chalky matter which is also secreted by similar glands. It has b stated that the unhatched animal, very shortly after it is formed, be to make its shell; and, when it is hatched, deposits on the edge of mouth of the little shell which covered its body in the egg, a quantity of the mucous secretion. This dries; and is then lined some mucous matter intermixed with calcareous particles; and this hardens, it again places on its edge another very thin layer mucous secretion, and again lines it as before. The mucous se first deposited forms the outer coat of the shell, and is of use tecting it from injury, while the mucous matter mixed wit which is placed within it, forms the substance of the shell itself deposition of mucus, and of mucus mixed with calcareous mat: on as the animal grows, and feels the want of a larger shel protection: the shell is in fact moulded on the body of th itself, as the body grows; and for this reason any irregulari. body is moulded in the shell.

The animal has the faculty also of mending any break that its shell may have received, if it is not of such a magnit derange all the functions of the animal itself: and it mend the same manner as it forms its shell; that is to say, by first a coat of animal matter, and then lining it with muce mixed with chalk, to harden it. But as the animal is u desirous of getting the repairs done as quickly as possible, probably damaged by the injury it has received, these generally much more roughly executed than the shell itsel monly destitute of regular color.

The particles, which vary the color of the surface of th deposited while the shell is being increased in size, immed the outer mucous coat: and, as these particles are also peculiar glands, the color is always situated in a particula each species, the glands being gradually enlarged, and gre rated, but not changed in position by the growth of the sh variations exhibited in the coloring of the different spec different individuals of the same species, are produced b nent or temporary interruption of the action of these glar

In regard to this citation, we must repeat our r method is furnished to enable the reader to distinguis additions from the original matter of Dr. Turton. 1 a clumsiness of diction which is not favorable to pers doubt whether an uninstructed person (and for the a their laudable efforts books like this ought to be ada, comprehend the first sentence in the tenth paragra "matter, which is secreted by certain glands-by me ' matter which is also secreted.' Such a reader, a make out the meaning, might ask, how glands se matter by means of chalky matter; and whether it say that the chalky matter is secreted at all? Th

bent, crooked; expressing an obvious characteristic of the summit. Among the water-snails (Paludinida) a separate genus has been erected under the name Bithinia; and having two British species, tentaculata and ventricosa. In the generic term we strongly suspect some philological oversight. If any allusion were intended to the ancient province in Asia Minor (which seems unlikely), the word should be Bithynia. According to an established and reasonable custom, names of genera ought to be from the Greek mint; excepting the instances (barely pardonable, but which, when once established, ought to be saved from innovation) in which this method has been resorted to for honoring any illustrious naturalist. We know not how to apply that solution in the present case: and the term is utterly irreconcilable with the marks of the Greek or even Latin coinage.

Indeed, the whole nomenclature of natural history cries aloud for a thorough revision. The mass of synonyms is an enormous evil, but the collections of them cannot be dispensed with. The more reason there is for wishing that the best term were determined, placed at the head of every article, and with rigorous loyalty adhered to.

While making these remarks, we must add our regret that, in the valuable work before us, we find no table explanatory of the abbreviations of reference. These are frequently single letters. Many readers may not be aware that t. stands for both volume and plate, and f. for a single figure on a plate.

For completing our account of this volume, we shall quote a periodical conducted by a combination of the most eminent naturalists in our country; Sir William Jardine, Mr. Prideaux J. Selby, Dr. Johnston, Professor Don, and Mr. Richard Taylor: the Annals of Natural History, vol. v. p. 288.

'Mr. Gray has fully supplied the deficiencies [in Dr. Turton's original work], and has produced a work of a very different and far higher character; which, except in name, in a portion of the descriptive letter-press, and in the greater part of the figures accompanying it, may be regarded as entirely new.

Mr. Gray's introduction includes, among other interesting matter, a detailed account of no fewer than fifty species of land and freshwater shells which have been erroneously, as he believes, introduced into the British list, with his reasons for their exclusion ;-an outline of the geographical distribution of the native species, both with reference to other parts of the world and to the topographical divisions of our own country, accompanied by a tabular view;-notices of the localities which different species select ;-an enumeration of the fossil species, belonging to land and fresh-water genera, hitherto discovered in Great Britain ;;—an historical review of the additions made to this department of our Fauna by each successive writer, from Merret downwards;-and a list of the British and the principal foreign works treating on the subject.

