CORRESPONDENCE. 
147 
£The high price of scientific works, complained of hy our correspondent, finds 
an easy explanation in the want of demand for such publications. As it is, they 
generally prove losing speculations, and would be much more so were they issued 
at a lower charge. As regards the British Oology , we consider that it is published 
at a fair price; and we have little doubt but the elegant and attractive character 
of the book would procure it extended patronage were it more generally known. 
Even at present, it is purchased by many persons who care but little for Natural 
History. 
Provided we can find the time and room requisite for the preparation and 
insertion of the desired articles on Oology, we shall have much pleasure in 
publishing them. If Dr. Murray, Mr. Salmon, or some other correspondent 
competent to the task would divide the labour with us, and undertake the 
Aquaiicoe , we shall be happy to treat of the Terrestres .—-Ed.] 
Query respecting Works on Natural History. 
To the Editor of the Naturalist. 
Sir, —Will you oblige me bjr informing me, in your next number, where I can 
meet with the best treatises on the various departments of Natural History, as 
far as British objects are concerned. I am a new subscriber to your pleasing 
and useful miscellany ; if, therefore, this information has been previously afforded, 
perhaps you will be good enough to refer me to “ chapter and verse.” 
I am, Sir, 
Yours, &c. &c. 
Leith , Oct. 27, 1838. G. C. Barton. 
£ An account of the principal works on Zoology in general, and the higher 
departments in particular, has been supplied in Vol. II., p. 462; on Botany, in 
Vol. II., p. 470, and Vol. III., p. 68 ; and on Entomology, in Vol. III., p. 19. 
We shall, however, enumerate one or two books in each department ; and the 
deficiencies of them may possibly stimulate Mr. Barton to original investigation. 
On Mammalogy we have Professor Bell’s British Quadrupeds ; on Ornithology, 
Mr. Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology , and Mr. Yarrell’s British 
Birds; on Ichthyology, Yarrell’s British Fishes; on insects, Curtis’s British 
Entomology; on reptiles, Bell’s British Reptiles; on molluscs, Dr. Fleming’s 
article under that head, republished from the Encyclopaedia Britannica. On 
Botany, Sir James Smith’s English Flora , or Dr. Lindley’s Synopsis of British 
Plants. On Geology, Dr. Mantell’s Wonders of Geology , or Prof. Phillips’s 
Treatise on Geology. — Ed.] 
vol. iv.-—no. xxvii. 
x 
