ordinary dimensions of the individuals, their habitations (when known), the collections in which they are preserved, a neat technical' specific description, and, occasionally, the addition of a critical note or observation. We transcribe, as an example, the article Cicindela Campestris : Vill. i. 320. 1. 1. Cic. viridis, elytris punctis quinque albis. Linn. Syst. Nat. 657. 1. Faun. Suec. 746. Gmel. 1920. 1. Scop. 181. Fab. Syst. Ent. 124. 1. Sp. Ins. i. 283. 3. Mant. i. 185. 5. Ent. Syst. i. a. 170. 9. Panz. Ent. Germ. 67. 2. Payk Faun. Suec. i. 170. 1. Harr. 220. Poda, 42. 1. Pontop. i. 676. 14. Faun. Ingr. 80 Faun. Fred 17. 173. Act. Nidros, iii. 398. 19. Faun. Etrusc. 475. Hellw. 475. Illiger. Kugel. Kaf. Preus. 220.3. Don. Brit. Ins. t. 12. De Geer, iv. 113. 1. t. 4 f. 1. Schaff.. Icon. t. 24. f. 8. 9. et t. 28. f. 3. Bergstraes. Nom. ii. 15. 8. 11. t. 2. f. 8-11. Oliv. ii. 33. 11. 8. t. 1. f. 3 a. b. c. Le Velours vert à • Arenarius viridis. Long. corp. 6 lin. 12 points blancs. Geoff. i 153. 27. Habitat in campis arenosis. DESCR. Inter Coleoptera certè hac species unica ex præstantissimis dici debet, cum aureus nitor ex toto corpore radiet, vel sericeo fulgeat. Elytra suprà viridia, planiuscula, lavia, punctis aliquot albis notata; quorum primum ad baseos angulum; secundum rotundum prope marginem; tertium lunulatum prope marginem; quartum oblongum ad marginem ; quintum intra tertium, seu in medio elytri, reliquis interius; præter hæc et apex elytrorum albicat. Ala fusca. Thorax angustus, rotundatus, viridinitens. Caput aureo-viride, depresso vertice. Oculi nigri, prominentes. Os prominens. Labium superius obtusum, album. Maxilla superiores prominentes; dentibus plurimis validis; inferiores maxilla apice unico dente armata, sub his palporum duo paria, quorum superius constat articulis duobus, inferius quaternis. Labi inferioris loco palpi bini ex binis arti culis pilosis. Abdomen viridi aureum. Pedes longissimi, tenuissimi; ad basin femorum corpus quoddam ovale, durum. Antenna corpore breviores, 10 articulis. Faun. Suec.' In a great variety of instances, we have noted Mr. Marsham's happy talents of discrimination: but we must confine our extracts to two passages: Quoniam plurimus apud auctores de Histeribus unicolore æneo Fa brici et pygmæo error valuit, hic saltem liceat observare, quod unicolor neus mirè variant magnitudine majori, et quadruplo minori. Varietas autem minor unicoloris et ænei pro pygmæo sæpiùs assumpta fuit; Linnaus ipse in Syst. Nat. varietatem minorem His. nei pygmæum esse voluit. At aliter in Faun. Suec. res sese habet. His. pygmæus, magis oblongus, sive elongatus, magnitudine pediculi majoris. Elytra subpicea, nec vel sub lente striata, lævissima, longitudine ferè abdominis. Pedes picci-Linnaus in Faun. Suec. hunc non obscurè innuit.' Again; • Obs. Duo que præcedunt insecta, Dytiscus elegans et 12-pustn latus, valdè affinia sunt, (forsitan ex sexu solummodò differre putes,) adeò ut perdifficile est rectè dijudicare. Auctores ad quos de Dyt. eleganti relatum est, icones hujusce speciei fidissimas sanè exhibuerunt, at 12-pustulatum neque descripserunt neque adumbraverunt. Contra autem Olivier utrumque depinxit, quasi alterutrum unum idemque animal, aut saltem quasi Bac duo mera ejusdem species fuerint varietates. His autem omnibus ritè perpensis, visum est tutius fore, si species distinctas dicam, donec dies tandem dubitationem melior ademerit. Dyt. 12-pustulatus major Dyt. eleganti evadit, et apud nos rarus admodum; duo specimina tantùm bactenus mihi contigit videre; hæc duo autem eodem tempore et ab eâdem manu capta fuerunt. Dyt. elegans vulgaris est, capiendusque in ferè omni aquá stagnali.' The following table presents, in the first column, the number and order of the respective genera, as treated in the volume; in the second, their names; in the third, the number of real or supposed species belonging to each; and, in the fourth, the number of these species registered for the first time in a regular catalogue: Bruchus. 23. 14. 34. Elater. 44. 20. 35. Cicindela 3. II. ·51. 9 92. 25. 41. Carabus. 12. 26. 5. 2. 5. 4. O. 43. Blaps. 11. 44. Melae. 45. Lytta. 0.46. Mordella, 2. 47. Staphylinus. 1. 