Notices of New Books. 3817 



The February number contains the following papers : — 



* Descriptions of species belonging to the genera Pterocyclos and 

 Cyclostoma from Ceylon and West Australia.' By W. H. Benson, 

 Esq. 



f On the Animal of Chamostrea albida.' By Albany Hancock, Esq. 



1 Supplement to a Catalogue of British Spiders, including Remarks 

 on their Structure, Functions, CEconomy and Systematic Arrange- 

 ment.' By John Blackwall, F.L.S. 



6 Observations on the Anatomy of Actinia.' By T. Spencer Cob- 

 bold, M.D., Vice-President of the Physiological Society, Edinburgh. 



1 On the Division of Ctenobranchous Gasteropodous Mollusca 

 into larger Groups and Families.' By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., F.R.S., 

 V.P.Z.S., &c. 



Bibliographical Notice. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



Note by M. Dumeril on the s Classification of Serpents,' translated 

 from the ' Comptes Rendus.' 



Note by M. Ulex on the c Influence of Coal-gas on Vegetation,' 

 translated from the ' Journal of Practical Chemistry.' 



Note on the ' Habits of the Wigeon,' by Matthew Moggridge, Esq. 

 Mr. M. says that last summer he saw a pair of old wigeons with five 

 young ones swimming on the lower lake at Penllegare. 



Note by M. Garreau on the ' Relation between the Oxygen con- 

 sumed by the Spadix of Arum Italicum and the heat produced by it/ 

 translated from the * Annales des Sciences Naturelles.' 



1 Molluscorum Britannica Synopsis. A Synopsis of the Mollusca 

 of Great Britain, arranged according to their Natural Affini- 

 ties and Anatomical Structure.'' By William Elford Leach, 

 M.D., &c. London : Van Voorst. 1852. 



Dr. Leach was an intellectual giant in Zoology. There is scarcely 

 a branch of the science which he did not study, and certainly there is 

 none which he studied that his genius did not illuminate. The post- 

 humous publication of the volume before us is a just tribute to his 

 memory ; although there seems reason to regret its not having been 

 previously brought to light: however, we are too glad to welcome any- 

 thing from the pen of Dr. Leach, to quarrel with the time of its ap- 

 pearance, and what would once have been a valuable contribution to 

 science, is still an acceptable memorial of its author's genius. 



XT. 



