the more unusual manner, has (to our knowledge), ever been met with to vary from that formation; as such accidental deformities have been found, in a few instances, amongst those which are usually terined dextrals, or have the more usual spiral turns, and have become lusus heterostrophon shells.

"In order, therefore, to explain which way the turn of the spiral convolutions of a reversed shell takes, omitting the vague signification of turning to the right or left; we shall observe, that the more common turn of shells is with the apparent motion of the sun, or as the index or hand of a clock moves.

"But in order to be more clearly understood, let us compare the spiral volutions of a shell to a common cork-screw, and we shall find, that whether the mouth or apex is placed upwards, the spires will turn from the upper to the lower end like a common screw, which is in the same direction as the index of a time-piece, and what is commonly understood by a dextral or right-handed screw. As a further definition, such shells have their aperture on the right side, when examined with that end downward, and is in the direction of the sun's apparent motion.

"On the contrary, a reversed shell, when placed in a perpendicular position, has its spiral volutions in an opposite direction to the motion of the index of a watch, or a clock, or to a common screw, and in fact resembles what is usually termed a sinistral, or left-handed screw. These have their aperture on the left side, or opposite the left hand of the person holding the shell, with the mouth downwards, and the opening is opposite the sun's apparent motion.

"In order to determine whether a flat shell, whose volutions are laterally placed, is a reversed species, we have only to examine which way the volutions turn from the apex or centre towards the mouth; and if we find it contrary to the motion of the index of a watch, it is a heterostrophe, or reversed shell; and, vice versa.

"In some of the more depressed species of helix, or nautilus, attention is requisite to be paid to the mouth, in order to determine which is really the upper side of the shell, for it is on that side the spiral turns are to be taken from the centre or apex; and in most instances this is to be determined by the oblique direction of the aperture to the under part, where the lip rarely extends so far as on the upper part. In fixed shells, such as serpula, there is no difficulty, as the side which is sessile must be considered the base or under part; thus in the serpula lucida, the fixed part is sometimes very small, and the mouth protends spirally upwards, in a contrary direction to the sun, and therefore must be considered a reversed or heterostrophe shell, the same as if the volutions nearest the mouth had turned laterally upon the centre or fixed

ones.

"This shell, indeed, is most frequently found with regular lateral volutions; and

though subject to great variety, with respect to contortions, it invariably turns the aper ture one way.

"In some species of nautilus, however, there can be no rule to ascertain whether it is dextral or sinistral; for when the aperture is exactly lateral, the lip collapses the body equally, and the sides of the shell similar, as in N. calcar. it cannot be defined.

"In others of that genus, as in N. bec carii and beccarii perversus, two shells, the principal distinction of which is the contrary turn of their volutions, it is easily determined by the convexity of the upper side, and, of course, the aperture being placed somewhat beneath.”

As a corrective of the romantic particulars which have been published concerning the amours of snails, our readers will be pleased with Mr. Montague's more sober relation:

"It may be expected in the history of this animal, so long celebrated for acting the part of Cupid in its amours, that something should be said upon a subject so singular and extraordinary.

"So much, however, has been already written by different authors on the loves of snails, which requires more than common faith to credit, that we must beg to refer our curious readers to the more recent accounts of the actions of snails in love, given in the first volume of the Naturalist's Miscellany; where the author very properly prepares the reader for the belief of such wonders, by saying, I must request my readers to summon all their philosophical faith to receive the surprising particulars.'

"That the hermaphroditical animal of the helix aspersa, as well as h. nemoralis, (or at least some of them,) possess small testaceous spiculi at certain seasons, must be admitted; but that they are missile darts, we have much reason to doubt, though it is natural to suppose the animals are furnished with them, for the purpose of stimulating each other to love, because it is only at that season they are found to possess them. If such are ever dis charged at each other, we have been extremely unfortunate in our observations, for in no one instance could we ever find the dart penetrated, though at the time the animals are close, the point may irritate: but it is neither sufficiently strong, nor sharp-pointed, to pes netrate the tough skin with which these ani mals are furnished; and, indeed, the extreincly viscid secretion, with which they are so copiously provided, adheres so strongly to these spiculi, when wholly projected from the body, that they are for a time held by it. Perhaps we may be told hereafter, that this tough excretory fluid is used as a cord to regain these darts after they have been discharged, but such we should hold equally fabulous, with much of the accounts related by various authors,

These celebrated love-darts are subpellucid white, and very brittle, about a quarter of an inch or three-eighths in length, and somewhat triangular, like the blade of a small sword."

