Bibliographical Notice. 383 



cimens, in the dorsal fin 110-112 rays, in the anal fin 78-80, 

 in the caudal fin 16-18. The entire body of the fish is rather 

 closely strewn with small protuberances, which, on the head, 

 stand without perceptible order, but on the greater part of the 

 body, on the interspinous part of the dorsal and anal fins and 

 on the base of the caudal fin are arranged in longitudinal 

 rows. These protuberances are almost round, about O'l millim. 

 in diameter, almost flat at the toj), and armed with a few very 

 small and short spines ; only along the exti-eme edge of the 

 interspinous part of the dorsal and anal fins and on the base 

 of the caudal fin these protuberances, are more projecting, 

 almost semiglobular, equipped with more numerous and longer 

 spines. The mouth is small, delicately formed, both jaws 

 well armed with pointed, needle-shaped teeth. The eyes are 

 round, very projecting, with a broad white ring of sclerotica 

 visible around the iris. Between the right eye and the dorsal 

 fin there is a semiluniform depression, where the body is so 

 thin that it easily breaks to pieces or separates itself from the 

 dorsal fin when incautiously manipulated. In that case, of 

 course, a part of the opposite eye is seen through the hole, 

 and, to a superficial examination, the extraordinary appearance 

 is presented of a flounder having two eyes and a half. 



BIBLIOGEAPHICAL NOTICE. 



The Birds of South Africa. A Descriptive Catalogue of all the hnown 

 Species occurring south of the 28th Parallel of South Latitude. 

 By Edgar Leopold Latard, E.Z.S. &c. Cape Town; 1867. 

 (London : Longmans.) 8vo, pp. 382. 

 " Contributors cannot be criticised :" this is the principle on which 

 a good many publications are conducted ; and in pohtics or in general 

 literature it may answer well enough. Naturalists, however, are 

 exempt from any such consideration. They may. nay they are 

 bound to say what they think of the labours of their feUows. 

 Hence, in speaking of Mr. Layard's recent wo .-k, we dismiss from 

 our thoughts the fact that he has been, and we hope wiU again be, 

 one of the contributors to this Journal. The Ceylon ornithologist 

 whose graphic pen enlivened our pages fifteen years ago, and more, 

 must stand at our bar and listen to our summing-up w:thout being 

 able to call the court as a witness to his character. Indeed he has 

 entirely changed his mode of fife since then — of necessity, it need 

 scarcely be said (for no man in his senses would do so wilHngly) : 

 be has abandoned the jungle and the forest for tl-e museum and the 

 library. In this new sphere he is certainly not yet so successfid ; 

 but 7ion cuivis contingit. A droutby ' Descriptive Catalogue ' 

 affords but httle scope for that kind of talent which distinguished 

 his former writings. It must be judged by other rules. 



