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OUTLINES OF PERIODICAL LITERATURE, 

 RELATING TO THE NATURAE SCIENCES & PHILOSOPHY. 



Under this department of the Analyst, we propose to specify the principal 

 essays communicated through the journals of Periodical Literature, with the 

 object of improving the natural sciences and philosophy ; and, by our best 

 endeavours in this way, to promote the enlightened views of cotemporary 

 naturalists, and also to assist the studies of our friends by facilitating refer- 

 ence to their favourite investigations. We begin with the 



Annals of Natural History ,• or Magazine of Zoology, Botany, and Geology , 

 being a continuation of the Magazine of Zoology and Botany, and of Sir 

 W. J. Hooker's Botanical Companion; conducted by Sir W. Jardine, 



Bart P. J. Selbv, Esq Dr. Johnston — Sir W. J. Hooker— and Richard 



Taylor, F. L. S. 8vo, London. 1838, with graphic illustrations. 



As its title indicates, this Periodical forms a continuation of the Magazine 

 of Zoology and Botany and of the Botanical Companion, with an extended range 

 for embracing the researches of geologists. The distinguished Editors, as an 

 illustrious philosophical quinquevirate, profess themselves desirous of making 

 the Annals of Natural History not merely a vehicle for original communica- 

 cions pertaining to this comprehensive subject, but as a means of enabling 

 their readers to keep pace with the progress of scientific knowledge in every 

 stage of its advancement. Four monthly numbers of the Annals are now 

 submitted to the judgment of Naturalists; and, in designating the articles 

 seriatim, we experience much pleasure in pronouncing our admiration of their 

 . excellence. 



I. This first number opens with a paper on a new Oscillatoria, the colour- 

 ing substance of Glaslough lake in Ireland, whereof the water is green as 

 that of the sea, and contains innumerable minute flocculi which, on being 

 examined under the microscope, are found to consist of exceedingly fine sim- 

 ple fibrils belonging to the Oscillatoria cerugescens, so named and described 

 by Dr. Diummond its discoverer, from its assuming a bluish verdigris colour 

 on drying. 2. Some remarks on the Germination of the Limnanthemum 

 lamnosum illustrate Dr. Griesbach's peculiar views on this subject, with his 

 reasons for proposing a new nomenclature of the Menyanthes and Villarsia, 

 as generic appellations : a plate, with nineteen figures, explains the princi- 

 ples on which his opinions are founded. 3. The title of this is contributions 

 to the natural history of Ireland, continued from the Magazine of Zoology 

 and Botany, ii, 440 : it treats of birds in the order Jnsessores whereof eleven 

 are designated. These are Sylvia rubecula the redbreast; S. tithys the black 

 redtail ; S. loeustella the grasshopper warbler ; S. phraymitis the sedge war- 

 bler ; S. alricapilla the blackcap warbler ; S. hortensis the greater petlychaps; 

 S. cinerea the whitethroat ; S. libilatfix the wood wren ; S. trochilus the wil- 

 low wren ; S. hippolais the chirr chaff; and S. regulus the gold-crested wren. 

 The author of the communication, Mr. Thompson, is not a mere biblical or- 

 nithologist ; be describi i bis birds from observation of their habits, in a state 



