Journal of Travel and Natural History 127 



€cnti5poniitna. 



I.— SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



Note by the Editor. — In deciding on the matter of which this Journal should 

 be composed, two very important subjects claimed attention, the one Reports of 

 the Proceedings of the Learned Societies at home, and the other those of the 

 Learned Societies abroad. At first we started with the intention to overtake 

 both, but we soon found that each of them would require the whole Journal to 

 itself, and still remain not half done. We, therefore, had no alternative but to 

 give up the attempt. We felt, however, that probably the more important 

 object of the two (at all events for our readers in this countiy) was to make 

 them acquainted with what was going on in Natural Science abroad, and we 

 propose to endeavour to supply the place of regular Summaries or Reports, by 

 obtaining from some of our foreign friends and coiTcspondents of eminence, who 

 have been kind enough to undertake the task, periodical letters, mentioning the 

 most important contributions to Natural History in their respective countries 

 during the previous six months — in fact, giving a colloquial reply to the question, 

 " What has been doing in your countiy in Natural History during the last six 

 months ? " 



It appears to us that this will have many advantages over an attempt to com- 

 pile at home a summary of the publications of the different foreign societies. It 

 secures us from the risk of omitting important works which may not have come 

 under our notice. It conveys a knowledge of the estimate formed of the different 

 works, by those best able to judge — viz., a man's own fellows. It will, we hope, 

 often give us information in advance of the receipt of foreign Transactions, some 

 of these being long in finding their way into this country. By not attempting 

 too much, it will allow sufficient to be done to direct the attention of our readers 

 to the sources of further information if they desire it, and it will secure 

 a more comprehensive sifting and picking of materials than could be attained 

 at home ; for instead of a summary of all that has been written, both good and 

 bad, we shall only have a selected notice of the most important items. 



We are happy in having the privilege of commencing with a letter from 

 Professor Van der Hoeven, of Leyden. 



I. HOLLAND. — Letter from Professor Van der Hoeven. 



"Leyden, wth February 1S68. 

 "As you have expressed your wish to receive some information concern- 

 ing the works and memoirs on Natural History published in my countiy 

 during the last six months, I have the pleasure to send you a short indication of 

 what has come under my eye ; I hope this will be sufficient. You will not 

 require an analysis and critical examination of those works ; that would claim 

 more time, and also the review would become too long ; and, as it is your 

 intention to complete those communications for nearly the whole civilized world, 

 I suppose you want no other information than such as can direct the attention 

 of fellow naturalists to the recent publications on subjects of their chief study. 



