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fishes have been iconographically displayed by Pennant and Donovan, and re- 
cently, in a style of surpassing excellence, by Yarrell, we have, at present, no il¬ 
lustrated publication on the British Mammalia at all comparable, in extent and 
comprehensiveness of design, or in correctness of execution, with them. The 
British Zoology , of Pennant, contains indifferently drawn figures of only seven¬ 
teen species of animals belonging to this Class : the History of Quadrupeds , by 
Bewick, not more than thirty-four species. Of the shewy and expensive History 
of British Quadrupeds , by Donovan,—the only monograph on the subject with 
which we are acquainted,—justice forbids us to speak in any other terms than 
those of unqualified reprobation and contempt. Contemplated either as a work of 
Science or of Art, it is alike disgraceful to its author, and unworthy of the age 
and of the country on which it has been obtruded. Under these circumstances, 
we hail, with no ordinary feelings of gratification, the appearance of the first two 
Parts of the History of British Quadrupeds , some time since announced by 
Mr. Bell. Our expectations, highly as they have been excited by a knowledge of 
the character, talents, and opportunities of the author, even a cursory inspection 
of the commencement of his work has completely satisfied. It is quite worthy 
to occupy the same shelf, in the zoological library, as Yarrell’s British Fishes : a 
more eloquent eulogium than this, we are unable to pronounce. If the illustrated 
works on British Birds, Reptiles and Amphibia, Crustacea, and Zoophytes, re¬ 
cently announced for publication, correspond as closely in correctness and beauty 
of execution, as is contemplated in form and style, with the two productions 
already before us, a new and most auspicious era will have dawned upon the 
hitherto obscure and entangled paths of British Zoography. 
Parts 1 and 2 of Mr. Bell’s work exhibit a description of the genera and spe¬ 
cies belonging to the Vespertilionidce and Bhinolophidee , of the Order Cheirop¬ 
tera, and the Hedge-hog and the Mole, respectively arranged under the Erina- 
ceadce and Talpidce , of the Order Insectivora. The notices of the internal struc¬ 
ture, of the generic and specific characters, and the habits and economy, of the 
various animals are singularly accurate and luminous, frequently original, and 
always interesting. The figures of the bats are, moreover, without one solitary 
exception, uncommonly spirited and characteristic : and those of the hedge-hog and 
the mole, in particular, so powerfully executed that they would make our old 
favorite Bewick, were he allowed to behold them, “ start from the dreamless 
slumbers of the grave.” If the volume be completed in the spirit, and with the 
zeal and talent, which the opening parts display, it will prove to the student of 
zoology in general, and more especially to the British naturalist, a most instructive 
and delightful work. 
Until the appearance of Dr. Fleming’s valuable History of British Animals , 
six species only of the Bat-Family were recognized by systematic writers, as na¬ 
tives of the British islands. To this scanty catalogue, a seventh species, the 
