Lough Diver.-Much confusion prevails with regard to the distinction between this and the duck called castaneous; we do not pretend to unravel it. A description of the bird is given in the body of the work. The same may be said of the next : Anas Canadensis-Lin. Oie à Cravate-Buf. Canada goose. An occasional visitor. It forms a suitable enough companion, though it greatly exceeds in size the one on the opposite page. Anas Albifrons-Lin. Oie Rieuse-Buf. White fronted goose. Anas Nyraca-Lin. (Gmel.) Castaneous duck. Mr. B. calls this the castaneous duck, we know not upon what authority. It seems to be the ferruginous duck of Pennant and Montagu, the tufted duck, var. Ŏ. of Latham, the olive tufted duck, Brit. Miscell. This it is to multiply names. Anas Moschata-Lin. Canard musque-Buf. Musk duck. From the great size of this duck, the ease of rearing it, and its superiority to the common duck, it is rather surprising that it has not been more generally cultivated. It is pugnacious, especially the male, sparring and striking somewhat after the manner of our common poultry. Its gait is freer than the tame duck, the feet being placed nearer the centre of the body; its movenients more alert, manner more restless, but more reserved. A useful hybrid is produced between it and the tame duck. It would form a valuable acquisition to rural and household economy; so probably might the eider be made were due pains taken. The bird figured as the young of the Larus Rissa-Lin. or kittiwake, will proclaim its lineage at once, without the aid of description. To those who with us have seen myriads of these beauteous inoffensive creatures peopling the stupendous cliffs that raise their front to heaven amid the north sea foam, this living breathing likeness will bring to mind many a pleasant scene" traversed so oft in life's morning march." The bird figured in Montagu's Appendix as the L. Minutus or little gull of Gmelin and Pallas, we agree with Mr. B. in considering an individual of this very species, in a different, perhaps more advanced stage of plumage. Indeed it is more than doubtful whether the L. Minutus has ever been authenticated as a British bird. We would here hazard a doubt as to the advantage resulting from that propensity which inclines some to seize upon * In the last volume of the Transactions of the Wernerian Natural History Society is an interesting account of Foula, one of the Zetland Islands, by Capt. Vetch, of the corps of Royal Engineers. In the ornithological part of it are some particulars respecting the kittiwake. He supposes it a "habit of this bird to prefer covered places of breeding," from their congregating in a natural arch. We are disposed to regard it as an instance of what we have already alluded to, namely locality modifying habit. The kittiwake in general affects mural, open, and exposed precipices for the purpose of nidification. Amongst others, we would instance Noss Head and Barrafirth, two of its most favourite resorts in the Zetland Islands. New Series, VOL. IV. X and make a denizen, nolens volens, of every feathered straggler. We do not deem our Fauna so poor as to require this. We are disappointed to find the boldest and most elegant of the tribe, the arctic gull, L. Parasiticus, still wanting in Mr. B.'s work. It is neither so rare nor shy but a specimen might have been procured. Its more minute history is rather obscure. Some observations by Dr. Edmonston and Mr. L. Edmonston, in the later numbers of the Edin. Phil. Journal promise to throw light on it.* Enough, however, has appeared to prove Montagu's speculations to have been as well founded as they were acute, namely, that the L. Crepidatus and the young of the arctic gull are identical. Cuvier, in his Regne Animal, even so late as 1817, adopts from Brisson the genus Stercoraires, (the genus Lestris of Illiger,) in which he includes the L. Parasiticus and L. Crepidatus as distinct species. It is not a little singular to find so distinguished a writer not only retail the long received, but now universally exploded belief, in the unnatural instinct of these birds, but actually introduce a genus implying the existence of this habit. From the size of the pair of black toed gulls in the Edin. Museum, we have sometimes fancied that they might be the young of the Catarractes. Has the young of the catarractes ever been precisely observed and discriminated? The lesser black back, as it is called, Larus Glaucus, is also wanting to complete this numerous, changeful, and hitherto imperfectly discriminated tribe of birds. Scolopax Canescens-Lin. (Gmel.) Cinereous godwit, This bird terminates the supplement. Mr. B. closes his description of it with some remarks on the confusion which prevails regarding the scolopax and tringa genera. The fluctuation of plumage, reserved habits, and near affinities of these numerous and illdefined tribes will long oppose obstacles to the settlement of their respective claims. Nor will the absence of all precision in the language of colour, be one of the least obstacles to such settlement. Writers on natural history have, indeed, denied themselves a powerful auxiliary in so long hesitating to adopt Werner's Nomenclature of Colours, or some other constructed on a similar basis. We must give full credit to Mr. B. for the disinterestedness of his wishes on this point (excepting so far as he has to depend on the information of others), for no one stands less in need of colour to render his figures recognizable. Mr. B. continues, we think judiciously, and at all events, consistently with the scheme of his work, to reject all synonymes but the most common and popular of the French from Buffon. Ornithology has, perhaps, from the very nature of the subject, * Capt. Vetch states several curious facts which manifest a nice and accurate observation of the habits and economy of the arctic gull. 1 suffered more than any other branch of zoology, from the laboured aggregation of synonymes, and the creation of new terms. To Linnæus this privilege might be allowed, were it only to show the chaos out of which he brought order; but where is the necessity of varying or repeating names for the fiftieth time? Not the least amusing part of the matter is that though authors predetermine to refuse to such synonyma all authority in their writings, a lurking penchant for display leads to their insertion, and to its unavoidable concomitants,-additional bulk and expense. When once the identity of a bird has been ascertained, and its place in the prevailing nomenclature universally acknowledged, and therefore fixed, all names but the Linnæan, or systematic, and the best established vernacular name, may be advantageously dispensed with; unless, perhaps, in