The Journal of the Indian Archipelago. 265 



irritation of the chloride of zinc formed at the zinc surface, excited 

 inflammation, and by thus setting up a barrier against the further 

 progress of the chemical action, cut off from the system the skin 

 acted on by the acrid salt, and allowed its separation in the form of 

 a slough. — Ibid, f 07- June, 1847. 



" The Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia" 



We ought to have noticed earlier the receipt of several 

 numbers as they appeared monthly, of the above Journal, 

 published at Singapore. 



Issuing from a remote quarter in which the cultivation of 

 science is confined to a few scattered Europeans, the ap- 

 pearance of the journal is highly creditable to all concerned, 

 and its pages as diversified as can be expected under such 

 circumstances. In the six numbers now before us, we find 

 excellent details respecting Cochin China, commerce, mineral 

 and vegetable productions, manners and customs of native 

 tribes, Geology and Natural History. 



Passing over several interesting papers in the four first 

 numbers, particularly a general view of the Dutch Posses- 

 sions, being a review of Temmink's work on that subject, and 

 a paper on the Geological Structure of Singapore, we cannot 

 avoid noticing at greater length a very excellent article on 

 Conchology, by Dr. William Traill, in which, after tracing 

 the history of the subject, and discussing the various views 

 entertained with regard to it, Dr. Traill remarks : — 



"Without at all assenting to Lamarck's theory of " Transmutation 

 of Species" it must be allowed, that the discrimination between spe- 

 cies and varieties among shells is extremely perplexing, the shades 

 of difference between one species and another often appear less than 

 between two varieties of the same species, the marks of distinction 

 are often so modified bv various causes, as difference in localitv, 



