450 Bibliographical Notices. 



idea concerning L. sepium is correct^ and that it is not a distinct 

 species, but a hybrid between L. repens and L. vulgaris. Four 

 forms were raised from the seeds of L. sepium : {I) L. sepium, 

 (2) a plant closely resembling L. repens, (3 and 4) slightly 

 differing forms of L. vulgaris. 



L. repens is growing on the same bed in the garden as the 

 L. sepium from which these seeds were obtained, but L. vulgaris 

 grows in quite a different part of the garden. Similarly at 

 Bandon, I learn from Dr. Allman that L. repe?is and L. sepium 

 grow together, but L. vulgaris is not found within a mile of L. 

 sepium. 



Since the above note was written, I have received from Ban- 

 don, through the kindness of Dr. Allman, a series of specimens 

 quite connecting L. sepium and L. repens which he had gathered 

 in their native place. The result derived from cultivation is 

 thus, to a great extent, confirmed by observation of the wild 

 plants. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Catalogue of the Genera and Subgenera of Birds contained in the 

 British Museum. By G. R. Gray, F.L.S. London: 1855. 



This is one of the latest and most valuable additions to the excellent 

 series of British INIuseum Catalogues now in course of publication. 

 It is, in fact, a new edition of Mr. G. R. Gray's well-known 'List of 

 the Genera of Birds,' which has contributed so much to the reform of 

 ornithological nomenclature. Dm'ing the eleven years which have 

 passed since the issue of the last edition of this work, great progress 

 has been made in ornithology as in other branches of natural science. 

 Books, pamphlets, and periodicals in all parts of the civilized globe 

 contain the labours of naturalists vying with each other for pre- 

 cedence in establishing new genera, new species, and new arrange- 

 ments among the members of the Class Jres ; and though there has 

 been some complaint, and not without foundation, that ornithology 

 has hitherto been rather a neglected branch of natural science, it 

 would seem that the present activity, if continued, bids fair to advance 

 our knowledge of this interesting subject to at least a par with that 

 of the other classes of the animal kingdom. 



As regards however the genera of Birds, the subject of Mr. Gray's 

 work, we fear that the ornithologists of the present day are advancing 

 rather too rapidly. Mr. Gray's list of 1844 contained upwards of 

 1 1 00 distinct types which had then been raised to the dignity of 

 genera. By the present work it appears that since then the number 

 has been more than doubled — those given in the present Catalogue 

 and Appendix amounting to no less than 2400 — and we believe that 

 since its publication many others have been created to swell the 

 list. Now, considering that, according to the most recent estimate, 



