Notices of New Books. 6949 



American isthmus. And again we have some very interesting and 

 well-written notes on the birds of the West Indian island, St. Croix, 

 by the brothers Messrs. A. and E. Newton, both well known and 

 esteemed by the * Zoologist,' and both of whom have at different 

 periods visited the island they describe. 



These are some of the principal contents of the volume, giving an 

 insight into the Fauna of other countries, but they are interspersed with 

 many another paper on kindred subjects, among which we hailed with 

 delight contributions from the well-known pens of Mr. Eyton and Mr. 

 Knox, and the not less valued pencils of Mr. Hewitson and Mr. Wolf, 

 while the short account (with which each number concludes) of recent 

 ornithological publications, abroad as well as at home, leaves nothing 

 to be desired on this head, and amply fulfils the promise of the pre- 

 face to " keep its readers acquainted with the progress of ornitho- 

 logical science in all parts of the globe." 



There is yet another very able article which we cannot pass over, 

 viz., a " Review of Mr. Bree's Birds of Europe not observed in the 

 British Isles." The reviewer begins his task in a business-like manner, 

 and brings considerable ability and general ornithological knowledge 

 of evidently a very high order to bear; but though we admire his 

 masterly handling of his subject, and agree with him in the main, we 

 could have wished a little less severity, and a little more deference to 

 the opinions of others, than such dogmatic assertions and sweeping 

 denunciations imply, more especially when the reviewer bears witness 

 to much excellence in the book, and sums up several pages of severe 

 censure by declaring that Mr. Bree deserves " a very high degree of 

 praise." 



We have now touched upon the general contents of the first volume 

 of the ' Ibis,' and we trust we have sufficiently pointed out its sweets 

 to tempt those of our readers who have not already done so to taste 

 and try for themselves. It is not our intention to follow the writers 

 through their several articles, which would be to take an ornithological 

 tour over the four quarters of the globe ; neither where so many are 

 deserving of praise would we particularize those papers chiefly worthy 

 of merit, or institute comparisons which are generally odious ; one 

 exception, however, we must make, which can provoke no jealousy, 

 when we specify the two very able articles of our highly valued, and 

 now deeply lamented, correspondent, the late Mr. WoUey : his untimely 

 death, for he was cut off" in the very flower of his age, must have 

 excited the bitter regret of all true naturalists, even if they did not 

 enjoy his personal friendship ; for who that claims to have any sympathy 



