254 Analytical Notices of Books. 



between the extremities of the wings 12*733. It is chiefly remark- 

 able inasmuch as its ears are incumbent on the face, an arrange- 

 ment also met with in the Nvctinomi and Mohssi, to which it 

 approaches also in other respects. In his admeasurement it will 

 have been remarked that M. I. St. Hilaire refers to the length of 

 the fore-arm, which he justly considers as preferable to that of 

 the ears, as not being liable like the latter to variations from dry- 

 ing. In this he had however been anticipated by Spix, whose 

 dimensions extend also to several other parts, the relative propor- 

 tions of which cannot fail to be higlily serviceable in the discri- 

 mination of species. 



The '' Remarks on certain Sea Fish, and on their Geographi- 

 cal distribution, by MM. Quoy and Gaimard," may be regarded 

 as consisting of two principal portions. In the first the authors 

 undertake to combat several vulgarly received opinions relative to 

 the Shark (Squalus CarchariasJ^a. fish which they found to inhabit 

 all the seas traversed in the course of their voyage. Thus it is 

 erroneous to conceive that it is able to throw itself above the 

 surface of the ocean to seize its prey, since the organization of 

 its jaws and oesophagus prevents it from taking its food except 

 while lying on its side or on its back. In these positions its mus- 

 cular powers are quite insufficient to raise the considerable mass 

 of fluid which presses not only on its body, but also on its im- 

 mense pectoral fins ; and this view of the subject is also confirmed 

 by direct experiment, the most hungry Shark never having at- 

 tempted to seize a piece of flesh presented to its notice at six 

 inches above the surface. Neither will the authors allow it to be true 

 that the Shark is able to bite off" the leg of a man ; against this 

 the form and direction of the teeth militate strongly ; and those 

 instances in which the scattered members have been subsequently 

 found, are regarded as resulting from their having been torn 

 asunder by several of these animals pulling in contrary directions. 

 In the second part, which relates more particularly to the geo- 

 graphical distribution of fishes, it is laid down as a general rule 

 that, near the Equator, the species, ir. common with those of birds 

 and insects, are of the most brilliant and vivid colours, which 

 gradually disappear on proceeding towards the Poles; and this 



