CHAPTER XXI. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
THE publications of the present year in this department of science, will scarcely 
admit of being exhibited in one regular synoptic view. The most important en- 
tirely new works, are, beyond all dispute, Lambert’s Description of the Genus Pinus, 
and Montague’s History of British Shells. Dr. Shaw’s General Zoology advances 
in its course with undiminished excellence ; and Dr. Turton’s additional volume of 
his translation of the Systema Nature will be as acceptable to the English student 
of botany, as his former ones were to the zoologist. Mr. Daniel’s Rural Sports af- 
fords many instructive articles to gratify the naturalist, but will be read with more 
avidity by a different class of readers. The new Dictionary of Natural History 
published at Paris, must be considered at present as only begun, but the celebrated 
authors who have made themselves responsible for its several articles, cannot fail te 
raise the expectation of the public, and to excite an earnest desire of its continuance 
and completion. Spallanzani’s Tracts must always bear a high value with 
those who wish to become acquainted with the general physiology of animals 
and vegetables, but as the first edition of the English translation has been published 
several years, it would not have been entitled to our present notice, if the second 
edition had not been corrected throughout, and considerably enlarged. 
Art. J. General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History : By Georcs Suaw, AT. D. 
FOR. S. Fc. Volo 4. 
are persuaded that we shall not rise from 
it disappointed and displeased. 
Our great philologist, essayist, and 
[T is pleasant after a short separation 
to rejoin an intelligent fellow-traveller, 
from whose extensive acquaintance 
withthe conniry, and liberal commu- 
nications concerning it, we have already 
derived much entertainment and in- 
struction; and though we are not 
likely to accompany him again through 
scenes equally luxuriant and romantic, 
we still associate with his person, the 
prospects which we have formerly en- 
joyed, and find something to delight us 
in our passage over many a dreary heath. 
With sensations of this kind we take up 
the fourth volume of Dy. Shaw’s General 
Zoology. We recognize the counte- 
nance and manners of an old friend. We 
enter at once into his stile of composi 
tion ; and though his present subject may 
not promise us all the satisfaction which 
the former part of his work afforded, we 
biographer has pronounced with his usual 
eracular authority, that what is not 
known cannot be told. We shall not, 
therefore, blame our guide, if he do not 
impart to us all the knowledge we wish 
to obtain concerning the class of animals 
on which he has now entered. ‘They are 
inhabitants of an element in which we 
ourselves cannot live ; and which conse- 
quently affords us but few opportunities 
of observing their particular habits and 
modes of life ; even those who frequent 
our rivers and sport in our shallow 
streams, offer themselves only casually 
and transiently to our notice. ‘They 
perform some of the most important 
functions of their being, either in the 
deepest abysses Of the waters, or concee 