48. Forficula. 109. 40. 12. 4. 1 5. 3. 6. 4. 8. 1. 24. For a large proportion of the hitherto uncatalogued kinds, the author is indebted to Mr. Kirby, in whose collection the specimens are preserved. Miss Hill, of Tavistock, has also contributed not a little to augment the list of the rarer species. Considered as a whole, this volume is evidently characterized by lucid arrangement, accurate description, and profound entomological research. Future leisure may be usefully employed in rendering it accessible to mere English readers; and in subjoining to the characters of such of the species as have been most observed, relations of their habits and dispositions :-in the meanwhile, the classical student may here, with comparative ease and success, cultivate an acquaintance with the British Coleoptera. If, in some instances, Mr. Marsham betrays a disposition to multiply species, yet, in many more, a careful inspection of the originals, or even of Panzer's excellent plates, will justify his distinctions. Of Coccinella, in particular, a genus very incident to varieties, such sorts only have been registered as have been observed to retain the same marks in every soil and situation. Coinciding with de Geer, the author distributes the numerous tribes of scarabs into three families, according as they inhabit the ground, trees, or flowers. The Cylindricus he has removed to the succeeding genus Lucanus; authorized by the aspect and habits of the insect, and by the examples of Scopoli and Laicharting. By identifying the genuine Conspurcatus of Linné with Panzer's Sticticus, he settles a point which had suggested much doubtful conjecture and assertion. Lunaris and Emarginatus, which Linné had confounded under the former appellation, are here restored to their separate ranks.. The The two tubercles on the head of Lucanus parallelipipedus are considered as distinctive of sex only; though the fact may require to be more accurately ascertained. Gistela nigra of Forster is presumed to be the dorsalis, stripped of its down. Curculio caliginosus is ranked with hesitation among British insects, the author having seen only one specimen in Dandrige's collection, in the British Museum. A prevalent error relative to Curculio cerasi is exposed in page 294, where obvious distinctions are noted between it and atramentarius. Satisfactory discriminations are likewise established among the various species of Carabus, a numerous and intricate genus. Mr. Marsham's distans corresponds to Tenebrio fosser of Linné, Attelabus fossor of de Geer, and Scarites arenarius of Fabricius. The new trivial names are, for the most part, selected with propriety: but we would object to Dermestes RUFIPES; because another insect, described by Fabricius and Thunberg, is already inserted in the Gmelinian edition of the System of Nature, under the same designation. Dermestes MARGINATUS (Spharidium marginatum of Fabricius) also differs from the insect so denominated by Gmelin. A very rigid collation might even detect some omissions in the lists of references: but the general excellence of the work more than atones for such slight and almost unavoidable imperfections. Muix. ART. IV. Ornithological Dictionary; or Alphabetical Synopsis of British Birds. By George Montagu, F.L.S. 8vo. 2 Vols. 16s. Boards. White. 1802. To o give to British Ornithology a popular and commodious form is an object well intitled to the praise of good intention; and few, we believe, are better qualified than Mr. Montagu, to execute the task with credit to himself and utility to the public. As a book of reference and consultation, this Dictionary is calculated to suit the occasions of ordinary readers, and even to convey instruction to the learned student. We must, however, take the liberty of adverting to several violations of grammar and errors of the press, which a small degree of care might have prevented; and, as counsel for the public, we also beg leave to suggest that some obvious expedients respecting the type, &c. might have reduced the work to half of its present size and price. The design of these volumes is thus explained in the introduction: The variety of publications on Ornithology are as