REVIEWS — THE DANCE OF DEATH. 211 



in Madagascar is of Malay origin. The prevailing cast of features 

 may be judged of from the numerous photographs of individuals of 

 various ranks and of both sexes. It would be easy to extract largely 

 from this interesting volume in relation to scenery, manners, arts, 

 the court and royal family, and more especially the interesting prince 

 who is heir to the throne, as well as the particulars given respecting 

 the state of the Christian converts, and the dreadful persecution they 

 liave endured. Our author's visit to South Africa in the interval of 

 two of his Madagascar trips would also furnish matter deserving of 

 notice, but we refer our readers to the volume itself, which will well 

 reward perusal, and will be found as pleasing as it is instructive, so 

 that few who open it will leave it without a complete perusal. 



W. H. 



MolheirCs Dance of Death, exhibited in elegant Engravings on Wood, 

 with a dissertation on the several representations of that subject. 

 By Francis Douce, Esq., F.A-S. 



Holbein^s Bible Cuts, consisting of ninety illustrations on Wood, 

 with introduction. By Thomas Frognall Dibdin. London : Henry 

 G. Bohn, 1858. 



The lists of donations to tbe Library of the Canadian Institute 

 have repeatedly recorded the liberal gifts of Mr. Henry G. Bohn, of 

 London; and from the last of these contributions we select the 

 above volume as a curious and interesting revival of ancient art, which 

 forms one of the series of his Illustrated Library. 



Holbein's Bible cuts restore to our eyes the Bible lessons of an 

 elder and greatly simpler age of larger and less critical faith. To 

 such these illustrations of the sacred Scriptures were full of earnest 

 truthfulness, while to us they frequently verge on caricature. The 

 anachronisms in architecture, costume, furniture, &c,j are often amus- 

 ing enough ; while the fearlesness with which the old artists grapple 

 with the most unmanageable and recondite them^es, furnishes singular 

 illustration of the mental culture and the moral faith of the age, in 

 which, and for which, such works of art were produced. We find 

 such subjects as the following, handled with boldness, and wrought 

 out ill every minute detail : 



^' God appeareth to Moses in a burning bush." 



