Utet'ary Notices. 81 



The Young Lady's Book: a Manual of el^ant Recreations, Exercises, 

 and Pursuits, London. 12mo. 



We notice this work because it contains some well-written and beautifully 

 illustrated introductions to mineralogy, conchology, entomology, botany, 

 and ornithology. From such introductions in such a book, we anticipate a 

 powerful stimulus to the study of natural history among that sex and class 

 for whom such studies ai'e in a particular manner adapted. It is not in our 

 line to notice the other parts of the work, farther than to state that they 

 appear equally well executed, and that the engravings are most exquisite, 

 both in design and in execution. If we were to find any fault, it would 

 be with the fanciful initial letters to the chapters, which are not at all so 

 clear and obvious as they ought to be. The silk binding and lace pap» 

 are beyond our praise. Every mother who has young daughters, and can 

 spare a guinea, will not be sony for having exchanged it for a copy of The 

 Young Lady's Book. 



The Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society delineated ; being 

 Descriptions and Figures in Illustration of the Natural History of the 

 living Animals in the Society's Collection. In Monthly Parts, 2^. Qd. 

 each. Nos. I. to III. have appeared. 



" At the request of the Council of the Zoological Society, the secretary, 

 N. A. Vigors, Esq., has in the kindest manner consented to charge himself 

 with the task of superintending the execution of every department of the 

 work. The descriptions and anecdotes in illustration of the natural 

 history of the animals represented will be furnished by E. T. Bennett, Esq., 

 the vice-secretary. The whole of the drawings will be made by Mr. William 

 Harvey, who has already given so many proofs of his talent in this depart- 

 ment of his art ; and the engravers, Messrs. Branston and Wright, will 

 exert their utmost skill to do justice to the efforts of his pencil. The num- 

 ber of animals figured in each will vary in some degree with the interest of 

 the subjects, and the extent of the letter-press required for their illustration ; 

 the average however will be about twelve. In addition to these cuts, most 

 of the articles will be followed by appropriate vignettes, which will in many 

 instances be devoted to the scenery of the gardens ; but will more fre- 

 quently be drawn from the taste and imagination of the artist." 



From the above extract our readers will infer that this work is of the 

 highest authority, and we can assure them that the engravings have never 

 been surpassed in beauty ; if they have ever been equalled, it is in the 

 Tower Menagerie (Vol. II. p. 50.), and in the The Young Lady's Book. 

 The compositions presented as vignettes are exquisite in their kind, and 

 even the letter-press is very superior. 



Art. II. Literary Notices, 



On the 21st of January will be published, dedicated, by permission, to the 

 Honourable Court of Directors of the East India Company, the first num- 

 ber, in folio, with ten coloured plates, of Illustrations of Indian Zoology y 

 consisting of coloured figures of Indian animals, unknown or not yet pub- 

 lished; from the collection of Major-General Hardwicke, F.R.S. and L.S. 

 M.R.A.S. M.R.LA. &c., selected and arranged by S. E. Gray, Esq. F.G.S. 

 F.R.S.L. 



A Life of our great Naturalist Ray is in preparation, by Mr, G. W. John- 

 son, of Great Totham, Essex. 



Vol. vi. of Curtis' s^n^A Entomology will be ready in the course of the 

 month. 



Vol. III. —No.il. ~ g 



