Edinburyh New Philosophical Journal. 99 
TRANSACTIONS AND PERIODICALS. British. 
The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. Conducted by Pro" 
fessor JAMESON. January to April 1836. Edinburgh : A. & C. 
Black. (Part 2d of Vol. xx.) 8vo. 
I. Zoology. 
P. J. SELBY, Esq. " On the Quadrupeds and Birds inhabiting the county of 
Sutherland, observed there during an excursion in the summer of 1834, p. 286." 
ubntains a notice of the birds which were observed during the above-mentioned 
excursion, a similar notice of the Mammalia having been communicated in a 
preceding Number. The most worthy of remark are : the occasional occur- 
rence of the jerfalcon, (F. Islandicus,) the skin of a recently killed bird being 
procured at Keoldale. Muscicapa grisola was seen on the confines of the county, 
its most northern observed station in Scotland. Salicaria phragmites, Curruca 
cinerea, Sylvia trochilus were observed to the northern extremity of the county. 
Linaria montium takes the place which L. cannabina does in the lowlands, and is 
abundant. A bird considered to be Tetrao rupestris was shot on the Benmore 
range. Tetanus glottis was found breeding. Also Anser segetum, Mareca 
penelope and Fuligula marilla. Colymbus arcticus was frequent, breeding on the 
more retired lochs J. V. THOMSON, Deputy- Inspector of Hospitals. " Memoir 
on the star-fish of the genus Comatula, demonstrative of the Pentacrinus Eu- 
ropaeus, being the young of our indigenous species," p. 295, with a plate 
An interesting memoir, detailing some very curious information regarding the 
supposed states of the above T mentioned animal. The evidence, however, though 
good, and most probable to be hereafter proved, is more circumstantial than di- 
rect. 
II. Botany. 
Sir EDWARD FRENCH BROMHEAD, Bart. Remarks on the arrangement of 
the natural botanical families, p. 245. The author's object in the arrangement 
which he proposes is, " to bring together the greatest possible number of admitted 
affinities, and if possible in continuous succession." Dr GRAHAM, list of new 
and rare plants which have lately flowered in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, 
chiefly in the Royal Botanic Garden, p. 412 " Poinsettia. Involucrum mono- 
phyllum, androgynum, basi 5-loculare, extus appendiculatum, nectariferum ; 
flores pedicellati, nudi, masculi bifariam in singulis loculis, ordonati, monandri ; 
femiriei solitarii, germen trilobum, ovulum solitarium singulis lobis." Formed by 
Dr Graham from the Euphorbia pulcherrima of Willd. Rediscovered in Mexico 
by Mr Poinsette, and sent by him to Charleston in 1828, afterwards to Mr 
Buist of Philadelphia, whence it was brought to the Royal Botanic- Garden of Edin- 
burgh, by Mr J. Macnab in 1834. Sceptranthes " Tubus clavatus erectus; 
limbus suberectus; filamenta tubo adherentia, alternatim breviora; antherae line- 
ares, erectae prope faucem tubi subsessiles ; stigma trifidum, erectum ; germen 
capitatum." S. Drummondii, ( Zephyranthes Drummoridii, Cooperia Drummon- 
dii.) " The length of the tube, and especially the adhering filaments, seem to 
me to remove the plant from the genus Zephyranthes ; the greater shortness 
of the tube, the less flattened limb, and the stipitate germen, prevent me from 