Next to the serpula, a new genus is formed for such as bear some affinity to that tribe, but do not come under the Linnæan generic character, being independent, and not affixed to other bodies. These, which are entirely of the more minute kind, and were almost wholly unknown to Linnæus, Mr. Montague has brought together, under the generic name vermiculum.

The genus teredo, our author proves, has been misplaced in the system. It is a compleat multivalve, and ought to be placed with the pholas, or between it and the balanus, for it has no affinity either to the serpula or dentarium. In a future edition, Mr. Montague will undoubtedly so place it.

The introductory remarks to the genus sabella are so judicious, as well as new, that we shall make no apology for subjoining them as a concluding extract:

"Before we enter upon the descriptions of the several species of sabella indigenous to the British coasts, it may not be improper to remark, that in placing them amongst shells we have deviated from our own opinion, and have followed the system of Linnæus, and other later writers, in continuing this genus amongst the vermes testacea.

"The tubes in which the animals of this class are enclosed, are all, more or less, composed of extraneous matter agglutinated together, such as sand, gravel, and broken shells, of a finer or coarser texture, according to the nature of the animal inhabitant, and not prepared by a testaceous secretion from the body of the animal, forming a compact solid substance, the true character of a shell. "Amongst the sabellæ of Linnæus, many larvæ of sub-aquatic flies are placed, several of which are to be found in our rivers and stagnant waters; but these, deriving their origin from winged insects, have no claim of affinity to a sabella, much less to a place in conchology.

"We are not aware that any true sabella is found in fresh water; and certainly no winged insect has yet been discovered to perform its change from the larva to the perfect fly, in salt water.

væ are concealed, are formed of whatever ex traneous matter is near, and which is encreased as its growth requires. This accounts for the many elegant varieties of such tubes. Some are composed wholly of small shells of various kinds, others of fragments of shels mixed with sand, bits of stick, stalks or fires of plants; and it is remarkable that some species attach pieces of stick longitudinally, while others bite off short pieces and plice them transverse, like basket-work, some plac ing them triangular, others quadrangular or riety is that found in waters abounding with lozenge shaped; but the most beautiful va helix nautileus, with which we have seen these cases compleatly coated, in a regular and most elegant manner, with their aper tures outwards, and some of the animals yet alive. Another variety, coated with fine sand and minute bits of shining mica, found in Cornwall, and other streams running over micaceous granite, is deserving notice; but we must not enter further on a subject which more properly belongs to entomology.

"Why a part of the Linnæan sabelle should be removed into the mollusca class of vermes, and others left amongst the testacea, is difficult to determine; for those whose ia• habitants are nereis, have no more claim to a place amongst shells, than such as are inhabited by an amphitrite or terebella; and might, certainly, with as much propriety, be transferred to their proper animal class.

"That the sabella genus should be wholly expunged, and the several animals placed in their respective genera amongst the inollesa, there can be no doubt; for those whose cases are made up of agglutinated fraginents of shells, the exuviæ of other animals, are as lit tle deserving a place amongst testacea, as those formed wholly of sand, or composed of both. Such are equally extraneous sub stances, foreign to the animals, and are only attached by a mucous or glutinous secretion, which forms the internal coating, and is the only part of such tubes really belonging to the animals; and which, in any species, cannot be termed more than coriaceous, but more commonly membranaceous, of a thin, flimsy, flexible substance when moist, but extremely fragile when dry."

