294 Analyses of Books. [Oer. 
December, 1821, at three, a.m. the mercury stood at 28 inches, 
a degree of depression which he believes to be almost unprece~ 
dented in this climate. 
XVII. Notice of a remarkable Instance of Fossil Orgaiie 
Remains found near Streatham, in the Isle of Ely. By Dr- 
Frederick Thackeray. 
This bone was picked up among the materials for forming the 
turnpike road in the neighbourhood of Ely. According to Dr. 
Thackeray, it ‘‘ consists of limestone with a slight impurity of 
alumina and oxide of iron: the exterior of it retains some portion 
of phosphate of lime; and (what seems very singular) a minute 
quantity of animal matter, which was manifested by its peculiar 
fetid smell on being submitted to destructive distillation.” It. 
appears that a very considerable part of the skeleton of a mam- 
moth was lately found in a gravel pit near Chatteris. 
—= —- 
The History of British Birds; the Figures engraved on Woad, 
by T’. Bewick ; and a Supplement with additional Figures. 
WE ought perhaps to apologize for not sooner congratulating 
our readers on the appearance of this edition of the ‘‘ History of 
British Birds.” Indeed, our omitting to notice it arose at first 
from an impression, that in regard to a publication of such esta- 
blished repute, any thing beyond a bare announcement was su- 
perfluous. On reconsideration, however, it has occurred to us, 
that though this view may be correct as applied to the work itself, 
the public might not be disinclined to receive some account 
of the Supplement, now for the first time appended to it. Of 
the value and extent of that Supplement, we cannot give a better 
idea than by stating that it contains no less than thirty-eight 
cuts of birds not before figured by Mr. Bewick, delineated with 
all the spirit and accuracy for which he is so highly distin-- 
guished. By this large addition, he has advanced far towards 
completing the list not only of the native, but likewise of the ac- 
cidental birds of Britain. There still remains a gap to be filled 
up ; and although we certainly could have wished that he had. 
left nothing for any other reaper in a field which he has so suc- 
cessfully cultivated, we are too well satisfied with what he has 
done to allow any feeling of disappointment to obtrude itself. 
The term “ British Birds” is in one respect very comprehen- 
sive, including three great divisions :—Ist, Those birds which 
breed and remain with us all the year; 2dly, Those which only 
remain a certain time in obedience to the great and mysterious 
law of migration; 3dly, Those which alight or are driven on our 
shores by accident, or inclemency of weatlier. Of these, the 
first is obviously the one to which the distinction of British 
birds properly belongs. Naturalists, however, do not confine it 
to this class alone, and Mr. Bewick has, with similar views, 