'An Artificial Table of the Genera, constructed for the use of the mere conchologist who confines his observations to the shell, is followed by some observations on the principal points to be attended to in the description of shells, founded on their relation to the animal, with reference to which alone they can be properly studied; and we then arrive at the more strictly systematic part of the work, the only part in which any portion of Dr. Turton's Manual has been retained. But even here, all that has been derived from the original work consists of the mere characters and descriptions of the shells, with a few occasional observations, all of which have undergone revision; while the outline of the distribution of mollusca, the characters of the classes, orders, families, and genera, the descriptions of the animals, the physiological and other notices accompanying these descriptions, &c., &c., which constitute the chief value of the work, have been added by Mr. Gray.

The number of species described amounts to 128, arranged under thirty-eight genera; and all of these (with one exception, Vertigo angustior, which as the author states, could not be procured) are figured in the plates. Supplementary tables containing the more recently discovered species, having been added to those previously contained in Dr. Turton's work. The original plates have also, it is stated, been revised, compared with the specimens, and corrected where necessary; and enlarged details of some of the smaller species have been added. Wood-cut illustrations representing the animals of the different families, and of most of the genera, together with a few of the shells, have also been introduced in the form of vignettes, and the work is got up in a handsome and creditable style.

'It would be superfluous to recommend such a work, and so edited, to those for whose use it is intended, and to whom it can only be necessary to indicate its existence and contents.'

These sentiments, cited from so high an authority, augment the regret which we have before expressed, that Mr. Gray did not employ his great knowledge and talents in the composition of a work upon a more logical and luminous plan, and entirely his own, rather than have trammelled himself with the arrangements and expressions of another mind. This would have cost him not more trouble, and would have been a greater benefit to the assiduous cultivators of this elegant branch of natural knowledge.

We must add, that both the theoretical interest and the prac tical usefulness of this work are increased by an appendix of such details as are often passed over in silence by learned writers on this kind of subjects, whether from a sort of pride which will not descend to rustic homeliness; or from what is too often the fact, that the student in the cabinet is not always the patient explorer of muddy ponds and ditches. This appendix is an abstract from a recent work of M. Bouchard Chantreux upon the Land and River Molluscs of the District of Calais. It relates to the time of activity of this class of animals, day or night, their haunts, their

food, the characters of the eggs and the young, their growth, and their full age.

Mr. Gray concludes his work with the act of impressive adoration; O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom 'hast thou made them all. The earth is full of thy riches.' Ps.

civ. 24.

Art. VI. 1. Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap-Book for 1841. With Poetical Illustrations. By MARY HOWITT. London: Fisher, Son, and Co.

2. The Juvenile Scrap-Book. By Mrs. ELLIS. For 1841. London: Fisher, Son, and Co.

3. Forget-Me-Not; a Christmas, New Year's, and Birthday Presen! for 1841. Edited by FREDERIC SHOBERL. London: Ackerman

and Co.

4. Letters from under a Bridge and Poems. By N. P. WILLIS, Esq. London George Virtue.

5. The Parlour Table-Book. Written and Selected by the Author of 'Lives of the English Sacred Poets.' London: Rickerby.

AMIDST our graver occupations it is pleasant occasionally to

turn to such volumes as now lie before us. Critics, like schoolboys, require times of recreation, when the mind may unbend itself, and profitably engage in pleasant pastime. Such alternations are as salutary to the mind as to the body, and if not occurring too frequently, will be found to exert a healthful and bracing influence. The intellect cannot always be employed with the abstract discussions of philosophy or the grave ratiocinations of morals without losing its elasticity or contracting the sphere of its usefulness. It is, therefore, wise as well as pleasant to mingle the light with the grave, to turn occasionally from the sage oracles of our philosophy to listen to the songs of Parnassus or the tales of fiction. More progress will thus be made even in abstruse research, than by an entire neglect of the lighter departments of our literature. In such seasons and in such occupations the wearied spirit gathers up its strength, and springs forward with a vigor and buoyancy of which it would otherwise be wholly destitute. We critics are sadly belied in this acrimonious and fault-finding age; many a gentle reader deems us sadly wanting in the charities of life, yet we verily believe that their own countenances are not more radiant with pleasure than ours as we con over the pages and scrutinize the engravings of these beautiful volumes. They are not to be regarded solely or even principally, as works of literature-the