36 
Reviews and Extracts. 
considered the sun to be the only source of tlie variation of temperature, except 
some small influence which Hippocrates attributed to the winds of Greece, and 
some of the neighbouring- countries, where a few local observations had been made. 
But as nations became civilized and enlightened, travelers were despatched to 
every part of the habitable globe, and observations have been successfully made, 
not only upon every-thing that afiected science in general, but particularly upon 
atmospheric temperature; and it is from a comparison of these patient and labo- 
rious investigations, that the science of Climatology, has kept pace with every 
other science. 
3. — Review of the Gardens axd Menagerie of the Zoological 
Society, in 2 vols. 8vo. with Descriptions and Figures ot" Liraig 
Animals in the Society's possession. 
These Tolumes are the valuable results of the united exertions of a Society, which 
has, (considering the time it has been established,) by far outstripped all others 
in popularity and prosperity. No institution perhaps, has done so much in so 
small a space of time, to improve the taste in this branch of Natural History, as 
the Zoological Society. The care and trouble of performing this work has been 
confided to Mr. Eennett, who has executed it in a manner highly to be approved 
of — highly we say, because he has avoided technical phrases wherever it was pos- 
sible to convey the true meaning without them : this we think ought to be the aim 
of all writers in every branch of Natural History, for there are but comparatively 
few persons who are conversant in more than one branch of science, but many 
anxiously striving to gain a general knowledge of all, though to obtain this has 
been hitherto almost impracticable. We hope however, a brighter day isdawnino- 
upon us, and that works merely written to shew the learning of the author, are 
beginning to give way to such as are plain and intelligible to the general reader. 
We shall speak more at large on this work in a future Number, and in the mean 
while present our readers with the following extract. — 
THE CHINCHILLA. {Chinchilla Lanigera) 
"The peculiar softness and beauty of the fur of the Chinchilla has been so 
long, so ornamentally, and so comfortably, known to our fair country-women," 
(says Mr. Bennett) "that it would be paying their taste and curiosity a sorry 
