Scientific Intelligence. 199 



of each article, much wiser than before, and desirous of knowing 

 more concerning it. The public are indebted to the author for his 

 book ; we strongly recommend it to their attention. 



9. Elementary works on astronomy. — " Elements of Astronomy," 

 by Hervey Wilbur, A. M. — " View of the Heaven," by Rev. Amos 

 Pettengill. 



The two foregoing elementary treatises on astronomy have been re- 

 cently published, being severally designed to furnish to young learners 

 an easy introduction to the instructive and delightful study of the 

 heavenly bodies. The treatise of Mr. Wilbur, who is extensively 

 and advantageously known as a popular lecturer on astronomy, is in- 

 tended more particularly as a companion to his lectures ; while that 

 of Mr. Pettengill is especially adapted to the stellarota — an in- 

 genious and very useful instrument, of which we gave some account 

 in our last number. Both treatises, however, may be advantageously 

 read by those who are entering on the study of astronomy, indepen- 

 dently of every other aid or illustration. We sincerely hope that 

 these little books may conspire with the other efforts of the same 

 gentlemen, to diffuse a more general taste for the study of astronomy, 

 particularly throughout our primary schools and academies. 



10. Catalogue of plants in the vicinity of Amherst College. — This 

 catalogue was prepared by Prof. Hitchcock, and published by the 

 Junior Class of 1829, in Amherst College, for the benefit of botanical 

 students in that institution. It embraces all the indigenous and nat- 

 uralized plants, that have been discovered within forty or fifty miles 

 of Amherst, to which have been added such as are peculiar to the 

 White Mountains and the sea coast of New England 5 so that its util- 

 ity may be shared by botanists situated in any part of the northern 

 section of the United States. Its particular design, as declared in 

 the preface, is, to facilitate the student's examination of plants, by 

 pointing him to those species, which he may expect to find in his dis- 

 trict, and whose descriptions, therefore, he may select in the Floras 

 and Manuals of American plants ; to present him with an authority 

 for each specimen, with the most important synonymes ; and, in case 

 of rare plants, to particularize the precise spot where it maybe found. 

 Exclusive of the plants peculiar to the White Mountains and the sea 

 coast, it contains five hundred and thirty one genera, and one thou- 

 sand four hundred and forty seven species, which occur within fifty 