extensive as instructive; but the difficulty of discovering any particular species in the works of an author, where the bird is called by a different name from which it may be provincially denominated, has, we conceive, been a preventive to a more enlarged investigation of that part of the natural history of our country. To persons well acquainted with the generic characters, the difficulty may not be so great; but the general part of mankind might wade through volumes before they would find the object of their inquiry. For such persons, therefore, who are desirous of being better acquainted with the most beautiful part of the animal creation, we have published the following Dictionary of British Ornithology, in hopes of advancing knowledge on the subject. Of the various writers on British Ornithology, the public are particularly indebted to Mr. Pennant, who has not only been diffuse on the subject, but has given a great variety of excellent figures. The last edition of the British.Zoology is replete with information, and far exceeds the bounds of any thing written before on the subject of English birds. Since which the General Synopsis of Birds, published by Dr. Latham, has added much new light to this branch of history; which, together with his Index Ornithologicus, is a masterpiece of erudition and knowledge. But these are too extensive and too complex for the more confined part of the science or study of British birds, and too expensive for general use.' The The Cuckow, faithful even on paper to its native habits, having secured a lodgement in the introduction, excludes the concerns of others of the feathered tribes. The details are, no doubt, curious and interesting, but they should not have interfered with general topics; especially as they might have been inserted with more propriety in the body of the work.If Mr. M. notwithstanding his long and intimate acquaintance with the history of birds, be really unqualified (as he modestly insinuates) to treat of their anatomical structure, Mauduit and others might have furnished him with suitable abstracts, and thus have rendered his book more complete. Among a very few omissions, we have had occasion to remark the Penrith Ouzel, Latham's Sguacco Heron (ardea comata), and the Equestrian Sand-piper (Tringa equestris of the Index Ornithologicus, and Chevalier commun of Buffon.) Since recent observations seem to indicate that the Brown Tern actually belongs to the Gull genus, and it is denominated Brown gull in Latham's second supplement, we expected a reference from Gull-brown not only to Gull-skua, but to Tern-brown. In his enumeration of the few known haunts of the Kittiwake, Mr. M. might have inserted the isle of May in Edinburgh Frith, where they have been seen in great flocks, during the breeding season. Lewin's Kentish Plover is too slightly treated as a variety of the ringed species; its black bill and legs being alone sufficient to mark a distinction. While, however, we perceive a few defects, we are by no means blind to the more striking merits of the compilation. The synonyms and specific descriptions evince much diligence and accuracy; and various articles are enriched by the result of personal observation and extensive travel. Sufficiently aware of the fallible indications of plumage, the writer is more anxious to reduce than to multiply distinctions. His nomenclature of Gulls, Larks, and Sand-pipers, for example, is less perplexing than those of his precursors; though, if we mistake not, it may admit still farther elucidation and retrenchment. In doubtful cases, he sometimes has had recourse to the unequivocal test of dissection; and, by adopting the mode of establishing specific characters from the conformation of the trachea, or wind-pipe, so ably illustrated by Dr. Latham in the Linnéan Transactions, he is enabled to point out satisfactory criteria... Respecting the Marsh and Cole-titmouse, which faunists of high authority had regarded as varieties, Mr. Montagu very properly remarks that attention to the mode of nestling will discover a specific difference. Without a careful inspection of the original, we pretend not to solve the alleged doubts ielative to |