Bibliographical Notices. 247 



Cambridge Philosophical Society*, and subsequently in this Maga- 

 zine, Mr. Alfred Newton recorded the discovery of the remains of 

 two individuals of Emys lutaria at Wretham in Norfolk (Annals, 

 Sept. 1862, p. 224), in a peat-bog, from which it may be concluded, 

 fairly enough, that this species, at an epoch by no means very remote, 

 inhabited England. Mr. Brown, in consequence, is inclined to think 

 that his "specimen may, after all, be truly indigenous," suggesting 

 that it " may be one of the last surviving, if not the last survivor, of 

 the British Chelonians." We sincerely hope that some further traces 

 of the species may be found in the valley of the Trent, to the 

 exploration of which we are glad to hear Mr. Brown is especially 

 devoting himself, sO as to justify the suspicions we have just 

 mentioned. 



The ichthyology of the district presents nothing out of the com- 

 mon way, unless we mention the complete naturalization of the 

 Cyprinus auratus, which is stated to thrive and breed abundantly 

 " in waters at Derby connected with some of the manufactory steam- 

 engines," the increased temperature of which, combined with the 

 grease that escapes from the machinery, furnish the necessary re- 

 quirements of food and warmth. 



Very long lists of the lower animals and of the plants make up 

 the chief bulk of the volume. In many orders of the former, and in 

 almost all of the latter, they are merely nominal, with the addition 

 of the localities (of which an index is meritoriously added) where the 

 species occur. In other cases some judicious remarks are inter- 

 spersed, showing Mr. Brown's powers of acute observation. These 

 we must leave, only mentioning here the admirable paper in the 

 Appendix, by that gentleman, on the genus Acentropus. The nine 

 plates which illustrate the work are nicely executed, Mr. Wolf's 

 bird and Mr. Ford's reptile being of course entitled to special atten- 

 tion. And, to return to the subject with which we commenced this 

 article, we may mention that Sir Oswald gives (page 7) a satisfactory 

 reason for the excellence of Burton ale. 



Homes without Hands ; being an Account of the Habitations con- 

 structed by various Animals, classed according to their principles 

 of Construction. By the Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A., F.L.S. 

 London : Longman & Co. (In course of publication.) 



Under the above-mentioned title that indefatigable compiler, the 

 Rev. J. G. Wood, is issuing a work of which we are bound to say 

 that the two Parts we have seen will not increase his credit as a 

 naturalist. We do not like hazarding such an assertion without 

 adducing something in support of our statement. What, then, are 

 we to think of a man who speaks (part 2. p. 63) of a bird of the 

 genus Pm^ww* as "allied" to the Puffin of English ornithology, the 

 Alca arctica of Linneeus ? While looking over Mr. Wood's lucubra- 



* On the Zoology of Ancient Europe. London & Cambridge, 1862 

 (Macmillan). 



