Bibliographical Notices. 223 



ing anxiously for it, but in all the inland localities the little Zootoca 

 vivipara only occurs. The latter species, which Mr. Bell remarks 

 extends " even into Scotland," is most abundant, and ranges far to 

 the north. We have seen it on the southern confines of Sutherland 

 and Ross-shire, and from thence to the English border ; it is common 

 on all the subalpine heaths reaching to a considerable elevation. It 

 is also frequent on the sandy downs of the coast where heath and 

 bent-grass abound, and where the true L. agilis might be expected. 

 We would remark of Mr. Bell's figure or cut of this pretty reptile, 

 that the common Scotch variety is more distinctly marked than that 

 which he has exhibited, the interior of the lateral dark markings 

 being bordered by a yellowish white line, clearly conspicuous even 

 when the creature is running. In a specimen of what appears to be 

 this reptile, taken on the coast, the scales containing the femoral 

 pores are larger than what is stated. They appear as large as those 

 represented in the cut at page 21, but are round and oval, not of the 

 triangular form seen in fig. a. The animal, we think, agrees in other 

 parts with the characters given of Z. vivipara, and in the proportion 

 of the toes and toothless palate. 



The subject of the next figure and description, Anguis fragilis, is 

 also common in the south of Scotland. We have found it most com- 

 monly in dry, stony, subalpine situations, where it easily finds a re- 

 treat on the appearance of danger. 



A beautifully cut figure of the common snake follows, but as the 

 description is just commenced, we leave it till the publication of the 

 next number. 



The Birds of Australia and the adjacent Islands. By John Gould, 

 F.L.S. Part II. Folio. London, 1838. 



We formerly (in the Mag. of Zool. and Bot. vol. ii. p. 357.) no- 

 ticed the first and commencing number of this work, produced in the 

 same style of art, and on a similar scale, with Mr. Gould's other 

 highly-finished illustrations. The second part is now before us, equal 

 in every respect to its predecessor, and containing figures of the fol- 

 lowing species : but before making any remark upon them, we can- 

 not avoid alluding to the expedition which our author has in con- 

 templation to make to Australia. Such a journey will be of the 

 highest interest to the traveller ; and knowing Mr. Gould's activity 

 in the field, and his qualifications for observation and recording what 

 he does observe, we look forward to his return with an intense inter- 

 est. Many species have now been forwarded to Europe from this 

 most interesting country, a few of them from very inland districts ; 



