A Conspectus of the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Pharmacopoeias, in which are clearly explained the Virtues of each Article and Medicine, and the Doses and Diseases for which the several Remedies therein contained are employed. By E. G. Clarke, M. D. 18mo.

sewed. Cox?

The Modern Surgeon, or plain and rational Rules for the Direction of Practice. founded on the Observations and Experience of the most distinguished Practitioners. 8vo. boards. Murray.

Natural History of the Human Teeth, with a Treatise on their Diseases from Infancy to Old Age, adapted for general Information. To which are added, Observations on the Physiognomy of the Teeth, and of the Projecting Chin, with Two Engravings. By Joseph Murphy, 8vo. boards. Callow.

Very lately there was a fall of meteoric stones in Caswell county, New Connecticut. Their descent was seen for a considerable distance round, and two reports distinctly heard at Hillsborough, a distance of thirty miles. A fragment weighing a pound and three quarters, struck a tree in the new ground of a Mr. Taylor, near to which some woodcutters were at work, who ran home in alarm. On recovering from their fright they returned to the place, and brought away the stone which was still hot. It is of a dark brown colour, porous, and contains iron,

It is stated very positively, in a recent publication, that horse-flesh now forms a common article for food in Norway; and that since the year 1803, there have been slaughtered at Christiana 400 horses for the consumption of that town.

At the last fair at Leipsic, the number of German books brought for sale, amounted to between 1,000 and 1,100. These were for the most part, either compilations, or insignificant works.

An Account of Diseases in an Eastern District of London, from Jan. 20, to Feb. 20, 1811.

3

2

As by similar causes similar effects will be produced, so it may well be expected that a uniformity will appear in the accounts which are given of the diseases by which the present season is distinguished. During the winter months, and in the earlier part of the vernal quarter, diseases of the chest form a prominent feature in the list. Coughs, catarrhs, inflammation of the lungs, hæmoptysis, and other affections of the pulmonary system, engage a very large proportion of medical attention. In some subjects, and under some pecu liar circumstances, these complaints assume a very formida ble aspect. To those who are labouring under the weight of years, and especially to those who have been accustomed to annual returns of one, or other of these maladies, every recurrence of them must be productive of considerable anxiety. In several of the instances referred to in the list a fatal termination took place. In others where there was a more favourable issue, there is reason to suspect that though the patient escaped from the worst effects of primary disease, he may fall a sacrifice to others which very frequently succeed it. Hydrops pectoris too often occurs after some severe attacks of peneumonic disease. This complaint approaches in so insidious a manner that its presence is hardly suspected. Though under the influence of this disease the respiratory functions are impeded, yet this effusion appears trifling, in comparison of what has been experienced under the acute state of the previous disease, and the patient considers himself as convalescent, rather than labouring under a new disease. The anasarcous swellings, however, which soon appear, paucity of urine, palpitation of the heart, sudden sense of suffocation upon first awaking in the night, and other symptoms, soon characterize the disease. Into this state, several of the patients referred to in the list seem to be in danger of falling.

4

285

NATURALIST'S MONTHLY REPORT.

JANUARY.

Reviving Winter Month.

The horizontal sun

Broad o'er the south, hangs at his utmost noon,
And, ineffectual, strikes the gelid cliff.

THE wind was easterly from the 1st to the 10th of the present month. In the afternoon of the 10th it was south, and on the 11th westerly. On the 12th it was full south, and afterwards south-west; and from the 13th to the 23d for the most part westerly, or north-west. Towards the latter part of the 23d it changed to the north; and on the 24th and 25th was north-east. It was north-west on the 26th and 27th, and easterly during the last four days of the month.

We had strong gales on the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 17th, and 30th, and fresh gales on the 1st, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 23d, 24th, 25th, 27th, and 31st.

There was rain on the 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, and 31st; and snow on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 28th, and 30th.

The weather was frosty on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 22d, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th, 30th; and hazy or foggy on the 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th, and 21st.

In the early part of the month I observed several bulfinches about the hedges, an occurrence which I have seldom remarked except in the extreme cold weather of winter.

January 3d. The starlings, which, in the beginning of November, were much more numerous than they usually are in this neighbourhood, continue apparently undiminished in numbers.

January 8th. Fieldfares are very numerous.

January 10th. Notwithstanding the long continuance of easterly gales and frost, the wild fowl which have come in are hitherto very few. Wild-geese have been exceedingly scarce. One wild swan (anas cyg nus ferus of Linnæus) has been shot.

The frost has been so hard that the rivers are frozen. The frost broke up on the 10th.

