occasion a paper was read by Mr. William Webb on Heat. The Reader justified the introduction of such a subject in a Natural History Society, by pointing out its universal influence over every part of the universe. The two conflicting theories respecting the nature of caloric were brought forward, and a number of facts illustrative of the phenomena of the ra diation and absorption of heat were noticed, their influence on animals and vegetables alluded to, and the difference between latent and combined caloric explained. The following donations to the Museum were received, viz. :-Addresses delivered to the Proprietors of the Liverpool Royal Institution at their different annual meetings, from Thomas Martin, Esq., Secretary; Proceedings of the Committee of Science, and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London for 1832, presented hy the Council; thirteen copper, and five silver coins, from Mr. Herdman, Mill-street; a Hottentot carosse of the skin of the bonti-bok, and two bottles of snakes, from Mr. Robert Halliday, Esq., Cape of Good Hope; a species of limalu, or king-crab of the Americans, from New Orleans, presented by Samuel Vance, Esq.; a number of British and exotic insects, from J. O. Westwood, Esq. F.L. S.-part of these were received in exchange for some of the Society's insects, and the remainder as a donation; some insects, from John Curtis, F.L.S.; specimens of a few of the smaller British fishes, from William Yarrell, Esq., F.L.S.; specimens of Hippothon Elliotac and Linneus Grazemus Jeff., from John Ed. Gray, Esq., F.R.S.; nine large bottles of East Indian reptiles, from Major Martin; specimens of the turbo politas, from Bantry Bay, presented by Mr. John Humphreys, Cork; a fine skin of a boa constrictor, from Mrs. Dickey, Myrtlefield; fossil horn of the stag, (cervus elephas,) dug up in the vicinity of Belfast, from William Sinclaire, Esq., ten specimens of native birds, stuffed and in cases, being the remainder of thirty, including some rare species, from John Montgomery, Esq., Locust-lodge; a flying fish, and some of the rarer land and fresh water shells of Ireland, from William Thompson, Esq.; a collection of Irish marine shells, from Mrs. James Thomson Tennent; a number of foreign shells from a lady; a collection of Irish shells, from Robert Templeton, Esq.; some rare Irish marine shells, from George C. Hyndman, Esq. The valuable donation of bird skins from Chili, received from James George Hull, Esq., of Santiago, had been announced on a former evening. Part of them having now been stuffed, by Mr. Carfrae, of Edinburgh, were exhibited, and, by the variety of their attitudes, and the contrast of their plumage, excited general admiration. Among them we noticed herons of different species, falcons, owls, ducks, flamingoes, spoonbills, kingsfishers, &c. CRITICAL NOTICES. The Naturalist's Library. Ornithology. Vol. 1. Humming Birds-By Sir William Jardine, Bart., F.R SE., &c. 8vo. pp. 147. burgh, Lizars; Dublin, Curry and Co. There could scarcely have been a better chosen subject to commence a Naturalist's Library than the history of the golden humming birds of southern countries. They were calculated to captivate attention by their curious forms and habits but more particularly by their lustrous and gorgeously varied plumage. Diminutive in their proportions, their wings arched and lengthy, the plumulets firmly united, and the shafts of the quills remarkably strong and elastic, their flight is so swift as to be compared by some to a meteor, and by others to the descent of a sun beam. Though hovering over one side of a shrub while the so frail and delicate, they are familiar, fruit or flowers are plucked from that opposite, and when about to feed they poise themselves over the favorite flower so steadily, that the wings become invisible or only like a mist, and they then suddenly dart off to the object. They are singularly intelligent, and Mr. Bullock relates the curious manner in which they rob the large Mexican bird spider of his prey. These bee-like and beautiful creations, which Sir William Jardine has so ably illustrated, are, perhaps, the only birds that possess to an equal extent, variety of colour, and a lustre that approaches so nearly to that of the more brilliant metals and gems. Superb mantles were made of their feathers by the Mexicans, pictures were embroidered with their skins, and jewels stolen from their "starry fronts," are worn by the Indian's bride. Yet these tints are versatile with the reflected light, and farther appear to vary at different ages in different sexes, and it is not certain if, like the Indian Bunting (Emberiza Paradisea), they do not undergo certain changes in different seasons which render the recognition of species oftentimes a source of considerable doubt. Of the first kind we have examples in the ruby-crested humming bird, in which the bird of one year is of a brownish grey.The Trochilus mellivorus from the considerable differences which exist between the plumage of the young and the old bird, has been described under more than one name. The T. recurvirostris, in which the recurvature of the bill was supposed to be accidental, till Wilson pointed out the necessity of such a provision to enable the bird to obtain honey from some of the pendant Bignonacea, is not in its complete plumage, and the young male and female of the T. magnifica differ from one another, and again in the adult state: it is indeed only the adult male that has any pretensions to the name which Viellot gave them. The second source of difficulty is exemplified in the difference