CORRESPONDENCE. 481 



true"; and, though mentioned last in these notes, it is impossible for any bird to 

 exceed it in beauty. It is a young bird, scarcely full-grown, but in fine plumage, 

 and belongs to some of our summer visitants, but to which it is " xaXsu-o* itirnt." 

 Doncaster, September. 1837. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Which are the Best Works on Geology ? 

 To the Editor of the Naturalist. 



Sir, — At p. 359 I perceive your correspondent Mr. Han way makes inquiries 

 relative to publications on Zoology and Botany. I feel certain that a catalogue 

 of the kind mentioned by Mr. H. will be of much use to many of your readers, 

 as it once would have been to me. Therefore I may probably take an early 

 opportunity of transmitting you the required list, though only upon condition 

 that you do not receive any other communication on the same subject. Now 

 an Englishman must, as all the world knows, turn every thing into a bargain ; 

 and, with a view of keeping up this ancient and venerable usage, I take the 

 liberty of requesting that either you or some one of your contributors will, in 

 return, furnish a similar account of the principal geological works. I am ac- 

 quainted with the writings of De La Beche, Lyell, Buckland, &c, of which I 

 have been led to think very highly. I am particularly desirous of becoming 

 acquainted with the labours of French, German, and American authors in this 

 interesting branch of science. 



I may observe, that I possess a tolerably extensive library of Natural History, 

 and therefore hope to make my intended list tolerably complete. As regards 

 periodicals and transactions of societies, I think it will be amply sufficient to 

 mention the titles of the most important of these, without alluding to any of the 

 numerous and often admirable papers they contain. 



On Magazines of Natural History, and Transactions of Societies. 



If we may be allowed to judge by the number of societies which publish trans- 

 actions, these publications must succeed very well. There appears, unfortunately, 

 to be a much smaller demand for magazines devoted to Natural History. The 

 Zoological Journal, Kennie's Field Naturalist, and the Zoological Magazine, all 

 perished early. The Naturalist would probably have ceased to exist long ere 

 this but for your " enterprising spirit"; the Magazine of Zoology and Botany is, I 



