464 
ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL LITERATURE. 
an idea of the outlines of Natural History, for which purpose it will always be 
useful, whether or not the student intends further to prosecute his investigations. 
For a knowledge of species, reference to Linn^us’s System is of no avail—in 
fact it has long ceased to be valuable for the minuticB of the science.—We pre¬ 
sume every one is acquainted with Blumenbach’s Handhiich der Naturgeschichte 
(Manual of Natural History), and we shall therefore pass it over without com¬ 
ment. In 1800 the late indefatigable Dr. Shaw commenced his General Zoo¬ 
logy^ which, unfortunately, he did not live to complete. The continuation, un¬ 
dertaken by Mr. Stephens, is perhaps equal in merit to the previous volumes ; 
but the circumstance of Dr. Shaw having embraced the system |of Linn^us, 
while his successor adopted that of V igors, is not a little calculated to detract 
from the merits of the publication. Notwithstanding the defects of this compi¬ 
lation, it still remains a valuable work, the descriptions—though dry and con¬ 
cise—and engravings being sufficiently accurate for ordinary purposes. It was 
brought to a close in 1826, in fourteen octavo vols. The Rev. W. Bingley has 
published popular works on animals which are familiar to every one. The volu¬ 
minous productions of Buffon, likewise, stand in nn need of introduction to our 
readers. On the contrary, it may be necessary to caution the student against 
being led away by the eloquence of this author; neither his “ facts ” nor his 
reasoning deserve implicit reliance. The same may be said of an equally popular 
compiler in this country, whose Animated Nature is in almost every one’s 
hands. 
We now approach an important era in Zoology, introduced by the appearance 
of Cuvier’s Regne Animal, an original and admirable work. We are no ad¬ 
mirers of the new system propounded in this work. Although its author has 
characterised a large number of genera with great accuracy, he failed in the 
attempt to establish the larger groups upon an equally sure basis as that adopted 
by Linnaeus. Consequently—notwithstanding the eminent services of Cuvier 
in Systematic Zoology—^his classification is, as a whole, far inferior to that of 
the Systema Naturce. The beginner may, nevertheless, study the Regne Ani¬ 
mal with considerable advantage. 
Dr. Fleming’s Philosophy of Zoology contains much useful and interesting mat¬ 
ter, but the wheat is mixed so inextricably with a considerable portion of chaff, 
that we shall not recommend this work. A recent volume, entitled The Observ¬ 
ation of Nature, by Robert Mudie, will be perused with interest and advan¬ 
tage, though it is, perhaps, too abstract in character either to answer the expec¬ 
tations or the wishes of its readers. Those who can afford it should add Les¬ 
son’s Illustrations de Zoologie to their libraries. It was published at Paris, in 
numbers, price 6s. 6d. each, with coloured plates. Swainson’s Zoological Illus¬ 
trations, a superb work, with coloured plates, should likewise be procured, if 
possible. 
