have a membranous crop as well as a cartilaginous one, and a gizzard. Even these are shared by several other families of birds; and the membranous crop of the Rasores and the Columbide differs in shape: in the former it is globular; in the latter, composed of two lobes.

"Pavonida and Tetraonida are said by Selby to constitute the typical forms of the Rasores; Cracida, Struthionidæ, and Columbida, to be aberrant families of the same group. To show in how unequal a degree they are entitled to the term aberrant, I would observe, that out of seventeen distinct points of agreement existing between the Pavonida and the Tetraonida, the Cracida agree with them in fourteen, the Struthionidæ in seven, and the Columbida in only one.

"To make the order Rasores consist of these five families appears to me very incongruous, and to arise more from a desire of adapting them to the exigences of a preconceived theory, than from any natural affinities observable between them. A circle, composed of families differing so greatly in the amount of their aberrations, presents, according to my ideas, chasms so extensive and frightful between the different families of which it is composed, as not at all to accord with the beautiful order of Nature."

In closing our remarks upon the Birds of Western Africa, we cannot help regretting that the term "natural," as applied to the quinary system, should not have been avoided in a work intended in some measure to be elementary. We say this without meaning to express any opinion as to the merits or demerits of Mr. Swainson's views, but simply from a conviction that the first steps of the student in natural history should, if possible, be divested of ideas which are not in strict accordance with established facts. At any rate he should be told, that the system called natural by some, is deemed unnatural by others, and not receive an unjust bias in favour of those principles of classification which may or may not be found to have a real existence in nature.

ART. II. Beauties of the Country; or, Descriptions of Rural Customs, Objects, and Scenery. By Thomas Miller, Author of "A Day in the Woods." London, Van Voorst.

In opening this book, we do not find plates or descriptions of either new animals or plants. The author dwells upon the trees and flowers that beautify the earth, and the creatures that sport upon its surface; but he does not deem

himself bound to treat of them in the order of their natural affinities. For aught that we can gather from what he has written, he may be in happy ignorance of the circular system or the quinary distribution of animals. The natural or artificial classification of the vegetable world may never have been the subject of this enquiry; and the volume may not, therefore, engage the attention of scientific naturalists; but it embodies the sentiments and emotions of a mind capable of appreciating in the most exalted degree those sources of enjoyment that spring from the contemplation of natural objects, when associated with the acknowledgment of that power by which they have been created and are upheld. We could say much in praise of this volume, did our limits permit us; and think we could show that, indirectly, it is as valuable a contribution to science as some works that come before us with a definite quantum of new information: but we must not extend our notice further than by a short extract:

"Some have wrongly fancied that a life passed in the country must be devoid of interest. Such would be the case with those whose days had been spent in a constant state of excitement; but how happily and usefully life may be passed even in apparent solitude, let the works of Gilbert White and Bewick testify. To watch the progress of flowers, their periods of appearing, their different forms and qualities, the numerous insect tribes that hover around and within them; the habits of birds, the various forms of their nests, their departure and return; the different customs of animals, and the variety of trees, are, in my estimation, far more continual sources of amusement and delight than either criticising an actor or applauding an opera-dancer. The latter grow irksome,-they are always or nearly the same if they vary it is but in attitude or voice; while the former are daily revealing some new wonder-something is discovered that adds to our knowledge · we gain another triumph over Nature -we progress in wisdom, and are led to admire and understand more the productions of the Omnipotent. We bring a bird into a city, imprison it in a cage it sings we are delighted with its music; and what more should we know respecting its habits, had there not been men who, having watched it in its secret haunts, can tell us its food, how it builds, what time it visits our country, and when it departs? But, even in spite of all this close investigation, we are in ignorance, and volumes have been written, and wise men puzzled, to discover the hiding-place of the swallow, a bird that resides with us during the summer, and then departs we know not whither, even now. What is it but an acquaintance with Nature that has prevented us from worshipping the forms of animals, and kneeling down to the sun, moon, and stars, like the heathen of old? Even in England our ancestors offered up adoration to the oak, and paid reverence to the mistletoe. I believe that religion is strengthened by contemplating Nature; that an investigation of its wonders, and a knowledge of the order and harmony which reign throughout the whole, have done much to prove the great goodness and wisdom of God — and that, when we have once begun to admire this wonderful creation, we shall not fail to reverence the Creator."

ART. III. Zur Naturgeschichte, &c. On the Natural History of the Genus Calandra, with the Description of a new Species, Calandra Sommeri. By Dr. Hermann Burmeister. 4to, 24 pages, with one coloured plate. Berlin, 1837.

THE writings of Dr. Burmeister, as a first-rate entomologist, are already so well known in this country from his Handbuch der Entomologie, translated by Mr. Shuckard, and by his admirable memoir upon the anatomy of the larva of Calosòma sycophánta, published in the Transactions of the Entomological Society, that a new work from his pen and pencil will be welcomed by entomologists. The genus Calándra is the subject of this new memoir; and, when it is remembered that those destructive insects the corn weevil (Cal. palmarum), the rice weevil (Cal. oryzae), the palm weevil (Cal. palmàrum), and the tamarind weevil (Cal. Tamarándi Christy in Trans. Ent. Soc.), are all referable to this genus, it may be well presumed that the subject will lose none of its interest in the hands of Dr. Burmeister, who has entered very fully into the natural history and other peculiarities of the genus, accompanied by several interesting tables, exhibiting the geographical range of the different species, on a plan which, if applied to other large groups, would furnish some admirable results in this too much neglected part of the science.