between the male and female of the T. chalybeas, as figured by Lisson, and other species. In many the fe male is unknown-this is the case in the T. furcatus, T. cyansus, and T. petasphonis, figured in the work before us. The disappearance of crests, tufts, and other appendages, is a most common, if not a constant occurrence, and in many species there is even variety in size; this is the case in the female of T. ornatus, which wants the crest and neck tufts, and is less in size than the male. In the T. delandii, the crown of the male is adorned with a crest, and the fore part of the throat is of a deep azure blue, in the female this crest is wanting, and the upper parts are of a golden green. The third cause of difficulty in specific determinations, occurs in the tufts of certain species, as the T. scutatus, T. ornatus, and T. Audenetii, which perhaps are in the ruff (Tringa pugnax), only appear during the breeding season. There are varieties in the birds themselves which are independent of all these circumstancesthus Lalham describes three states of the William as the T. prasina. Lastly, there are variations effected by the sole infiuence of situation, which is strikingly exemplified in the evening humming bird (T. vesper), which inhabits the neighbourhood of Valparaiso, upon the naked and little wooded plains, and upon these elevated spots, wants the splendid lustre of the upper plumage. Professor Rennie has condescended to say, that "with the exception of one thing," Sir William Jardine can write ; we think so too, but we doubt very much how far this could be carried without those altered translations and frequent quotations which serve to connect the very few observations for which a work of mere illustration leaves space. The work, however, on every account is deserving of the highest encomiums, and is unparalleled in cheapness---35 beautifully coloured plates for 6s. and we shall look out with interest for its continuation. Edinburgh Cabinet Library. No. 11. Life of Sir Walter Raleigh, by Patrick Fraser Tytler, Esq., F. R.S. and F.S.A. In one vol-Edin. burgh, Oliver and Boyd; and Simpkin and Marshall, London. 1833. We should be guilty of an injustice to merits of the volume before us, were we our own opinions, as well as to the great to confine our commendations, so far as merely to consider it in reference to its valuable and interesting series, or as conforming an individual number of a most have issued from the press, executed upon trasted with any of the works which a nearly similar plan. It is, in fact, one of the ablest productions in point of arrangement and style, and the most attractive in interest, amongst the many publications which have lately appeared to canvass for popular favour. The conductors of the Edinburgh Cabinet Library, without any affectation or unequitable claims in their behalf, upon the founded pretensions, have established liberal patronage of the public: from the outset, their successive volumes have tive information, conveyed alike with been distinguished for varied and instrucconciseness and elegance; they have not undertaken a task which, upon experiment, they have been detected as incompetent to effect; nor are they likely to commit the error, by which some of their cotemporaries have suffered, and not untheir material and the number of their justly, in impoverishing the strength of resources, by an indiscreet and unprofitable anxiety to publish, as it would appear, against time. The just and honor T. furcatus, and the same author mentions three varieties of the T. viridissimum, one of which is figured by Sirable meed of approbation, to which we conceive the managers of the Edinburgh series entitled, would appear to us to deserve to be founded, not so much upon their placing knowledge within (reach of all classes of the community, by the cheapness of their publications, as upon their judicious policy in allowing due time for such a proper execution, and to speak technically, "getting up" of the work as must secure the instruction it contains being the very best of its kind. Hence, very naturally, their consecutive numbers are looked forward to with a deeper interest, as experience has proved that they will only treat of important subjects, to which ample justice cannot fail to be rendered when treated of by writers of first rate ability. very It has been remarked, that it is difficult to fix the era of the "Age of Chivalry;"-almost all the old writers who discuss the topic, speaking of it as long antecedent to their own times.However, we are content to consider the reign of Elizabeth as the age of England's chivalry, replete, as every one perusing the volume before us must allow it to have been, with every thing that could give birth to and cherish gallantry and courage, and abounding with the most celebrated proficients in both. The list of illustrious characters which are to be found in the court annals of the virgin queen, sufficiently bears us out in the preceding position; a list, which for the extraordinary assemblage it exhibits of varied and distinguished talent, has never, we may safely assert, been equalled since; neither in truth, we may add, is such an event likely to take place in time to come; as we have no data at present to justify us in calculating upon a similar array of warriors arising at any future period, in behalf of a true religion and upright politics; while the darkened line of the literary horizon forbids us to anticipate the advent of a second Shakspeare in literature, to whom might be applied what was no less merited by the first, in allusion to his knowledge of nature, than by the celebrated Abelard, of whom it was said, “Cui soli patuit scibile quicquid erat." But, if chivalry may be considered as at its meridian during Elizabeth's reign, we may look upon it as set altogether upon the death of Raleigh, to rise no more. Had it pleased Providence to spare the noblest and the loveliest of her race, in the person of the lamented daughter of George the Fourth; all that might with justice have been expected from the simplicity and integrity of goodness, the affectionate warmth and kind sympathies of benevolence, and the majesty and time and space require that we should A Father's Present to his Son. Wakeman, Dublin. 