Northumberland Nat. Hist. Society's Transactions.

71

ries are in crop, unless they be in the immediate neighbourhood of a wood, in which it can shelter." (vol. ii. p. 223.)

What the writer means in the latter part of the following sentence, we are utterly at a loss even to conjecture:

"The sand-marten (Hirúndo ripària) is the species most frequently met with in such localities, as it nestles in holes of the steep banks, generally in colonies at one place, whichsoever the stream hath upwards and downwards." (vol. ii. p. 381.)

Errors and imperfections, like those above noticed, occur, we are sorry to observe, far more frequently in the latter part of the second volume, which, indeed, exhibits indisputable proofs of hasty composition, and most unpardonable negligence. On the whole, though we cannot entirely acquit the author of the sin of book-making, we are ready to acknowledge that he has contrived to make a very pleasant and a very useful book. With the omissions, alterations, and corrections at which we have hinted, with a view to a future edition, we venture to recommend the work to the favourable notice of our readers; many of whom, we doubt not, will derive as much pleasure and information from its perusal as, we are bound to say, we have done ourselves.

A. R. Y.

ART. II. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle upon Tyne. Vol. I., and Part I. of Vol. II. 4to. Newcastle, 1831.

THE Society whose Transactions are before us was established little more than two years ago, and it has already published one large volume, and a considerable portion of a second. The fact affords the best possible evidence of the zeal of its members; and the contents are very tolerable specimens of their talent and aptitude for observation. The work is handsomely printed in quarto; which, we think, is to be regretted, for Transactions of provincial societies can never be too cheap. Their principal use and object is to diffuse an accurate knowledge of a particular district among the bulk of

The following also is very obscure, and cost us some trouble to understand, if, indeed, we even now comprehend the author's meaning:-"The eggs of birds, when properly described, are very useful for distinguishing the species, as in the same one they often differ less in colour than the birds." (vol. ii. p. 367.) We wish it to be understood that we have been the more particular in pointing out individual errors and imperfections, in the hope that they may be corrected in a second edition of the book, which, if we do not mistake, will, in due time, be called for.

its inhabitants, and to instil and cherish a taste for natural science among them; and it seems very obvious that this end can be accomplished only very partially, unless the papers are printed in a form which may admit of their being sold at a price that will at least not necessarily narrow their circulation. We are anxious to press this upon the attention of directors of provincial societies in general; for while we entertain high notions of the utility of such institutions, we are also fully convinced that their usefulness in one respect is marred and nullified by the prevalent practice of making their publications a sealed book to all, save to their own members, or to the rich, few of whom care for these things. How much the Linnean Society has erred in this respect is notorious, and is a matter of lamentation to many who know how much of valuable matter is locked up in their Transactions; and we regret that the Newcastle Society follows such a bad example.

Of the papers in zoology, we would particularise Mr. Wingate's notice of Cygnus Bewickii, a new species of swan, which he was the first to distinguish from the common wild swan; we say the first, because some have attempted to rob him of this merit, and, in spite of fact and dates, to assign it to Mr. Yarrell. Mr. Selby has well illustrated this Cygnus in the same volume, which contains also, from the pen of this celebrated ornithologist, a notice of Cypselus alpinus, and Mérgus cucullatus as natives or visiters of Britain; and a complete catalogue of the birds hitherto met with in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. Mr. Alder's paper on the land and freshwater testaceous Mollúsca found in the vicinity of Newcastle is excellent, and includes the descriptions of two or three new species. A notice of Falco apivorus, by the Hon. H. T. Liddell; of Balæ`na Bòops, by Dr. Johnston; and some remarks on the curious mechanical feats of a small spider, by the Rev. Mr. Turner, complete the list of zoological papers.

In botany Mr. Winch is the only contributor. In the first volume, this well-known botanist gives some interesting remarks on the distribution of the indigenous plants of Northumberland and Durham, as connected with the geological structure of those counties; and a Flora, as a catalogue perhaps the most perfect which has been yet published in this country, of the same district, occupies what has been published of the second volume.

