500 Works on Natural History. 



6. Magasin de Zoologie. Par E. F. Guerin. 8vo, in parts. 

 Paris. 



We have here strung together a few of the periodical works 

 at present in course of publication in France ; with some of 

 which, at least, the majority of our readers will possibly be 

 unacquainted, and which serve to indicate the strong feeling 

 in favour of zoological pursuits at present existing amongst 

 our neighbours on the other side of the Channel. We are not 

 of those who would decry the productions or the state of 

 science in our own country; but a few remarks, by way of in- 

 stituting an enquiry into the comparative progress recently 

 made in both countries, ought not to be without good effects, 

 if it be shown that our neighbours are stealing ahead of us. 

 It is true, they have no Linnaean Society (at least, the society 

 so called appears to have fallen to the ground), no Zoological 

 Society, no Ornithological Society. They have, however, the 

 Jardin des Plantes, where are combined in one locality the 

 zoological and horticultural gardens, and the national museum, 

 of our own country, and where gratuitous admission cannot but 

 extend a much wider desire for a knowledge of the objects ob- 

 erved in such establishments, than is diffused by exhibitions to 

 which the public at large have not access. The Transactions of 

 our societies are, however, proof of the advantage of these asso- 

 ciations ; and it is not too much to say, that in no country, 

 and at no period, have there been more valuable materials 

 published than are to be found in the recent volumes of the 

 societies above mentioned, in conjunction with the Transactions 

 of the Royal Society. It is true that the French have their 

 Memoircs de Museum *, by way of set-off, and which is a 

 very valuable series of memoirs; but the number of contribu- 

 tors is so few, that the majority of French writers seek else- 

 where for the means of publishing their researches. In our 

 own country, on the contrary, there are so many " Transac- 

 tions " and periodical journals of a general nature constantly 

 open to the writer, that, were he ever so voluminous, there is 

 no necessity for him to embark in separate publications. In 

 France, therefore, the cause for numerous and distinct publi- 

 cations is evident; and, whether we consider them in the light 

 of " entertaining " or scientific works, it is certain that their 

 number far exceeds that of similar works in our own country. 



In traversing the streets of Paris a short time ago, we 

 were greatly surprised at the number of editions of the 



* Why have we no memoirs of our British Museum, in which ought to 

 be described its valuable materials, instead of their being partially served up 

 in works which confer no honour upon such an establishment ? 



