OUTLINES OF PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 345 



The Magazine of Natuial History, and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, 

 Geology, and Meteorology ; conducted by Edward Charlesworth, F.G.S. 

 8vo, London, 1838. 



While this excellent Magazine proceeded under the management of its 

 original and enterprising Editor, it contributed essentially towards exciting 

 an interest in the pursuits connected with the investigation of natural ob- 

 jects. In the hands of its present zealous and enlightened conductor, the 

 Journal has well maintained its former high character in all respects ; and, 

 in many, it deservedly enjoys an increase of reputation arising from improve- 

 ments in the exercise of its influences and their usefulness. With the 

 opening of the year 1838, a new series of the Magazine was commenced, 

 under the new editor's superintendence; and, in confirmation of our estimate 

 of his labours and success, it is merely necessary to refer to the numerous 

 valuable and judiciously diversified articles whereof the first volume is com- 

 posed. This periodical is intended to form a channel for making known the 

 discoveries and observations of those who are engaged in the study of natural 

 history in any of its departments ; and, with a scope so extensive and an aim 

 so commendable, it evidently possesses strong claims for regard and encou- 

 ragement from all who delight in cultivating the most interesting of the 

 sciences. We introduce it. in sketches of the current volume, to our friends 

 of The Analyst, beginning with 



No. XIII., January, 1838 — In an English version of M. Adolphe Brong- 

 niart's curious and admirable reflections on the nature of the vegetables 

 which have covered the surface of the earth, at the different periods of its 

 formation. This article evinces much originality, both of observation and 

 reflection : but the first sentence states, rather comically, that curiosity is one 

 of the most distinctive faculties of the human mind. 2. Dr. Weissenborn 

 gives the first part of an essay on the influence of man in modifying the zo- 

 ological features of the globe, with statistical accounts respecting a few of 

 the more important species : he concludes that there is no species whose na- 

 tural relations have not been materially affected by human influence. 3. 

 Mr Thompson's notes upon the natural history of a portion of the south- 

 west of Scotland, exhibit sketches of the Merops apiaster, or bee-eater, the 

 Larus islandicus, or Iceland Gull, the Leptocephalus Morrisii, or Anglesea 

 Morris, the Ianthina communis, or purple ocean-shell, and the Nemertes bor- 

 lasii, or sea long-worm, which sometimes grows to twelve feet in length. 4. 

 Dr. Clarke furnishes a sketch and description of a species of Argentine which 

 he found upon the shore of the Firth of Forth : this highly-elegant little fish 

 was found entangled in some masses of sea-weed left by the retiring tide, and 

 this was its fourth occurrence upon the British coasts. 5. Mr. Westwood's 

 communication on the Coptosoma, an anomalous group of hymenopterous in- 

 sects, is illustrated with figures, chiefly of the upper wings, wherein the 

 anomaly consists. 6. As a contribution to South African zoology, Dr. Smith 

 characterizes eight species of the Cordylus, a saurian reptile, and these are — 

 C. griseus, C. polyronus, C. nebulosus, Hemicordylus capensis, Pseudocordylus 

 montanus, P. fasciatus, P. melanotus, P. algoensis, and P. subviridis. 7. 

 An extremely valuable article on the generic characters of cartilaginous 



VOL. VIII., NO. XXIV. 44 