The papers illustrative of the geology of the counties of Northumberland and Durham are numerous, and it may be useful to some of our readers to have a list of them: -1. Notice of a Whin Dyke in the Fenham Division of Benwell

Colliery, by Mr. Buddle, who gives likewise an account of the explosion which took place in Jarrow Colliery, on the 3d of August, 1830; and a Synopsis of the several Seams of Coal in the Newcastle District. 2. Notice on the effects of a Basaltic Dyke, at Butterknowle Colliery, by Mr. Michael Forster. 3. Notice of a Bed of Whin, at Stanhope, in Weardale, by W. C. Trevelyan, Esq. 4. Notes on the New Red Sandstone of Durham, below the Magnesian Limestone, by Mr. Hutton. 5. Observations on the Geology of Ratcheugh Creg, near Alnwick, by Mr. Francis Forster; and, by the same individual, Observations on the South Welsh Coal Basin. 6. On the discovery of Hazel Nuts, in working a lead ore vein in the manor of Alston Moor, by Mr. Pattinson. 7. Remarks on the Geology of the Banks of the Tweed, by Mr. Winch. 8. Description of a group of Dykes, termed Ryders, discovered in the Whitehaven Colliery, by Mr. Peile. 9. Notice of the Edge Seams of Mid-Lothian, with a description of Gilmerton Colliery, by Mr. Dunn; and an extract relative to the explosion at Harraton Colliery, in the year 1808, by the same. 10. On the Red Sandstones of Berwickshire, by H. Witham, Esq., who communicates also a description of a Fossil Tree discovered in the quarry of Craigleith, near Edinburgh. 11. Account of some Fossil Stems of Trees found penetrating through the strata above the High Main Coal, at Killingworth Colliery, at a depth of forty-eight fathoms, by Mr. Wood; who has another paper on the geology of a part of Northumberland and Cumberland.

There is another paper, a Sketch of the Life and Works of the late Thomas Bewick, by Mr. G. C. Atkinson, which we have read with pleasure and interest; and no one, we presume, will question the propriety of its insertion in a volume proceeding from the Natural History Society of New

castle.

N.

ART. III. Catalogue of Works on Natural History, lately published, with some Notice of those considered the most interesting to British Naturalists.

BRITAIN.

ANON. [Understood to be by Professor Rennie]: Insect Miscellanies. 12mo. London, Charles Knight, 1831. Forming another Volume of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, and completing the subject of Insects.

A most interesting volume, rich in amusing and instructive information. and adorned with very numerous wood-cuts. The compiler has been prompt in availing himself of all that has been published up to the

of putting his book to press; even the essence of our correspondent Mr. Parson's communication on the Visual Organs of Insects (Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. iv. p. 124. 220. 363.) is not omitted. — J. D.

Sir, At p. 49. of Insect Miscellanies, Mr. Rennie has expressed great doubt of the truth of Mr. Huber's declaration, that the humble bee, not being able easily to obtain access to the honey reservoir of many flowers, "drills an aperture at the base of the tube, through which it insinuates its sucker." To obviate Mr. Rennie's scepticism, I beg to say, I have myself seen both the humble and the hive bee gnaw a hole at the base of the flower of the greater snapdragon (Antirrhinum màjus), and the common white jasmine (Jasminum officinale), for the purpose of obtaining the honey, and after repeated observation I have never been able to see them enter the flowers of the greater snapdragon at the mouth, as expressed by the figure in p. 49. [For other corollas perforated by bees, see p. 86.] I am, Sir, &c.-Charles C. Babington, B.A. F.L.S. St. John's College, Cambridge, Oct. 18. 1831.

Don, George, F.L.S.: A general System of Gardening and Botany; containing a complete Enumeration of all Plants hitherto known; with their Generic and Specific Characters, Places of Growth, Time of Flowering, Mode of Culture, and their Uses in Medicine and Domestic Economy. Preceded by Introductions to the Linnæan and Natural Systems, and a Glossary of the Terms used. Founded upon Miller's Gardener's Dictionary, and arranged according to the Natural System. In 4 vols. Vol. I. 4to. London, 1831. 37. 12s.

Deserves notice in this Magazine as a work on botany, which it is more properly than a work on gardening. Its object is to describe in the order of the natural system all the plants at present known in the world; to notice whatever properties useful to the purposes of life any species or genus may possess; and to supply directions under every family for its successful culture and propagation.

