'On leaving the lias to come to the inferior formations, we observe a great difference in the form of the posterior extremity of the body in the Ganoidians. All have their vertebral column prolonged at its extremity into a single lobe, which reaches to the end of the caudal fin, and this peculiarity extends even to the most ancient fishes. Another observation worthy of attention is, that we do not find fishes decidedly carnivorous before the carboniferous series; that is to say, fish provided with large conical and pointed teeth. The other fish of the secondary series below the chalk appear to have been omnivorous, their teeth being either rounded, or in obtuse cones, or like a brush.

The discovery of coprolites containing very perfect scales of fish which had been eaten, permits us to recognise the organized beings which formed the food of many ancient fish; even the intestines, and, in some fossil fish of the chalk, the whole stomach are preserved, with its different membranes. In a great number of fish from Sheppey, the chalk, and the oolite series, the capsule of the bulb of the eye is still uninjured; and in many species from Monte Bolca, Solenhofen, and the lias, we see distinctly all the little blades which form the branchiæ.

It is in the series of deposits below the lias that we begin to find the largest of those enormous sauroid fish whose osteology recalls, in many respects, the skeletons of saurians, both by the closer sutures of the bones of the skull, their large conical teeth, striated longitudinally, and the manner in which the spinous processes are articulated with the body of the vertebræ and the ribs at the extremity of the spinous processes.

The small number of fish yet known in the transition formations does not as yet permit the author to assign to them a peculiar character; nor has he discovered in the fossil fish of strata below the green sand any differences corresponding with those now observed between marine and freshwater fish, so that it is impossible, on ichthyological data, to decide on the freshwater or marine origin of the ancient groups.'

The general inference then appears to be that fossil fishes approach nearest to existing genera and species in the more recent tertiary deposits; and that, in formations of the greatest antiquity the difference is greatest, while, in the intermediate strata, intermediate changes of ichthyological condition are obvious. Moreover it is evident that all the great alterations in the character of fossil fishes have occurred simultaneously with the most important changes in the other departments of fossil zoology, as well as in that of fossil botany; and that these revolutions were accompanied also by an alteration in the mineral condition of the deposits. Thus, the genera that prevail in the carboniferous strata disappear after the deposition of the zechstein or magnesian limestone. After the zechstein was formed, those of the oolitic series were introduced-and suddenly ceased to exist upon the commencement of

the

the chalk formation, in which we first see an approximation to existing genera. The lower tertiary strata of London, Paris, and Monte Bolca present forms still more similar to fishes now living; while the fossils of Oeningen and Aix approach yet nearer to existing genera, though every one of the species seems to be extinct.

This summary is not interesting merely to the geologist,—the zoologist and physiologist will find in it ample materials for thinking, in relation to the creative influence and the development of animal life.

Some of our readers may be induced to smile at the gravity with which the coprolites (those faæcal balls first discovered by Dr. Buckland, and which have thrown so much light on the organization of fossil animals) are introduced in the abstract above quoted. In the Bulletin of the Imperial Society of Moscow for 1833 will be found the following additional testimony, if any were required, to their value:

"Le temps, qui répand de la dignité sur tout ce qui échappe à son pouvoir destructeur, fait voir ici un exemple singulier de son influence; ces substances si viles dans leur origine, étant rendues à la lumière après tant de siècles, deviennent d'une grande importance, puis qu'elles servent à remplir un nouveau chapître dans l'histoire naturelle du globe.'

