Science of Botany; illustrated on an entirely new principle, by a Series of highly finished Delineations of the Plants, coloured to represent Nature; including Characteristic Details of the Physiology, Uses, and Classification of the Vegetable Kingdom. 1835. 1 vol., 8vo, 150 pages, and 1 plate of 4 coloured figures: some wood-engravings are in the pages. The coloured delineations of plants are detached, are of 4to size, in a set of 10, or one of 14, with stands, and placed in an ornamented case. The volume, and either of the sets of coloured delineations, are purchasable separately. London, Harvey and Darton, Orr and Smith.

The author's manner is sketchy and sentimental; the getting-up of the book is what may be termed elegant; and the detached pictures are beautiful. Those of the technical points of botany, to which the author's work introduces, are the terms of the more obvious parts of plants, and examples of them: the Linnæan classification, and the classification according to the natural orders. The volume, and the detached pictures, may avail those who have not a vigorous appetite for a stricter knowledge of botany, and can afford to purchase them.

Watson, H. C.: The New Botanist's Guide to the Localities of the Rarer Plants of Britain; on the Plan of Turner and Dillwyn's Botanist's Guide. Vol. I. England and Wales. 1835, sm. 8vo, 408 pages. London, Longman & Co. "This volume includes all the counties of England and Wales, and will form a complete work in itself, if the publication of a second volume should be prevented by any unforeseen circumstance. The counties of Scotland, with the adjacent isles from Man to Shetland, are intended to be comprised in the second volume, which will be ready in 1836. All communications of localities, for insertion therein, should be made as early as possible in the year. By adopting a smaller and much closer type than that of Turner and Dillwyn's Guide, the present volume has been reduced to one half the bulk, notwithstanding that the large additions to the species and localities of flowering plants, in many of the counties, will more than counterbalance the omission of cryptogamic plants, which comparatively few persons take the trouble to collect. On a rude estimate, from a few pages taken at random, it appears probable that the volume contains between 15,000 and 20,000 localities or stations (habitats, according to the phraseology of many botanists), and most of these include more than one proper name to each, some even half a dozen.”

Henslow, Rev. J. S., M.A., Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge: A Catalogue of British Plants, arranged according to the Natural System, with the Synonyms of De Candolle, Smith, Lindley, and Hooker. Second edition, 8vo, 66 pages. London, Rivington and Hatchard, 1835.

Of the species registered, the author has indicated by signs those which he considers to be in any of the four following conditions:-Possibly introduced by the agency of man. Naturalised species, certainly not indigenous. Occasionally found wild, but not even naturalised, extinct, or erroneously introduced; and which ought to be excluded from our floras. Included in the flora of Cambridgeshire. The author has referred, in his preface, to his views exhibited in this Magazine (Vol. VIII., p. 84-88, not "Vol. VII." as cited), relatively to, at least some of, these distinctions. It is intended to present, in a future number, a list, taken from the author's catalogue, of such species as he may have designated relatively to the views there proposed.

The Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. Vol. I. Part II., 8vo, 96 pages, 6 plates of figures, some of the figures coloured. 1835. 7s. 6d.

The contents of the first part are enumerated in VIII. 62, 63. The subjects treated of in the second part are as follows:

Rémphan Hòpei Waterhouse, " a new species of longicorn beetle, from the East Indies." G. R. Waterhouse, Esq. has described and named this: it is illustrated by a coloured figure. It is of the family Priónidæ. Its body is 2 in. 11 lines long.

Amýcterus [a, without, mukter, a proboscis.] Scönhérri Hope, "a new curculionideous beetle, from the Swan River," in New Holland. This is described and named by the Rev. F. W. Hope, and is elucidated by figures. Its thorax bears tubercles in longitudinal rows, and its elytra spines in longitudinal rows.

"Observations on the osculant Crustaceous Genus Arcturus of Latreille; with the Description of a British Species. By J. O. Westwood, F.L.S., &c." The species described is identical with the Astacílla longicórnis Flem., illustrated by Dr. Johnston, in this Magazine, VIII. 494-496. Mr. Westwood's treatise is illustrated by a plate bearing 30 figures.

"On the Apparent Identity of Sphinx ephemeræformis of Haworth, with Psyche plumifera of Ochsenheimer. By J. F. Stephens, F.L.S., &c." A figure is provided of the species

of insect that Haworth described.

"Notice of the Habits of Odynerus Antilope. By J. O. Westwood, F.L.S., &c." In this Magazine, V. 109, 110. 206., are facts, some of them communicated by Mr. Westwood, on one or more species of Odynèrus.

"Observations on certain Species of the Genus Dromius. By Charles C. Babington, M.A., F.L.S., &c." Thirteen species, and varieties besides, are described: four species are figured. Descriptions by Mr. Babington of two of the thirteen species are published in this Magazine, V. 327, 328.

