Bibliographical Notices, 163 *' Devonshire Coast." On the other hand, several of the chapters (or Letters as our author calls them) contam excellent descriptions of things, which although previously well known to zoologists, will undouhtedly he exceedingly interesting to the general reader, in the elegant costume in which they are here presented to him. Amongst these we may notice the development of the Decapod Crustacea and Barnacles, of Clavellina and the Echinida. One chapter is devoted to the description of the Pedicellarice, which Mr. Gosse, with the principal authorities of the present day, regards as component parts of the Echinoderms on whose surface they are found ; our author gives a very full description of the structure of these curious bodies, and besides the three kinds or species described by Miiller, notices a fourth form, to which he gives the name of Pedicellaria steno-phylla. The Actinire and their beauties naturally take up a good <leal of Mr. Gosse' s attention, — they are frequently referred to in various parts of the work, and three new species are described in his last letter ; whilst in an Appendix he gives some extracts from his paper on Peachia hastata in the Linnsean Transactions, in which he establishes the genera Sayartia and Bunodes at the expense of the old genus Actinia^ and gives his views as to the nature and affinities of the family of the Sea Anemones. Mr. Gosse is, however, by no means constant in his attachment to the sea, and two of his letters are devoted exclusively to the fresh-water Rotifera ; — in one he describes the mode of capturing these little creatures, and in the second the way in which they are to be observed under the microscope, and the structure of several striking species. Two circumstances must prevent our giving any extracts from this charming little book, — one of these is the difficulty of selection where so much is excellent, and the other the want of space. In taking leave of it, however, we cannot but feel that it will do much to open up new sources of delight to thousands who may visit not only Tenby but other watering-places, by awakening in their minds some little interest in the many apparently insignificant, but truly inter-esting creatures, which they would otherwise pass contemptuously in their objectless saunterings by the sea. We may add that the work is illustrated with twenty-four coloured lithographic plates, executed by the author, most of which are exceedingly good. Manual of British Botany, containing the Flowering Plants and Ferns arranged according to the Natural Orders. By Charles Cardale Babington, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. Fourth Edi-tion, with many additions and corrections. London : Van Voorst, 1856, pp. 446! An examination of Mr. Babington' s fourth edition suggests little that we have not already said, still less that we might not have said, respecting its predecessor. The countless silent rectifications of diagnosis, which give Mr. Babington's writings their chief value, will hardly be appreciated except by assiduous use ; but the marks of 11*
Manual of British Botany, containing the flowering plants and ferns arranged according to the natural orders. By Charles Cardale Babington, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. Fourth Edition, with many additions and corrections. London: Van Voorst, 1856, pp. 446
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