Professor Agassiz had come to the conclusions which we have above endeavoured shortly to explain, from the study of more than six hundred fossils on the Continent. His visit to England bas already furnished him with two hundred and fifty new species, which entirely corroborate his views. In his Rapport sur les Poissons Fossiles découverts en Angleterre,' our ichthyologist speaks with the most grateful acknowledgment of the facilities every where afforded him. The doors of all the museums, both public and private, flew open at his approach. Edinburgh, with its new and interesting fossils from the limestone of Burdie-house, discovered by the zealous and discerning Dr. Hibbert-our own British Museum, whose stores were laid open to him in the most unreserved manner*-the Geological Museum at Oxford, which, under the fostering care of Dr. Buckland, has become so rich— Bristol-York,-in short every public collection placed its specimens at his disposal. Of the private museums, those of the fossil zootomist Mantell, and of Lord Cole and Sir Philip Egerton, the one at Florence Court, the other at Oulton Park, appear to have

We take this opportunity of observing that our own pursuits often lead us to our great national collection, and that we have always been met by the most willing endeavours to assist in our inquiries, and by the inost obliging attentions on the part of its officers,

contributed

contributed the most largely to his additions. The cabinets of the two friends and brother-collectors last named, Professor Agassiz describes as being so rich in the number of species, that there are no continental collections except those of Count Munster and of the Paris Museum to compete with theirs. But our limits will not permit us to continue a catalogue containing the names of almost every British collector,-for not a contributor's name is omitted in the Rapport' of the Professor,-who, however, we suspect will hardly pardon us if we omit la jolie collection de Madame Murchison,' which, among other treasures, boasts of une tête de sauroïde de lias encore indéterminée.' All seem to have been animated with the same spirit; and it is far from unpleasant to witness the gratitude which Professor Agassiz manifests for the attentions shown to him, after the too many opposite returns which foreigners have made to John Bull in requital of his open-hearted liberality.

But what was to be done with the enormous influx of new materials poured in upon our author from the British collections? The question was answered by the Geological Society of London, that band of hard-working brothers, always ready to assist a worthy fellow-labourer. And here we must let Dr. Agassiz speak for himself:

'La Société Géologique de Londres est une de ces institutions qui, organisée sur les bases les plus libérales, favorise de son influence tout ce qui peut contribuer, même indirectement, aux progrès de la science. Je dois en particulier aux vues larges et généreuses du Président et des membres du conseil de cette Société, d'avoir pu faire à Londres un travail qui, sans l'appui et l'autorisation d'une association aussi considérée, serait devenu impossible, et qui même n'a point d'antécédent dans l'histoire des sciences naturelles. Trouvant épars dans tous les musées des trois royaumes une quantité prodigieuse de documens nouveaux et importans pour mon ouvrage, j'étais embarrassé sur la manière d'en tirer le meilleur parti; il me paraissait surtout presque impossible de faire dessiner, dans les petites villes ou dans les pares isolés, les pièces les plus importantes que j'y trouvais, assez bien pour pouvoir les reproduire dans les planches de mes Recherches. Mais telle est la libéralité des savans Anglais, que tous ceux dont j'ai examiné les collections, même les directeurs de tous les musées publics que j'ai visités (j'ai examiné en tout 63 collections), ont consenti à me laisser emporter tous les exemplaires qui me paraissaient pouvoir jeter quelque nouveau jour sur les poissons fossiles. A la demande de M. le Professeur Buckland, M. Greenough, maintenant Président de la Société Géologique, et MM. Sedgwick, Murchison, et Lyell, m'ont en outre procuré l'assentiment de la Société pour déposer tous ces trésors dans un appartement de Somerset House. Là, M. Lonsdale, conservateur des collections de la Société, m'a aidé à ranger les 2000 exemplaires de poissons fossiles que je rapportais, et que

j'avais

j'avais choisis, sur environ 5000 pièces, en parcourant l'Angleterre et une partie de l'Ecosse et de l'Irlande. Une pareille faveur est inestimable, surtout quand on pense à la difficulté qu'il y a de transporter des objets aussi fragiles, et dont la perte serait irréparable.'

