468 ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL LITERATURE. 



(1831, 4 vols., 12mo., lGs.). The Taschenbuch der Deutschen Vogelkunde (1810, 

 2 vols.), by Drs. Meyer and Wolf, is more recent than that of Bechstein, and 

 is in many respects preferable to the latter. Temminck's celebrated Manuel 

 d' Ornithologie (1820) will without doubt be procured and duly studied. The 

 Dutch Professor's Histoire Naturelle Generate des Pigeons et des Galinaces, and 

 his Nouveau Recueil de Planches colorices d Oiseaux, though valuable, are less 

 indispensable. 



Illustrations of British Ornithology (2 vols. 8vo., 2nd edit., 1833), by Pri- 

 deaux John Selby, Esq., only wants illustrative engravings to render it a com- 

 plete manual of our native birds. The plates belonging to the work (elephant 

 folio) are very expensive, and, consequently, beyond the reach of the majority of 

 students. Illustrations of Ornithology, by Sir W. Jardine and Mr. Selby, now 

 in course of publication, is rather a " work of luxury" than one which it is 

 absolutely necessary to possess. Of Dr. Savi's Ornitologia Toscana (Pisa, 1827, 

 pp. 302) we know but little ; and we shall content ourselves with merely noting 

 the titles of Werner's Atlas of the Birds of Europe, Mudie's Feathered Tribes 

 of the British Islands (a delightful book), his Natural History of Birds, and 

 Meyer's Illustrations of British Birds. 



Gould's Birds of Europe (22 parts, just completed, folio) is the finest and 

 most perfect ornithological work ever published, and, all things considered, by no 

 means dear. Intending purchasers will do well to send their names to the author 

 early, as only a small number of copies remain on hand. Mr. Gould has, we 

 think, carried ornithological painting — a most difficult art, be it observed — to the 

 ultimatum of perfection in some of his splendid plates. The accompanying 

 letter-press is excellent. 



Audubon's Ornithological Biography is a truly fascinating description of the 

 birds of America, and contains much new matter. We do not in general so 

 much admire his immense plates, some of which, however, are very fine. 



We have frequently spoken, in terms of high eulogium, of Hewitson's beauti- 

 ful British Oology, and need not, therefore, here repeat our opinion of the work, 

 which will shortly be completed, in three handsome volumes, royal octavo, or the 

 same size as The Naturalist. 



Yarrell's British Birds is beyond all praise ; it is now in course of publica- 

 tion. MacGillivray's British Birds (also in course of publication), and his 

 Rapacious Birds of Britain, are likewise good books. 



The treatises on reptiles, &c, are not numerous. The following are perhaps 

 among the best : — Roesel's Historia Naturalis Ranarum nostratium, Nurnberg, 

 1758, folio; Latreille's Histoire Naturelle des Salamandres de France, Paris, 

 1800, 8vo. ; Daudin's Histoire Naturelle des Reptiles, Paris, 1805, 8 vols., 8vo. ; 

 and J. E. Gray's Synopsis Reptilium, London, 1831, part 1, Cataphracta. Of 