the form of notes, to serve as the basis of future catalogues. We could say much on this subject, and on the principles and details of classification; but our limits do not admit of more than one or two remarks. To us it appears as though the aspect which natural history in general, and ornithology in particular, presents, however bright in some respects, were by no means encouraging, so far as classification is concerned. So many new arrangements and modifications (mere transpositions would have been immaterial) have been propounded and are daily pouring forth, that we look in vain for that universality of language which it was the primary object of Linnæus to establish, which was spoken by his illustrious pupils and their immediate successors, and enabled them to do the mighty things they have done towards the elucidation of nature. In Germany and the north of Europe, a close adherence to the Linnæan system;-amongst ourselves, the intermingling with that system alterations from every quarter ;-in France the rejection of this and all other systems, and the creation of a new one, or rather a variety of systems different in their principles, and endlessly varied in their details,—promise' such a store of glorious confusion for the naturalists of Europe, as will of itself long afford them matter of employment. We may be wrong, but much of this "most admired disorder," we imagine, can be traced to a too early meddling with the Linnæan system, chiefly by two writers, whose popularity and influence were for a long time very considerable; but who, whatever their other merits might be, were not the best qualified either for rectifying old systems, or framing new. We mean Buffon and Pennant. The one affected to despise all systemthe other entertained the utmost reverence for the Linnæn system. Nevertheless each must be indulged with a system of his own. We would touch this subject with all the delicacy and deference which are due to the eminent authors who have so greatly illustrated it. We are not decrying innovation;-time and circumstances suiting, change is not only desirable, but indis pensable. But we respectfully submit the following question to the consideration of the learned; and though at the risk of our notions being thought rather antiquated, we would desire to be understood as putting the case gravely and even strongly thus: Would the branch of natural history of which we are now treating, have been injured or improved, supposing that naturalists had gone on conforming to the Linnæan arrangement, even with all its errors and imperfections (and they are doubtless manifold), until such time as more matured and definite information, a general wish felt, and inconvenience expressed by the scientific world, should, while it demanded, have sanctioned the intro-. duction of a new or an improved system worthy of universal adoption?" But we must desist, and bring to a conclusion an article which has expanded itself under our hands much beyond what was at first contemplated. The general tone of our remarks will have sufficiently evinced the high opinion we entertain of Mr. B.'s unpretending but meritorious labours. He has now all but perfected a work that must endure while a delightful branch of knowledge continues to be cultivated; nor do we despair of yet having to congratulate him on giving to it the finishing stroke of his graver. Before taking leave, we would direct his attention to one work that would prove acceptable to every British naturalist, amateur, and sportsman. It is still a desideratum, viz: "A Manual of British Ornithology," with Mr. Bewick's cuts, and the leading generic and specific characters attached, in the manner of Smellie's Elements, or Turton's Manual. The materials for such or any similar work are in his hands, to be moulded into any form he may think fit.-[H.] ARTICLE XVI. Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. June 21.-A paper was read on the Rocks that occur in the Neighbourhood of Bovey Tracey, in Devonshire. By J. G. Croker, Esq. The rocks which have been observed within this tract are granite, containing veins of tin and copper ores, a remarkable vein of micaceous iron ore, and its fissures tourmaline and apatite. Sienite containing ores of lead and copper, red sandstone, limestone of several varieties, and Bovey coal. The author details the topographical situations and boundaries. of these various rocks; but the assistance of the map by which the paper is accompanied, is necessary to render the descriptions fully intelligible. A letter from Sir Henry Bunbury, Bart. to Dr. Somerville, MGS. was read, giving an account of the strata pierced through in boring to the depth of 270 feet below the surface, at Mildenhall, in Suffolk. This boring was made in the hope of raising water to a higher level than that of the surface; but though the water filled the shaft, it did not rise above it. The substances passed through in this trial were the following: Feet. 1. Common white chalk, without flints. 35 4. Blue clay. ... .... 5. Ditto darker and harder. 6. Ditto mixed with green sand. 7. Green sand with various fossils. 5 136 54 10 10 11 9 270 Among the fragments of fossils brought up by the boring machine were pieces of pentacrinite stalks, and fragments having the appearance of pyrites from the green sand. A notice respecting the quartz rock of Bromsgrove Lickie, by Mr. James Yates, MGS. was read. The quartz rock here referred to has been described by the Rev. Mr. Buckland, in the fifth volume of the Geological Transactions. The present notice details the characters and local positions of a series of specimens presented by the author to the Society. The quartz rock passes on one hand into coarse friable limestone, in which the crystalline structure entirely disappears; and on the other, into a rock composed of minute quartz crystals. The specimens illustrate this transition, and it is remarkable, that the crystalline varieties contain impressions of shells. In sinking a shaft to the depth of 40 or 50 yards on the eastern side of the Lower Lickie range, some of the usual beds of the coral formation were passed through; and at a considerable depth a limestone was found containing shells, which appear to belong to the genus anomia, beneath which was the quartz rock also containing impressions of shells of the same kind. These facts the author considers as sufficient to determine the class to which this rock belongs, and to place it decidedly among the transition series of formations. The quartz rock of the Lickie is similar to that which occurs at the southern extremity of the Malvern Hills, and to the quartz grit of the Wrekin described by Mr. Aikin in the first volume |