The great work is now proceeding rapidly; five livraisons have been published with the approbation of all scientific Europe; and indeed the illustrations, principally produced by the skilful artist above named, leave nothing to be desired. The figures absolutely appear to stand out from the paper; and to the pictorial effect is joined a fidelity so accurate that the most minute scale or tooth is represented. But it may be naturally inquired-Here is a married man, only twenty-eight years of age, with an income amounting in all to about 150l. a year of our money;-how was this costly and magnificent work launched, and how is it carried on? Dr. Agassiz, we reply, prior to his appointment as professor at Neuchâtel, sold to that town the whole of his collections for 300l. The King of Prussia gave, by the advice of Humboldt, to whom the book is dedicated, 2001. Nor should we be surprised if this same government, careful as it has shown itself of the education of its youth and the spread of science among its people, should again come forward to enable Professor Agassiz to continue a work which, in consequence of an increased development, requires so many more plates than the subscription can possibly pay it gives largely in aid of Professor Goldfuss's excellent publications at Bonn.

We are not of those who are in raptures with the British Association for the advancement of Science.' It delights in greater display than becomes the modesty of philosophers; nor do we think that their mutual bepraisings-their amoebæan eulogies-are at all likely to add to their dignity. Wherever they go- Earth no such folks, no folks have such a town;' and we cannot view with feelings of complacency our scientific Sampsons led forth to make sport on its festivals, even though the exhibition should be hallowed by a few sprinklings from the fountain of honour distributed through the spout of Ireland's Viceroy.'

While, however, we do not conceal our opinion of its faults, we must not be blind to its merits; and we were sorry to see that certain hectic symptoms made their appearance in the last autumn, indicative of anything but soundness of constitution-more especially as the Association has twice voted one hundred guineas for the encouragement of works on fossil fishes executed in England. A committee composed of Dr. Buckland, Professor Sedgwick, and Mr. Murchison decided-in our opinion most wisely-that the greater portion of the sum should be applied to drawings of the new species which Professor Agassiz is about to describe; and

we sincerely hope that the scientific public of England will, by many additional subscriptions, aid the great object on which such authority has set the seal of approbation.

He who enters upon a work of this kind must, like the prince in the Arabian tale, go forward at all hazards, untmindful of the warning voices that call upon him to relinquish his object—if he turns back he is lost. Nor are we ashamed to own that we feel a little of the mother within us, when we picture to ourselves the overshadowing of those bitter moments that make the heart fail, even where the stalk of carle hemp is strong in the man. Then it is that the 'unconquerable bar'the frail tenure on which we hold our mortal being-the gush of feeling for the uxor optima and the dulces nati-arise like evil spirits to add horror to the dark hour of genius.

ART. VII.-The Original. By Thomas Walker, M.A., Cambridge; Barrister-at-Law, and one of the Police Magistrates of the Metropolis. Vol. I. (Originally published in Weekly Numbers.) 8vo. London. 1835.

THEN the well-known line

WHEN

Who rules o'er freemen should himself be free,' was repeated in Dr. Johnson's hearing, he endeavoured to throw ridicule on the sentiment by a parody

Who drives fat oxen should himself be fat;'

but, with all due deference to the Ursa Major of criticism, we cannot help thinking that a man's exposition or representation of a character may derive both truth and vividness from its resemblance to his own. Does any one, for example, believe that Mr. De Quincey would have expatiated so eloquently on the glories of opium-eating, had he not been himself a veritable Turk in such matters? or that Charles Lamb could ever have indited his Confessions of a Drunkard' had he lived all his life as soberly as Madame Pasta* or Sir Andrew Agnew?

From the first announcement of this publication, therefore, our decided opinion was, that it would fail unless The Original should prove himself the great sublime he drew; and we were not a little rejoiced to find, as well from the inestimable scraps of autobiography scattered amongst the essays as from other less palpable

The last time Madame Pasta was in England a literary lady of high distinction asked her whether she drank as much porter as usual:-No, mia cara, prendo half-and-half adesso'... Half-and-half is a light summer beverage composed of porter and ale in equal proportions.

indications,