REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
165 
If report may be credited, pur authors predications for 1837 proved egregiously 
incorrect, and doubtless time will still further perfect his system and the useful¬ 
ness of his almanac in future years. 
Mr. Murphy, however, is not the only weather-wise prophet in the field, but 
he is certainly, and justly, 44 the favourite.” Lieutenant Morrison, of Chelten¬ 
ham (or 44 Zadkiel,” as he styles himself), and the author of the Howden 
Almanac have aspired to similar honours, though apparently with less success. 
Nevertheless we have no desire whatever to check inquiry into the matter, 
believing, as we do, that the only satisfactory mode of predicating the weather 
in Britain throughout the year, will be to publish a weather almanac purposely 
and solely for each district. For the present, however, all thoughts centre in 
The Weather Almanac before us, and the comparison of its statements and the 
actual state of the weather during the spring and summer months, will be 
matter of the most lively interest to hundreds and thousands of individuals in 
this fair realm. In the mean while let us wish success and long life to Patrick 
Murphy, Esq., M.N.S. 
A History of British Birds. Illustrated by a Wood-cut of each Species, and 
numerous Vignettes. By William Yarrell, F.L.S., Sec. Z.S. London: John 
Van Voorst , Paternoster-Row. Part iv. Jan. 1, 1838. 
This number contains Tengmalm’s Owl, the Shrikes, the Flycatchers, the Dipper, 
and the Thrushes.—Most of the figures are finely and faithfully executed, but we 
do not admire that of the Gray Flycatcher. • In his description of the Dipper, our 
author has the following remark:— 44 Never having seen this bird alive, I must 
be indebted to the recorded observations of those who have; and one of the 
most complete and perfect accounts that I am acquainted with is that by Mr. 
MacGillivra.y, published in the first volume of The Naturalist , p. 105.” A 
drawing of a nest of the same bird, transmitted to the author by our corres¬ 
pondent, Mr. J. D. Salmon, is supplied at the close of the biography. 
From the account of the Missel Thrush we make the following extract:—■ 
“ The Missel Thrush is one of the largest of the British species of Thrush, and though not very 
numerous any where, is yet very generally diffused, as its range in this country, to be hereafter 
quoted, will evince. It is rather a shy bird, frequenting small woods, and the high trees in hedges 
bounding large meadows ; but during the breeding-season it becomes bold and quarrelsome, driving 
away the smaller birds in all directions from its haunts, so much so as in Wales, according to Pen¬ 
nant, to have acquired the name of Penn y llwyn, or master of the coppice. It is resident in this 
country all the year, and the male commences his song very early in the season,sometimes in Februaiy.* 
His strain, which is something like that of the Blackbird, but not so good in quality of tone, is 
We have heard him on the 1st. of January.—E d. 
