396 Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. 



neous appendages of a marine animal, perhaps allied to the 

 Echinodermata. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



20. A Concise System of Mathematics, in Theory and Prac- 

 tice, Jbr the use of Schools, Private Students, and Practical Men. 

 By Alexander Ingram, Esq. Edinburgh. — We have carefully 

 examined this valuable work, and find it throughout excellently 

 calculated for the purposes stated in the title. The matter is 

 well selected and judiciously arranged ; the practical rules are 

 given with great clearness, and the illustrations prove the 

 thorough knowledge of the late excellent author, in all the prac- 

 tical details of this important branch of education. It is neatly 

 and correctly printed, and, what we consider of importance in a 

 work of this description, is remarkably cheap. 



21 . An American Dictionary of the English Language ; by 

 Noah Webster, LL.D. 2 vols. 4to. New York. — In this work, 

 Dr Webster has exhausted the labour of a long life, and, in 

 search of materials, visited the Royal Library at Paris, and the 

 libraries of the English Universities. Of his etymological re- 

 searches, I feel myself but imperfectly qualified to judge, my 

 own studies having lain in a different department. I know, 

 however, that he entered on these pursuits more than thirty 

 years ago, with an ardent admiration of the writings of Home 

 Tooke; and that, extending his inquiries to the eastern dialects, 

 which were unkno\vn to that writer, he has gradually embraced 

 more than twenty languages within the circle of his investiga- 

 tions, and made them all subservient to his researches into the 

 orio-in and progress of our own. That these inquiries should 

 present many things of doubtful probability, is of course to be 

 expected. That many new relations between our own and 

 other languages are pointed out, and that much light is thrown 

 on the radical meaning of words, will, I presume, be obvious to 

 all who take an interest in such discussions. The number of 

 these, however, in this country at least, is comparatively few ; 

 and, to others, such inquiries will present a perfect blank, or 

 will perhaps afford a fruitful theme for ridicule. This work, as 

 a defining dictionary, I have been led, from the nature of my 

 pursuits, to examine with close attention. I have even collated 

 the greater part of its pages with Todd's edition of Johnson's 



