144 Bibliographical Notices. 
natural history, no department occupies a more important place 
than that which treats of the geographical distribution of organized 
beings. It is from considerations founded upon this that nearly all 
the questions connected with the origin of species must be decided ; 
and upon our solution of these depend, in great measure, our views 
of the philosophy of natural history. From this point of view it is 
almost impossible to overrate the importance of limited faunistie 
works, such as this of Mr. Stainton’s; and its value is the greater as 
it relates to that remarkable region which constitutes the point of 
contact of the three great continents of the Old World. 
The Fishes of Zanzibar. Acantnorreryei1, by Lieut.-Colonel R. 
Lampert Prayrarr, Her Majesty’s Political Agent and Consul at 
Zanzibar. PHaryneoenatut &c., by Atsert C. L. G. Ginrazr, 
M.A., Ph.D., M.D. 4to. London: Van Voorst. 
Sryczr Adam Smith brought the phrase into vogue, the “ division of 
labour ” has been by most persons regarded with favour ; but, some- 
how or other, naturalists were a long time before they found out the 
convenience of such an arrangement; and hence sprang a thick crop 
of controversies which had an awkward habit of developing into very 
pretty quarrels. May we hope that this contentious age has passed 
away, and that the outdoor observer, whose lamb-like virtues were 
aforetime sounded in our ears, has, once and for ever, lain down 
comfortably with the closet collector, undeterred by his leonine den- 
tition and claws. In the work now before us the compact of eternal 
friendship is signed, sealed, and delivered (to the public) by person- 
ages no less than Lieutenant-Colonel Playfair, some time Her Ma- 
jesty’s Consul and Political Resident at Zanzibar, and Dr. Albert 
Giinther of the British Museum. ‘To say that they have succeeded in 
their undertaking is almost unnecessary ; for that would of course be 
expected from the gallant Scottish gentleman who, until recently, 
superintended British interests on the East Coast of Africa, and the 
able German philosopher who presides over the “ bottle-department”’ 
of the National establishment in Great Russell Street. But we think 
a word of recognition is also due to the authorities of the Bombay 
Government, who have most liberally encouraged the present work. 
Ichthyology has never been a’ popular branch of study, and in con- 
sequence ichthyological books have seldom been lucrative under- 
takings. Few but the initiated can distinguish at sight between a 
Cyprinoid and a Salmonoid, and fewer still give themselves the trouble 
to undergo the course of scientific study which such an initiation, to 
be well founded, properly requires. Goggle eyes and scaly bodies 
of unsightly form, sometimes beset by confusing appendages, some- 
times free from them, but always immersed in a liquid more or less 
resembling the mixture which advertising wine-merchants term 
“‘Golden Sherry,” are the sole reminiscences which most persons 
carry away with them after looking over a collection of fishes in a 
museum. ‘This arises from the necessity of the case. We know not 
how to make an ichthyological cabinet attractive to the public, and 