The appearance of this book forms an epoch in the progress of botanical knowledge in Britain; for it cannot fail most sensibly to impel and promote that knowledge among us; and would have produced this effect still more extensively could it have been sold cheaper. The work is one which has been long wanted in Britain. So many plants, and specimens of plants, have been gathered together from all parts of the world about us, that at every turn we are reminded of our ignorance, and have our wishes excited to know something about these lovely beings. To gratify these wishes has been, however, to a great extent impracticable, save to those rich enough to buy, and learned enough to read, the hundreds of detached and departmental volumes, in which these plants were respectively treated of. The expense of very many of these books, and the difficulty of reading them, are both dispensed with by a comprehensive work like the present, and this work written in English. To the botanist who is already rich in books and botanical knowledge it will be very valuable; for the introduction informs us, that," when finished, it will be found to be the most complete system of plants yet published; comprehending, besides all the genera and species which have been published up to the present time, descriptions of numerous plants never before published, and derived chiefly from the Lambertian Herbarium. The characters of all the genera and species are derived either from the plants themselves, or from the original authorities where authentic specimens could not be procured." To those already initiated in systematic botany, but who only understand the English language, the work will be inestimably valuable; and for those who wish now to take up the study, brief introductions to the Linnæan and natural systems, and a copious glossary, are given: it is, however, not the most eligible of works for real novices in botany. — J. D.

Johnston, George, M.D. &c.: A Flora of Berwick upon Tweed. 8vo, 340 pages with plates. Volume the Second, containing the Cryptogamous Plants. Edinburgh, Carfrae and Son; London, Longman and Co. 1831. 78. 6d.

In Vol. II. p. 234. the first volume of this work is reviewed, and we purpose to submit this second volume to the same reviewer. In the interim, we hesitate not to pronounce it an able production, characterised by a high and admirable degree of originality, and presenting facts and views of much interest to universal botany.-J. D.

Hack, Maria: Geological Sketches, and Glimpses of the Ancient Earth. 12mo, 400 pages and several plates. London, Harvey and Darton, 1832. Bound in cloth, 9s.

An amusing and instructive volume, and an eligible present to youth. Its scope and calibre will best appear in the authoress's own words :-" A traveller passing through a picturesque country may add to his enjoyment by delineating the cottage, the rock, or the tree, which happens to please his fancy, without venturing to portray an entire landscape; and thus, while reading the works of eminent geological writers, amused by ingenious theories, and interested by their application to well authenticated facts, I have sought to perpetuate my own pleasure, and also to contribute something towards the entertainment of others, by attempting a series of sketches, which, without pretending to the completeness of a system, may afford some glimpses of the structure of the earth. . . . This little volume is not designed exclusively for young persons, but for all to whom the subject is new, and who have not inclination or opportunity for studying it scientifically. The references will show that the works of those who are considered the best authorities have furnished the materials. As to the mode of arranging them, the adoption of colloquial intercourse seems to afford the greatest freedom and variety of illustration."

NORTH AMERICA.

Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, founded Jan. 6. 1824. Vol. I. 8vo, pp. 333. Quebec, 1829.

This institution owes its origin to the Earl of Dalhousie, late governorgeneral of Canada; and although its title does not seem to have been very happily chosen, since only one of the papers communicated to the Society is on a literary or historical subject, it has called forth the contributions of another class, the readers and students of the great book of nature, which is opened in this country at one of its most curious and ample pages. These Transactions are almost entirely on geological and botanical subjects, with a good paper "On the recent Shells which characterise Quebec and its environs." We owe to our Canadian friends a debt of gratitude for their zeal in the cause of science, and have no doubt that their labours will be duly appreciated and acknowledged by those in the parent country who are pursuing kindred subjects. We regret that our limits do not permit us to analyse the several papers, and that we are prevented from giving extracts from the curious one, entitled, " A Journey across the Continent, by an Indian Chief." The volume, however, is to be found in most of our scientific libraries, to which it has been transmitted by the liberality of the Quebec Society.

A Monthly Journal of Geology and Natural Science was commenced at Philadelphia, in July last, conducted by G. W. Featherstonehaugh, Esq. F.G.S. &c.

Most heartily do we wish prosperity to this transatlantic conten