'308 Dr. Maton's and Mr. Rackett's 



The " Zoologkt Adriatica" of the Abbe 



OLIVI 



deserves a place among Conchological performances, for it con- 

 tains a very scientific account of all the shells found in the Gulf 

 of Venice. This author makes known seven new species, which 

 are well figured, and very fully described. 



It was not reserved for the anatomist alone to illustrate the 

 physiology of the testaceous tribe, for chemistry now began to 

 lend its aid towards extending and improving this interesting sub- 

 ject of inquiry. In the Ann. de Chimie Aye find 



M. VAUQUELIN 



treating of the respiratory process in the Helix Pomatia. This 

 eminent chemist proves, in "the course of his observations, that 

 the Vermes require vital air for the excitement of their pulmonary 

 S3'stem as well as other animals, and that they cannot live with- 

 out it. But the most curious fact is, that the species above men- 

 tioned will respire azotic and carbonic acid gas as long as any 

 ox} r gcn remains combined with either; — whence M. Vauquelin is 

 induced to think that this Helix ma}' be a good eudiometer. 



The Journal d'Hist. Nat. for the same year contains an article 

 entitled " Observations stir la Generation des Bitccins d'Eau douce," 

 from which observations 



M. RIBAUCOURT, 



the writer of them, is induced to conclude that all the species of 

 that tribe are viviparous. The second volume of that instructive 

 work has the anatomy of Patella vulgaris, which is written by 



M. CUVIER, 



and illustrated by a plate, representing both the animal and the 

 shell in various points of view. This very able comparative ana- 

 tomist 