Upon the whole, we congratulate the lovers of natural history on the expecta tion which they may justly form, of a further elucidation of British conchology from the continued labours of so acute,. so rational, and so diligent an observer. Mr. Montague is cultivating the proper field for the produce of real knowledge. Instead of gratifying an ill-founded sci entific vanity, in collecting a great va riety of rare specimens from the shores of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, of which nothing more than the shell is likely to be ever known, he is solicitous The tubes or cases in which these lar to become well acquainted with all that

"Gmelin has enumerated a great many sabelle which inhabit fresh water, principally on the authority of Schroeter, many of which are varieties only of the same imperfect insect: the larva of the ephemera vulgata, some that of phryganea, and perhaps other neuropterous insects.

relates to the comparatively few species which are found on his native coasts, and in the woods, the fields, and the streams to which he has daily access. Here the animal inhabitant may be studied and understood; and here principles may be investigated and established, which may be analogically applied to the shells of distant countries, and may gradually lead to a system founded on the primary and invariable lineaments of nature.

We have only to add, that figures of some of the rarer and hitherto unpublished species are given, drawn and engraved by a female friend of the author, for the execution of which a needless apology is offered. They are such as natural history figures should be, faithful delineations of the originals, correctly drawn, and clearly expressing the dis tinguishing characters.

ART. IV. Goldsmith's Natural History abridged, for the Use of Schools.
PILKINGTON. 8vo.

IN our former volume we expressed our satisfaction in contemplating the improved system of education, which is gradually making its way in our private schools. Our public ones, which boast of ancient foundation, and possess the advantage of established fame, are, we fear, too strongly wedded to prescribed and supposed venerable forms, to admit of any innovation. None are more sin cerely disposed than ourselves to acknowledge the value of classical attainments. We regard them as equally essential to the character of a scholar and a gentleman. Without them no one has a right to aspire to the profession of law, physic, or divinity: no one can properly discharge the duties of a statesman, or a magistrate.

But still they ought by no means to engage the whole of our attention in those early years, when alone a due preparation can be made for the active and beneficial employments of mature life. The productions of nature in what are usually called its three kingdoms, and the laws under which bodies act upon each other, are the materials on which men of all ranks and degrees are to work, and the rules by which they are to direct their operations. The former are the subjects of natural history: the lat. ter of natural philosophy. In some occupations they are of indispensible necessity in all, they are of admirable

use.

In the higher stations of life they are of peculiar importance, as affording perpetual and inexhaustible means of filling up those hours of leisure, which are too generally lost in listless ennui, or disgraced by dissipation and vice.

The man of large estate, the soldier, and the sailor, should, above all others, be naturalists. The latter are compelled by the duties of their office, the former is enabled by the independence of his

By Mrs.

fortune, and his freedom from professional confinement, to traverse distant regions, and to obtain the most favourable opportunities of studying their va rious productions. And if they have no turn for natural pursuits, how much vacant time will they be in danger of mis-spending? How much must they often suffer from an incapacity to find either business or amusement? But if they have been well instructed in the elements of natural science, how will they rejoice in the wide field of observation which opens upon them on every side? With what transport will they enter upon a new climate, and survey the novelties which burst upon their view? And how much will the progress of useful knowledge be accelerated by their enlightened researches ?

For this purpose, it is not sufficient to put into their hands an indigested history of animals, plants, and fossils, thrown together without order, and without principles. Such a one may amuse them for a few hours; but will as soon be forgotten, and scarcely ever resumed. Nothing can be of durable and substantial benefit, which does not in the outset call their judgment into action, and accustom them in its progress to examine and to compare, to define, and to arrange. System is the one thing needful, A bad one is better than none: but the best is certainly to be desired; and even of this best, they should be carefully taught the defici encies; that in all their observations they may direct their attention to its advancement, and may skilfully employ their talents in raising it nearer to perfection. When a disposition to analyze and to methodize is produced, the stamina of a naturalist are formed: every succeeding year will add to his strength: no bounds can be set to his growth; and,

as is said of cartilaginous fishes, he will continue to increase as long as he continues to live.

