630 = Retrospect of Domestic Literature— Natural History. 
as petrified oranges, ‘figs, funguses, nut- 
mevs, &c. In the fifteenth Ietter, Mr. 
Parkinson proceeds to what are called 
‘the Maestricht Fossils, trusting that their 
very considerable deviation trom the 
Madrepores, previously examined, and 
their approximation to the characters of 
Alcyonia; with the difficulties which now 
oppose similar specimens being brought 
into this country, may render their ad- 
Mission, although not exactly in their 
place, not unacceptable. He afterwards 
compares them with other fossils from 
Switzerland, England, and America. 
The amplest portion of the work is, how- 
ever, bestowed on the Encrinites, and 
Pentacriniles; a series of animals, Mr. 
Parkinson observes, which, whether we 
- consider their extraordinary forins, the 
immense numbers in which they must 
have existed in a living state, in the for- 
‘mer world; or their being now, except 
‘a solitary instan¢e or two, to be traced 
oily by their petrified remains, under 
the surface of the earth, or on the sum- 
tits of mountains, undoubtedly offer to 
us as rich a field of observation, as the 
yuost arduous inquirer could wish to ex- 
plore.” 
In the twenty-seventh chapter, the 
nuniber of species of these animals is ap- 
parently ascertamed to amount to no less 
‘than twenty-one. To which Mr. Par- 
kinson adds, that ‘ besides the species 
‘there particularized, numerous fossil frag- 
ments have been found in this country, 
which bear evident marks of having be- 
Jonged to species of these animals, very 
different from any which are at present 
known: a circumstance which cannot 
fail to add to the zeal and industry of 
those who have justly appreciated the aid 
whicti their inquiries may yield in the esta- 
Dlishment of geological principles.” In 
‘the twenty-eighth chapter we have Mr. 
Parkinson’s general remarks on the 
“fossils, described in the volume; and in 
‘the twenty-ninth chapter, his observations 
‘on the process of petrifaction. 
The plates, which, including the fron- 
‘tispiece, amount to twenty, are well en- 
‘graved, and beautfully and accurately 
“coloured. 
© Tn the farther prosecution of his work, 
“Mr. Parkinson promises that no unwar- 
“rantable protraction shall be admitted : 
“he is very desirous to completeit in a 
‘third volume: but when he considers the 
niultitude of subjects which must be ex- 
amined, he finds himself unable to pledce 
“himself to the observance of the limits 
“which would be thus prescribed. “ Anx- 
; + 
jous to obtain, and ‘to communicate the 
fullest information on the various sub- 
jects of his inquiry, he will be much 
obliged by any specimens or observations, 
illustrative of the nature of the different 
substances which have been, or which 
remain to be, examined. Any such com- 
munications he will-with pleasure place 
before the public, either embodied in the 
present work, or in a separate volume of 
orgetological communicaticens.” 
Another important work in this class 
has appeared in the third part of the 
second volume of “ The Select Works of 
Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek, contain- 
ing his Microscopical Discoveries in many 
of the Works of Nature.” Translated 
frou the Dutch and Latin editions, pub- 
lished by the author, by Sawver Hooce, 
The following are among the more cu- 
rious subjects of the different dissertations 
it contains. “On the formation of the 
elm, beech, willow, alder, ebony, box, 
and lime tree, with an explanation of the 
manner in which pipe-staves for making 
casks are prepared from oak timber.” 
Various observations on the herring ; 
on the generation of eels; a description 
-of some species of minute insects, found 
in fresh water; on the scales which cover 
the surface of the skin of the human 
body; and on the formation of bones; 
of the mite; on frogs, and the manner in 
which their young are produced; of the 
shrimp; on the nature of lime; and other 
kinds of cement; and the author's disco- 
veries and observations respecting wood 
consumed by maggots. 
Here also we have to mention, Dr. 
Smitu’s §* Introduction to Physiological 
and Systematical Botany ;?? awork which, 
to the researches and experiments of 
former writers, adds many new and strik- 
ing observations. Its perspicuous ex- 
planation of botanical terms, and the ex 
cellent mode adopted in the illustration 
of the Liunean arrangement, are not 
among the least of its recommendations. 
Mr. Tuomson’s “ Catalogue of Plants, 
growing in the vicinity of Berwick upon 
Tweed,’ will probably be found to have 
something more than ainere local interest 
in botanical pursuits. It contains an 
enumeration ot 564 species, including the 
class cryptogamia, 
The repatation which “ The Gardener’s 
and Botanist’s Dictionary,’ by Mr. Mit- 
Lak, has maintained tora period of more 
than sixty years, would have justified an 
ample notice of the new edition in our 
Retrospect, had it not even been so much 
enriched by the labours of Professor 
Martyn. 
