464 ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL LITERATURE. 



an idea of the outlines of Natural History, for which purpose it will always be 

 useful, whether or not the student intends further to prosecute his investigations. 

 For a knowledge of species, reference to Linn;eus's System is of no avail — in 

 fact it has long ceased to be valuable for the minutice of the science. — We pre- 

 sume every one is acquainted with Blumenbach's Handbtich der Naturgeschichte 

 (Manual of Natural History), and we shall therefore pass it over without com- 

 ment. In 1800 the late indefatigable Dr. Shaw commenced his General Zoo- 

 logy, which, unfortunately, he did not live to complete. The continuation, un- 

 dertaken by Mr. Stephens, is perhaps equal in merit to the previous volumes ; 

 but the circumstance of Dr. Shaw having embraced the system tof Linnaeus, 

 while his successor adopted that of Vigors, is not a little calculated to detract 

 from the merits of the publication. Notwithstanding the defects of this compi- 

 lation, it still remains a valuable work, the descriptions — though dry and con- 

 cise — and engravings being sufficiently accurate for ordinary purposes. It was 

 brought to a close in 1826, in fourteen octavo vols. The Rev. W. Bingley has 

 published popular works on animals which are familiar to every one. The volu- 

 minous productions of Buffon, likewise, stand in no need of introduction to our 

 readers. On the contrary, it may be necessary to caution the student against 

 being led away by the eloquence of this author ; neither his " facts " nor his 

 reasoning deserve implicit reliance. The same may be said of an equally popular 

 compiler in this country, whose Animated Nature is in almost every one's 

 hands. 



We now approach an important era in Zoology, introduced by the appearance 

 of Cuvief.'s Regne Animal, an original and admirable work. We are no ad- 

 mirers of the new system propounded in this work. Although its author has 

 characterised a large number of genera with great accuracy, he failed in the 

 attempt to establish the larger groups upon an equally sure basis as that adopted 

 by LiNNiEUS. Consequently — notwithstanding the eminent services of Cuvier 

 in Systematic Zoology — his classification is, as a whole, far inferior to that of 

 the Systema Naturce. The beginner may, nevertheless, study the Regne Ani- 

 mal with considerable advantage. 



Dr. Fleming's Philosophy of Zoology contains much useful and interesting mat- 

 ter, but the wheat is mixed so inextricably with a considerable portion of chaff, 

 that we shall not recommend this work. A recent volume, entitled The Observ- 

 ation of Nature, by Robert Mudie, will be perused with interest and advan- 

 tage, though it is, perhaps, too abstract in character either to answer the expec- 

 tations or the w r ishes of its readers. Those who can afford it should add Les- 

 son's Illustrations de Zoologie to their libraries. It was published at Paris, in 

 numbers, price Gs. 6d. each, with coloured plates. Swainson's Zoological Illus- 

 trations, a superb work, with coloured plates, should likewise be procured, if 

 possible. 



