90 A RKTROSPRCT OF THK LITERATURR 



to speak in terms of Ci)mmendation, or even of forbearance. It is a 

 wretched mess ; of which the manifold blunders and deficiencies are 

 only rendered more conspicuous by the imposing air of graphic 

 splendour with which an attempt' has been made to invest the un- 

 seemly production. A very cheap and excellent translation of the 

 Second Edition is now, however, coming out in shilling numbers. 

 The colouring of the plates, which ought not to have been attempt- 

 ed at such a price, is the only flaw which we have hitherto been 

 able to detect in the character and execution of this meritorious and, 

 we would fain hope, popular undertaking. 



The Manual of the Elements of Natural History, ably translated 

 from the tenth German Edition of the celebrated Blumenbach, by 

 Mr. Gore, of Bath, appeared in 1825 ; and Stark's instructive Ele- 

 fnefits of Natural History — two octavo volumes, — about the same 

 period. Dr. Fleming, with his History of British Animals, admi- 

 lably described in their several species ; but wofully misnamed, 

 and dislocated, according to the modern vagaries of scientific nomen- 

 clature and arrangement, brings up the rear of this the second 

 division of our subject. The first volume of Dr. Fleming's work 

 appeared in 1828 : the second, we believe, has not yet been pub- 

 lished. 



III. — In the Last Division of our retrospect, comprehending Mis- 

 cellaneous Publications, wherein the subject of Ornithology is only 

 partially and incidentally discussed, the delightful Natural History 

 of Selborne, by the Rev. Gilbert White, stands first in order of 

 time, as in excellence. The work was originally published in quarto, 

 in 1789; and contained, in addition to the matter more immediately 

 interesting to the Naturalist, an account of the antiquities of Sel- 

 borne, A cheap and beautiful duodecimo edition, with additions by 

 Sir William Jardine, came out at Edinburgh, in 1830: and another, 

 equally beautiful and still cheaper, by Captain Brown, has subse- 

 quently appeared. Low's Fauna Orcadeiuis, quarto, published, 

 also, at Edinburgh, in 1813, will be found an interesting and valu- 

 able production. The popular volume, entitled. The Journal of a 

 Naturalist, by IMr. Knappe, first made its appearance in 1827 ; and 

 was most favourably received. A Third Edition was brought out in 

 1830. Were it only for the opportunity which it will afford, of 



