History of British Birds, fyc. 



ttS 



Bibliographical Notices. 



A History of British Birds. By William Yarrell, F. L. S., 

 Secretary to the Zoological Society. Illustrated by a Wood-cut 

 of each Species, and numerous Vignettes. London, Van Voorst, 

 1837- 8vo. Nos. I. II. 



We merely announce the appearance of these numbers as the com- 

 mencement of another department of a valuable series of works de- 

 voted to the Natural History of the British islands, and bringing 

 down our information to the latest date. When the work has reach- 

 ed its completion, we shall endeavour fully to review its contents. 

 The present numbers are published nearly in the same beautiful style 

 of workmanship with their author's Fishes and Mr Bell's Quadrupeds. 

 The descriptions are concise and faithful, and contain all that is at 

 present known of the birds. The execution of the wood cutting is 

 in general beautiful ; but we do not like the drawing of many of the 

 birds. Some of the figures are stiff and not artist-like ; as examples 

 we may mention those of the Neophron and white-tailed eagle, and 

 as a contrast we would refer to the finely wrought figure of the jer* 

 falcon. 



The Birds of Australia and the adjacent Islands. By John Gould, 



F. L. S. Part I. Folio. 1837- 

 Icones Avium, or Figures and Descriptions of New and interesting 



Birds from various parts of the Globe. By John Gould, F. L. S. 



Forming a Supplement to his former works. Part I. Folio. 1837- 



The two works of which we have now given the titles have been 

 sent to us by their indefatigable author. If carried through in 

 their present manner, they will be invaluable to the ornithologist ; 

 and from the materials which Mr Gould can call to his assistance, 

 and the talents as an artist possessed by his lady, we could not wish 

 the subjects to have been placed under a better charge. The 

 birds of Europe being now completed, ample time can be devoted 

 to these additional undertakings. 



The first work contains figures and concise descriptions of ten 

 birds from Australia, — Malurus Lambert ii and elegans, the latter 

 a closely allied but distinct species ; Calodera maculata ; Amadina 

 rujicauda ; Nanodes undidatus ; Nt/mphicus Novaz-Hollandice ; Nes- 

 tor productus ; Hemipodius mclanogastcr ; Leptorhj/uchus pectoral's, 

 a curious bird intermediate in form between Himantopus and th§ 



vol. ii. no. 10. a a 



