OUTLINES OF PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 165 
the chapter of information respecting botanical travellers, which communi- 
cates a series of most important particulars concerning M. Schimper’s Abys- 
sinian journey. There are three “ bibliographical notices” in this number of 
the Annals, and then come the “ proceedings of learned societies.” At the 
‘ geological,’ Mr. Owen read a description of Viscount Cole’s specimen of Ple- 
siosaurus macrocephalus : at the Edinburgh ‘royal,’ Sir Charles Bell read a 
comparison of the nerves of the spine with those of the encephalon, and Dr. 
Macdonald made some verbal observations on the osseous structure of fishes * 
at the Irish Academy a paper by Mr. Thompson was read on the Irish hare 
and its peculiarities; and at the “zoological,” a short communication upon 
Trogon resplendens, the long-tailed trogon, was made by the Prince of Musig- 
nano; a drawing of a new species of Tetrapturus was exhibited by Mr- 
Gray, who proposed the herschelii for its specific name; Mr. Martin charac- 
terized a new bat, the Rhinolophus /anderi, and produced a specimen ; he also 
communicated a descriptive notice on a new species of hedgehog, and pro- 
posed Erinaceus concolor for its distinctive appellation ; the characters of 
Macropus bennetti, were pointed out by Mr. Waterhouse, and those also of 
Mus subspinosus, a new species of Mouse: Mr. Gray described a very singu- 
lar form among the Caprimulgidze or goatsuckers, for which he selected the 
term Amblypterus to be the generic designation ; and, by the same naturalist, 
_ the characters of Ibis strictipennis, Platalea regia and P. flavipes, were briefiy 
enumerated : here the substance of all these excellent contributions to natu- 
ral history are given succinctly in descriptive outlines. For miscellanies are 
anote on Dresing’s helminthology, Mr. Smith’s remarks on the nest and 
eggs of the water-rail, Mr. Gray on the walking of the seal, and a notice of 
Corda’s anatomy of Hydra fusca, the brown fresh-water polypus: then, as 
usual, the Septembrian Annals close with meteorological observations and 
tables. 
The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science ; 
conducted by Sir David Brewster, F.R.S. Richard Taylor, F.G.S. and 
Richard Phillips, F.R.S. 8vo, London, 1838. : 
Juxy, Supplementary No.—This has, for the first article, Professor Forbes’ 
researches on Heat, in a second series; and, in this, he treats on the use of 
the thermo-multiplier; the polarization of heat by tourmaline; the laws of 
the polarization of heat by refraction, and by reflection ; and on the circular 
polarization of heat. Professor Johnston, in prosecuting his investigation 
of the composition of certain mineral substances of organic origin, furnishes 
an analytical exposition of the Retin Asphalt, its resin and the salts of 
retinic acid—the retinates of silver, lead, and lime. As proceedings of the 
Geological Society, you have Mr. Austen’s paper on the geology of the 
south-east coast of Devonshire; Mr. Weaver’s, on the geological relations of 
North Devon; Dr. Bell's geological notes on Mazunderan; Mr. Burr’s on 
the geology of the line of the proposed Birmingham and Gloucester Rail- 
way; Mr. Morris’ on the coast section from White-cliff Lodge, near Rams- 
gate, to the cliffs in Pegwell Bay; Sir J. Herschel’s on the theory of volcanic 
phenomena ; Mr. Bollaert’s on the insulated masses of silver found in the 