1833. This little volume has been published as a companion to the well known compilations "The Sacred Harp," and "A Mother's Present to her Daughter," and were we merely to regard it as a specimen of what may be done by our metropolitan printers, it would deserve no small degree of praise; but though in beauty of typography it would be difficult to point out any English work which excels it, yet this is the least of its attractions, as it contains a most excellent selection from the most approved authors, whose names are alone sufficient guarantee for the excellence of the materiel chosen by the Editor for the construction of this little volume, which we most strongly recommend not only as an appropriate present for young persons, but also as well adapted for the perusal of all who, with out the opportunity or time necessary for consulting the numerous works to which the Editor has had access, would yet wish to be acquainted with the most striking and interesting portion of the writings of those who have toiled to advance the dearest interests of mankind. We trust NEW MUSIC. My Harp o'er which so oft I've hung. In imi. tation of an Irish Melody. Sung by Mrs. Wood at the Rotonda. Composed by D. Conran, Willis's, Westmoreland-street. Mr. D. Conran is a composer we turn to with great respect, as we know he has written several songs which have been very popular, besides a very scientific work on harmony, and many favorite piano forte pieces. The song under consideration will, we are sure, be much admired by the lovers of Irish airs: it is a charming melody, well and judiciously harmonized, and when sung with expression by the fair daughters of Erin's green isle, we have no doubt that it will prove very attractive. The Silent Farewell. A Ballad, dedicated to Lady Campbell, by Samuel Lover, Esq. Willis, Westmoreland-street. Mr. Lover's ballad shews much elegance and sentiment in its general structure, and is a very pleasing composition both as to the poetry and music. The World goes round. As sung by Mr. Phil. lips and Signor A. Guibilei. Written by R. Power, Esq., composed by H. J. St. Léger, Esq., Harmonic Institution. Previously to setting the stanzas of this song, which are admirably adapted for music, Mr. St. Leger seems to have read them with much attention, and has expressed them in a very pleasing and original strain, and has taken particular pains with the accentuation. This song is within the range of tenor and baritone voices. Upon the whole, it is a very good semibacchanalian semi-witty composition, gracefully imagined, and tastefullly executed. I've met thee at the Festival. Written and composed by Mr. Orr, of the Chapel Royal Willis, Westmoreland-street. A highly pleasing and original melody, extremely well arranged and adapted to the poetry, which is decidedly of a superior order to the generality of songs to be met with at present. The composer has a great advantage when he writes his own poetry, as is well exemplified in this instance. We wish Mr. Orr every success, and hope as he has been so fortunate as to write something that is esteemed, that he will continue to exert his musical talents. Weber's celebrated Concert Stück. As performed by Mr. William S. Conran; and published by him at 63, Grafton-street. We have had frequent opportunities of hearing Mr. Conran play this splendid composition of the immortal Weber lately, at the concerts given by the Garrison Club at the Royal Barracks, and have been delighted with his exquisite taste and brilliant execution. It would be impossible for us to enter into a detailed account of all the beauties of this truly beautiful concerto, but, suffice it to say, it is a masterly production and perfect in all its parts. The Innsbrücke March: as played by the Band of the 43d Light Infantry. Arranged for the Piano-forte, by T. A. Rawlings. Willis, Westmoreland-street, This arrangement of Mr. Rawling's commences with a pastorale movement, and is a pleasing introduction to the march, which is a great favorite on the continent, particularly in Germany; and concludes with a coda, which is very well worked up. Mr. Rawlings's arrangements are generally popular, but we think this will be one of his most successful productions, I'll think of thee. The words by T. Campbell, Esq., composed by F. Robinson, London. This song is every way worthy of its composer, and we cannot give it greater praise, as we know of no singer whose excellence is of a more exalted kind than Mr. Robinson's; not only is he possessed of those natural qualifications requisite for a perfect singer, but he has shewn the rare talent of forming a peculiar and pure style, and has not been a mere imitator of the English or Italian school. This song is admirably adapted to the highly poetical words of Campbell, and conveys all the inimitable pathos of the words. It has, we understand, had a most extensive sale, to which its merits fully entitle it. 4 W |