KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



a membrane, which is pierced in several 

 places, and communicates with several large 

 vesicles or air-bags, dispersed about the 

 cavities of the body. 



The eyes of birds are more or less convex 

 in the different tribes ; and, in general, it 

 may be observed that the sense of sight is 

 more acute in birds than in most other ani- 

 mals. Birds have no outward ear, but the 

 internal one is formed on the same general 

 plan as in quadrupeds. Birds are oviparous 

 animals, always producing eggs, from which 

 the young are afterwards excluded. The 

 first appearance of the young, as an orga- 

 nised body, begins to be visible in six hours 

 after the egg has been placed in a proper 

 degree of heat, under the parent animal. 

 The chick, or young bird, when arrived at 

 its full size, and ready for hatching, is, by 

 nature, provided with a small and hard pro- 

 tuberance at the tip of the bill, by which it 

 is enabled the more readily to break the 

 shell, and which falls off some hours after 

 its hatching. 



From the diminutive size and slender 

 conformation of birds, we might be led to 

 suppose, that the duration of their life 

 would prove but short : the reverse, how- 

 ever, is the case : their longevity far ex- 

 ceeds that of quadrupeds, and even of man 

 himself. The common cock has been known 

 to live upwards of twenty years ; a linnet, 

 fourteen ; bullfinches, twenty ; parrots are 

 said to live forty years, geese fourscore : of 

 swans, eagles, and ravens, there are various 

 reports ; some have asserted, that they lived 

 one hundred years, others double and even 

 three times- that period ; but of this there 

 are few well-attested examples. 



Here we must halt for a little week. 



EEVIEW OF BOOKS. 



Reason and Instinct Definitively Separated. 

 By Gordonius. 18mo. 



As we have ourselves gone so very fully 

 into this ever-popular inquiry, we need only 

 say of this little brochure, that it handles 

 the matter cleverly ; and that it fearlessly 

 discloses all the author's ideas on instinct 

 and reason in animals. 



The proposition that there must be a se- 

 paration between the two is well maintained ; 

 and no person can read the volume without 

 a conviction that the author has fairly 

 proved his case. He has collected, more- 

 over, many curious matters that serve to 

 throw a light on questions which have 

 hitherto been considered " doubtful ; " and 

 altogether he has claims on public attention 

 that must procure him a hearing. 



As the burden of this little book is to 

 prove what we have already proved, we wiUj 



on the present occasion, merely select a short 

 chapter to show the author's style. It is 

 headed — attention. 



The brutes have this faculty (for I believe I 

 may here properly use the word) much stronger 

 than man. To the smaller kind, it serves as a 

 protection from danger; and to the larger as a 

 help to discover its prey. The cat has it most 

 peculiarly fine ; for, though it is remarkably fond 

 of sleep, one cannot say that it is ever in that 

 state. It only dozes, and even that very lightly, 

 for it is then all attention; and, if a strange foot 

 enter, or a strange voice speak, you shall see an 

 ear turn partly back — plainly indicating that it is 

 not what we call asleep. The brutes generally, 

 indeed, rather slumber than sleep, and their at- 

 tention is easily aroused, and quickly on the 

 alert. 



This attention is usually helped by a great 

 quickness of sight and hearing. It is only by an 

 instantaneous bound, that the cat can take birds ; 

 for, though engaged in feeding, they can see any 

 ordinary advance. Where the eyes are stationary, 

 as in some insects, they are furnished with many, 

 for seeing in all directions — the common spider 

 has eight, but other insects are found with a 

 much greater number. Such aids are, however, 

 more with a view to protection ; for they are not 

 necessary adjuncts to attention, as is proved by 

 the horse, whose sight is often very indifferent. 

 When standing motionless under a cart, before a 

 house, for an hour together, it will instantly pro- 

 ceed on hearing the usual command to go on. 

 Among the brutes, there is nothing resembling our 

 " absence of mind." This is of great importance 

 to the present investigation, as it seems to prove, 

 if any proof were wanting, that they do not think. 

 If they had thought, they must have reason too, 

 but that is confined to man. 



We shall, no doubt, very frequently have 

 to take "a leaf " out of this sensible little 

 book. 



Flora Tottoniensis ; a Catalogue of the 

 Flowering Plants and Ferns growing wild 

 in the vicinity of Totnes. By .Samuel Han- 

 naford, Jun. i.u „ 



This is a very carefully-compiled Cata- 

 logue, and reflects much credit on its editor, 

 who handsomely acknowledges his obliga- 

 tions to the many zealous botanists who 

 have assisted him in exploring the neigh- 

 borhood of Totnes. 



It comprises the Flowering Plants and 

 Ferns growing wild in the neighborhood 

 of Totnes within a circuit of six miles, and 

 has been prepared with the hope that it may 

 prove of assistance to Botanists ; and by 

 having the habitats of nearly 500 Flowers 

 fixed, induce many, who are at present un- 

 acquainted with Botany and the beautiful 

 field of nature which their own country pre- 

 sents, to study so healthful and pleasing a 

 science. 



" As it is possible," says the editor, " that 

 some few plants may have been overlooked, 