The new species of Calándra described by Dr. Burmeister resides in the trunks of Encephalárctus Altensteínii, at the Cape of Good Hope, and is thus characterised: - Calándra Sommeri: nigra, pronotovittato; elytris punctato-striatis; stria secunda et tertia puncto post medium luteo-fusco. Long. lin. 10.

This insect, brought from the Cape by M. Thorey (who has large collections of insects for sale at Hamburg), is described by Dr. Burmeister in all its states. The larva is remarkable for having the extremity of the body terminated by a furcate appendage. The internal anatomy of the larva is figured with great care; highly magnified representations of the nervous system, and of the digestive organs, being given in the plate.

SHORT MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. ZOOLOGY of Central Africa. - Our readers will be gratified to hear that the splendid collection of objects, illustrative of the zoology of Central Africa, formed during the progress of the late exploring expedition, has just arrived in this country,

under the charge of Dr. Andrew Smith, and will shortly be open to the inspection of the public. In our notice of Dr. Smith's report (Vol. I. p. 98. n. s.), we stated that this expedition was sent out by a Society formed at Cape Town, in 1833, for the purpose of adding to the scanty information extant upon the geography, natural history, and interior resources of Southern Africa; and the present collection, thus obtained, has been sent to this country, in the hope of raising a fund, by its public exhibition in London, that will enable the Society to carry its object still further into effect, by fitting out another expedition. The fact of there being three species of rhinoceros would alone render the exhibition very attractive to all who are interested in natural history; but, considering the circumstances under which the collection was obtained, and the sole purpose for which it is now exhibited, we are sure that every one having the advancement of science at heart must feel an interest in visiting it, and in that way contributing to the promotion of those objects contemplated by the Society to which it belongs. *

Zoological Society of London. - The Council of the Zoological Society of London, in the course of last year, determined upon offering annual medals, or an equivalent sum in money, as premiums for the introduction into this country of scarce animals, and for other subjects connected with zoology. It was resolved that, in 1837, the premiums should be given to the importer of a pair of musk oxen; or a specimen of the hippopotamus, male or female; or a pair of the Ornithorhynchus paradoxus. To the breeder of the greatest number of curassows in the year 1837. To the importer of a male and female Indian pheasant, of a species not already alive in this country. To the breeder of the best specimens of Indian fowls in the year 1837. To the breeder of the most rare or most interesting foreign quadruped in the year 1837. To the writer of the best essay on the care and treatment of the species of the genus Fèlis in confinement.

The first week in July is fixed for the distribution of this year's premiums; and the regulations under which candidates will be entitled to claim them may be had on application at the Society's office in Leicester Square. - Ed.

Editorial Note relative to Papilio Podalirius. — In the last volume of the Magazine of Natural History, p. 599., there is a communication from Mr. Dale, respecting the occurrence of Papílio Podalírius in Britain. He remarks, "at p. 333. Vol. III., I gave the different authorities for considering P. It is intended to exhibit the collection at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly.

Podalírius as British. Mr. Stephens chose to consider this 'absurd,' giving, as a reason, that it was a geographical inpossibility." Mr. Stephens, in the succeeding Number of the Magazine, p. 643., stated that the opinion given by him upon the indigenous nature of the above insect, and referred to by Mr. Dale, was published two years prior to the paper of the latter gentleman in the Magazine of Natural History, vol iii. p. 333. It appeared, therefore, that Mr. Dale had been guilty of "a gross misstatement" and "palpable absurdity." In commencing the new series of the Magazine at the beginning of the present year, among the manuscript communications was a letter of Mr. Dale's, in answer to Mr. Stephens, which we were led to put on one side, from an apprehension that its publication would not settle the point in dispute, and from a wish to exclude any matter involving a personal recriminatory discussion. Upon a reconsideration of the subject, we feel that, as Mr. Stephens animadverted upon Mr. Dale in very severe terms, the present letter ought not to have been withheld; and we therefore now publish it entire. It is clear that Mr. Dale committed an error with regard to dates; but, as it was one which did not affect the real question at issue, we think that there was no occasion for the comments which accompanied Mr. Stephens's correction. — Ed.

"INSECTS. Papilio Podalirius is a British Insect. — As the colour which Mr. Stephens has given to my observations may lead those who are unacquainted with me to believe that I have not the high regard for truth which he pretends to, I trust I shall be excused for clearing away the mist which he, as usual, has so disingenuously introduced in the place of argument. It is true that Mr. Stephens's volume was published before your Vol. III., where I gave the different authorities for P. Podalírius being British; but it is equally true that those authorities, or most of them, had been printed at various times elsewhere, and that Mr. Stephens had the free and unlimited use of my MSS., which contained the dates and localities above alluded to, long prior to the publication of his first volume. This quibble, therefore, of the learned author of the Illustrations no more affects the question than his having quoted Ray* incorrectly, nor having omitted part of his own words. It was the imputation cast upon myself, and those who had avowed the belief that P. Podalírius was British, that I disdained; and I now ask, whether he has proved the truth of his assertions, and the absurdity of those "It is Prope Libernum portum in Etruria, invenimus atque,' &c.Ray." "It is any longer as a British species.' (Illust.)"