336 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



An inquiry into the general nature of the alterations, gradually 

 and constantly taking place in mankind, as a race, constitutes the 

 exclusive subject of Mr. Moreton's volume ; and his chief theme is 

 sub-divided into distinct investigations — on wages, industry, and on 

 combinations to raise or lower wages — on the origin and limits of 

 the fund for the employment of labour— on the effect of civilization 

 upon the health, longevity and increase of mankind — how the 

 amount of population is adapted to the variations in the fund for 

 their support — case in which population has no tendency to increase 

 — and on the causes that may obstruct the growth of the manufac- 

 turing and higher classes. These questions necessarily involve the 

 highest interests of persons, families, and states : on this account, 

 therefore, their principles and ultimate bearings upon the conditions 

 of society, merit always and every where the most deliberate consi- 

 deration of legislators and philosophers. Mr. Moreton has con- 

 ducted his inquiry into these important and difficult propositions 

 with exemplary moderation ; his pages are altogether free from the 

 vulgar and indecent vice of imputing ignorance and dulness, or bad 

 motives to those who may not be able to coincide with one's own 

 favourite opinions, although, perchance, these themselves may be 

 little other than mere prejudices or visionary predilections. Mr. 

 M.'s views are clearly stated, candidly discussed, and modestly ad- 

 vocated. 



Magazine of Zoology and Botany. Conducted by Sir W. Jardine, 

 Bart., P. J. Selby, Esq., and Dr. Johnston. Nos. III. and IV. 

 Edinburgh: W. H. Lizars — London: Highley. 



We rejoice to see so many periodicals in circulation with the 

 view of promoting the cultivation of Natural History, as it proves 

 incontestibly that there is an increasing demand for such works, 

 which must necessarily tend still further to diffuse a taste for the 

 science. The Magazine of Zoology and Botany is the most strictly sci- 

 entific Magazine of Natural History of the day ; its papers interest 

 exclusively the professed naturalist ; and hence its usefulness will 

 consist rather in advancing than diffusing natural knowledge. We 

 cannot here give an analysis of the contents, but may instance the 

 leading article in the third number, on the Cuckoo family (Cucu- 

 lidse), by Mr. Swainson, as being especially worthy of attention. 

 The reviews are, in general, impartial and able. The 3rd num- 

 ber is adorned with a steel engraving, representing the intestinal 

 canal of Buteo vidgaris, and the 4th number contains four plates, 

 one to illustrate an article on " Some new Species of Exotic Coleop- 

 terous Insects," by J. O. West wood, and three to elucidate an ela- 

 borate paper on " the Natural History of the British Entomo- 

 straca/' by William Baird. We wish the work every success, and 

 hope the succeeding numbers will be at least equal to those already 

 published. 



