124 Notices of Boohs. [January, 
to comprise the Felidae, Canidae, Viverridae, Mustelidae, and 
Ursidae. But, observing this, we cannot help referring to a 
passage at the conclusion of the volume on the Invertebrata, in 
which the author observes — “ The subdivisions of inserts are by 
some looked upon as deserving of a higher than ordinal rank ; 
but as the nature of a group depends on the nature of the range 
of structure in the forms comprehended therein, and not on the 
number of included individuals, we cannot but see that in each 
order of inseCIs the component species are constructed so much 
on one type as to forbid us from making of them more than 
ordinal groups.” Accepting the principle thus laid down for 
determining the value of groups, we submit that in the so-called 
order Coleoptera there are differences of type more important 
than such as are among Mammalia allowed to separate the order 
Pinnepedia from Carnivora. 
In the remarks on the migration of birds we notice an over- 
sight. It is stated that the “ swallows, swifts, nightingales, and 
warblers visit this country about the middle of April, breed here, 
and then return to their winter quarters about the first week of 
Odlober.” This is decidedly incorreCt as far as the swift is con- 
cerned, which leaves us in August. 
In the chapter on reptiles the common viper is described as 
recognisable by its dark gieen colour. We have had very ex- 
tensive opportunities for observing this species, which, thanks 
to the destruction of its enemy, the hedgehog, is now on the in- 
crease in Britain, and have always found the males of an ashy 
or silvery grey, and the females copper-coloured, whence the 
popular German name “ Kupferschlange.” Neither can we en- 
dorse the opinion that “ the poison of snake-bites is rapidly fatal, 
death taking place within an hour in general.” This is doubtless 
true as regards the cobra, but not of the bites of poisonous 
snakes in general. 
The author’s description of the structural characters, both of 
the Vertebrata in general and of the several classes, is perhaps 
all that could be expeCted in so brief a compass. We have 
great pleasure in noticing that in this and in its companion 
volume the copious index is made to serve, at the same time, as 
a glossary of technical terms — a most valuable feature. 
A Treatise on the Pathology of the Urine, including a Complete 
Guide to its Analysis. By J. L. W. Thudichum, M.D. 
Second Edition. London : J. and A. Churchill. 1877. 
Although this is the second edition of Dr. Thudichum’s well- 
known treatise, yet the long interval which has elapsed since the 
publication of the first edition in 1858 and the present one, and 
the consequent necessity of recording the mass of work which 
