivray's work on British 

 birds, which, being published cotemporaneously with that of Mr. Yarrell, will probably enjoy 

 equal advantages in this respect. 