"Thysanure Hibernicæ, or Descriptions of such Species of spring-tailed Insects (Podura and Lepisma, Linn.) as have been observed in Ireland. By R. Templeton, Esq., R.A. Corr. Member of the Natural History Society of Belfast: with Introductory Observations upon the Order, by J. O. Westwood, F.L.S., &c." This is a contribution which will much enrich every one who will appropriate the information imparted in it. The number of species treated on is as follows: Lepísma saccharina, enumerated; Forbicìna polypoda, described and figured; Petròbius marítimus, enumerated; Orchesélla, 2 sp., described and figured: Podùra, 7 sp., described and figured: Achorùtes, 2 sp., described and figured; Smynthurus, 2 sp., described and figured, and one other species enumerated.

Microxylobius Westwoodii Chevrolat, a species of beetle of about 1 line long, and, broad, the third of a line, from St. Helena, is illustrated by a description by M. A. Chevrolat, M.E.S. of France, &c., and by figures.

"Descriptions of new Species of Indian Ants. By Lieut.Colonel W. H. Sykes, F.R.S., &c." Three species are described and figured, and interesting facts on their habits are communicated.

"Monograph on Mimela, a Genus of Coleopterous Insects. By the Rev. F. W. Hope, F.R.S,, &c." Thirteen species are described.

"Note upon the British Genera Acentria, Acentropus, and Zancle. By J. O. Westwood, F.L.S., &c." These are identified as one, and it is argued of this that it belongs to the order Lepidoptera.

"Observations on the Ravages of Limnoria terebrans, with Suggestions for a Preventive against the same. By the Rev.

F. W. Hope, F.R.S., &c."

"Description of a new Species of Australian Moth. By G. R. Gray, Esq., M.E.S. France and London.”

"Observations on Insects producing Silk, and on the Possibility of rearing Silk Crops in England. By the Rev. F. W. Hope, F.Ř.S., &c.”

"Remarks on some Mechanical Peculiarities noticed in a Spider's Web, observed at Wandsworth, Surrey. By W. W. Saunders, Esq., F.L.S., &c." These remarks are kindred to those of Mr. Spence, in this Magazine, V. 689-691.

"Observations upon the Habits of Copris Midas. By Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Sykes, F.R.S., &c."

These treatises occupy 66 pages. A continuation of the "Journal of Proceedings" follows them, and occupies 29 pages. This includes very varied matter; as records of donations made, memoirs read, and exhibitions made. The instances of donations of works on insects and of specimens of insects are numerous; events advantageous to the Society's thrift.

"The period for receiving the prize essays upon the turnip fly," is extended "until the anniversary meeting in January,

1836."

Various Contributors: The Entomological Magazine, No. XIII. October, 1835.

See in M. N. H., xi. 48. In this Number of the Ent. Mag. are, besides, two contributions of noticeable interest. One, an elaborate monograph, "On the Species of Platygaster, &c. by Francis Walker," assisted by Mr. Haliday : the other, "Remarks on the Entomology of Epping and its Vicinity by Edward Doubleday." In the first are described, of Platygáster, 101 species and some varieties; of Inostémma Haliday, 8 species and some varieties; of Iphitrachèlus Haliday, 1 species. A plate of 21 figures is supplied in illustration of certain of the species described. The monograph occupies 58 pages. Mr. Doubleday's "Remarks" are of noticeable interest in this Magazine, from the fact that he has appended to them a "Catalogue of Birds which have occurred in the neighbourhood of Epping," and, added, remarks upon certain of the species, as to the rate of the frequency of occurrence, and on other points.

ART. II. Literary Notices.

MR. BUSHNAN, the author of the Introduction to the Study of Nature, is preparing for the press a work to be entitled The Elements of Ichthyology: it is to be illustrated by numerous woodcuts.

The Zoological Journal: it has been announced that No. xx., and Part v. of Supplementary Plates, have been published, and that the work is now complete.

THE MAGAZINE

OF

NATURAL HISTORY.

FEBRUARY, 1836.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ART. I. Observations on the Cow Bunting of the United States of America. By GEORGE ORD, Esq.

Of all the known birds which are indigenous to North America, perhaps there is not one whose habits are so interesting as those of the bird denominated cow bunting, cow bird, cow-pen bird, or cow blackbird (the Fringilla pécoris of Latham); and yet there is hardly one whose history has hitherto been involved in greater obscurity.

Wilson was the first writer who made public the fact, that this species does not construct a nest for itself; but, like the cuckoo of Europe, deposits its eggs in the nests of other birds, and confides to strangers the care of its offspring.

A habit so singular as this had early awakened the attention of the author of the American Ornithology. He had supposed that persons residing in the country were conversant with it; and, by diligent enquiry among them, he was enabled to collect some information which was deemed authentic. But, had our ingenious ornithologist relied more upon his personal observations than upon the testimony of vulgar observers, he would have avoided some errors, which it is the intention of the writer of this article to point out.

The following propositions have been assumed :There is never more than one egg of the cow bunting deposited in the same nest.

The egg invariably hatches before those of the foster-bird. The foster-mother, in seeking food for her first-born, neglects her own eggs; and their embryos, consequently, perish. The birds selected by the cow bunting, as nurses of her progeny, are always smaller than herself.

VOL. IX.- No. 58.