We fear the work now before us will not greatly contribute to this pleasing effect. Mrs. Pilkington has been singularly unfortunate in the author she has chosen to abridge, and in the judgment she has formed of his character. She misleads her fair pupil, Miss Elphinstone, when she informs her in the dedication that Goldsmith, as a natural historian, has obtained universal credit. She has been strangely misinformed, or she would not have said in her preface, that his history of animated nature is justly and universally admired. The fact is, Goldsmith was no naturalist. Whenever he wrote from the spontaneous impulse of his own mind, he wrote in verse and among the poets of the latter end of the eighteenth century, he is of the first order. But, like many other men of genius, he was too indolent to do much without an additional stimulus. When he wrote in prose, he wrote for bread.

Goldsmith, said Dr. Johnson, is writing a history of ancient Rome, and he will make it as entertaining as a novel: he might have added, and as little entitled to credit. Master of a pleasing style, he had a happy facility in working up the materials of other writers into an elegant and imposing form: but as he possessed no extensive range of knowledge, and was almost equally void of discriminating and of combining powers, he compiled always without judgment, and too often without care. With respect to his natural history, he is said to have acknowledged that he treated what he thought a trifling subject in a trifling manner. Fortunately for him there was then in the English language no popular view of the subject

which could boast of any degree of dies
gance, and his work had an extensive
sale. It may still continue to amuse
those who read only for amusement, but
it has no further claim; nor can any
abridgment of it be ever employed with
advantage as an elementary book. Such
a book is still a desideratum in our lan-
guage; and it is, we fear, an acqui
sition which we are not likely soon to
obtain. To make it what we wish it to
be, will require an union of genius and
science, which is rarely employed in
providing the first rudiments of know-
ledge for the young. We know of only
one living writer, who has all the qua
lifications necessary for the task, and is,
at the same time, accustomed to the
consideration of entering into the imper.
fect views, and supplying the wants of
the uninstructed mind. No one who has
read (and who has not read?) the sketches
of natural history, scattered through the
little volumes entitled Evenings at Home,
can be at a loss to guess whom we mean.
That writer's plain and elegant style,
and happy talent for familiar illustra
tion, would be most beneficially em
ployed in conducting the unpractised
naturalist through the three kingdoms
of nature, in explaining the principles
on which the classification of their va
rious parts has been conducted, and in
selecting such details as would render
the whole equally interesting and in-
structive.

At present, we can only lament that Mrs. Pilkington has bestowed her time and attention on a work which will not fulfill her laudable intentions. But in justice to her it is incumbent upon us to add, and we add with pleasure, that her abridgment, as far as we have com pared it with the original, is faithful and elegant.

ART. V. A History of Quadrupeds, adapted to the Capacity of Youth. By Mrs. MARY TRIMMER, of Kentish Town. 8vo.

WHEN this history of quadrupeds was first announced, we felt some prepossession in its favour. We did not, indeed, expect that it would realize the ideas expressed in our last article, but the respectable name of Trimmer in duced us to look for some judgment in the arrangement, and for much moral instruction in the application of its materials. A glance at the title-page lowered our hopes, by introducing to us

which

a Mrs. Mary Trimmer, and not the
well known author of various publica.
tions for the use of young persons,
have been so generally circulated and
approved. A slight view of the work
completely dispelled them, and con
vinced us that, if Mrs. Pilkington's
Abridgment of Goldsmith must by no
means aspire to the honour of being ad
mitted as an exmentary book for the
instruction of youth in an advanced

Stage of their education, Mrs. Mary Trimmer's compilation will have no just cause of complaint if it be consigned to the very lowest form. In some respects, it may be advantageously put into the hands of such as have just advanced beyond their hornbook, and have learnt to put syllables together. The figures will excite the curiosity, and some of the details will fix the attention of the little urchins, much better than a book of moral sentences; the subject itself will more usefully enlarge their ideas than is done by most of the fictitious tales which at present form the principal rudiments of their learning. But before it can become fit for this humble office, it must receive some material defalcations and corrections: nothing must be said in it about procreation, rutting seasons, and organs of generation; nor should a child be told, what every one but a child in natural history knows to be false, that the argali and the musmon

ART. VI. Tracts on the Natural History of Animals and Vegetables. Translated from the original Italian of the Able SPALLANZANI, by John Graham Dalzell, Esq. Advocate. Second Edition. 2 vols. 8vo.