January 15th. A great quantity of what is denominated, in this neighbourhood, ground ice, is now floating down both the Avon and Stour. This ice is formed at the bottom of the water, and is known by the roots and leaves of water plants which it carries along with it. Many persons have been much perplexed to account for the formation

of this ice.

January 17th. The weather is now so warm that spiders come out of their hiding places and stand upon their webs; and the house flies have in some degree recovered from their torpidity.

January 19. I this day saw advertised in one of the London Papers, that a single dealer in wild-fowl had just received, for sale, 10,000 Ber

nacle

nacle geese! The 4000 mallards, 204 cranes, 204 bitterns, 400 herons, 200 pheasants, 500 partridges, 400 woodcocks, and 100 curlews, which are stated to have been served up at Archbishop Nevill's famous intronization feast, in the year 1466, were, I think, scarcely more remarkable.

January 25. Snowdrops and primroses are in flower under the sunny wails of warm and sheltered gardens; and the flower-buds of the mezereon are nearly ready to burst.

January 27. The only salmon which has been caught during the present month, was taken on this day. It weighed twenty four pounds. Hampshire.

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGY.

Two numbers of the work on British Ornithology, by Mr. George Graves, of which we gave notice in our number for January, have appeared; as this work promises to be complete, and contains much information interesting to the naturalist, we conceive a monthly report of the contents of each number will be acceptable to most of our readers. Mr. Graves has in the preface given the outline of the plan he intends. to pursue. We notice in the specific characters he differs from the usual method in not naming the colours, the correctly coloured plates accompanying superseding this necessity. We also observe, that the plates and letter-press are not numbered, which is a judicious omission, as it gives an opportunity of arranging the subjects when the work may be completed, according to their place in the system. Number I. con tains a very good figure of Loxia Curvirostra, the Cross-bill; this beautiful species is very highly coloured; though it is observed to vary in colour, we do not recollect having seen one so richly marked. Avo cetta Recurvirostra, the Avocet; this beautiful species is not very common in this country, being only met with on the sea shore or in the fenny districts. Scolopax Arquata, the Common Curlew, a very cor *rect figure. Motacilla Regulus, the Golden-crested Wren, a beautiful figure, it is observed that this is the smallest species of European bird. Parus Cærulus, the Blue Titmouse, a masterly drawing, but we doubt whether the colours in this instance are not too dull. Alcedo Ispida, the Kingfisher, a good figure and very beautifully coloured, the description of this bird is particularly interesting. Number 2, contains a fine figure with a very pleasing history of the Tetrao Perdix, the com mon Partridge. Anas Tadorna, the Shieldsake, a very correct and picturesque figure, Hematopus Ostralegus, the Pied Oyster catcher, Corvus Cornix, the Hooded Crow: in a quotation from Pennant we are informed this is the only species of crow found in the Scottish Isles. Upupa Epops, the Hoopoe, a very rare migrative species. This drawing and engraving were executed for (Mr. Graves's deceased relative) William Curtis, author of the Flora Londinensis, Ardea Major, the Common Heron, this is one of the most elegant figures we remember to have seen, the description is good, and the history contains much interesting and anfusing information illustrative of the habits and manners of this beautiful species.

METEOROLO

D Therm.

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE.
From Jan. 28, to Feb. 25.

Bavom.

Hygrom. drydamp

Weather.

123 8 9C... F -W. 715 6 4F... .... W.. NW.. 10 9 3F...C.!.snow.SE.3.S. 40 52 65 C......R..C...SE.S... 55 43 49 P. R... C ...R..SW..S... 51 50C....F.R.SE.. 48 43 38 F... C... F.... SW.W... 38% 40 F.. SE.. SW.. 40. 39 F... C........ C....... SE.....SW. 42 40 34 C...F..C... S.. SW. 27 5 16F..R.F.-.. ...W. 25 42 49C..R- W... 46.37 C....F

E..W.:

5

31 11
8 5

3-10
5 5

"

F

...C..F....S... • SE.. ...C... R...E.. E..SE.

R.

25 15 30 F..R..F...R..in night S.. 36 25 32 C...R....C.. S..SE.. 33 4 20C....F...-...NW...W..

30, light fall of snow in the evening; in the night and morning of the 31st, falls in great quantity, lying a foot thick on the level, in the fields; wastes rapidly with rain in the day.

1st, Snow entirely gone.

2d, Very soft and temperate, with light rain.

3d, Stormy wind from the west.

4th, Frosty, fair, and in the evening temperate.

13th, Until this day the weather has been remarkably temperate for the season. Heavy storm of hail mingled with snow from the N.W. Evening clear and stars brilliant, as they were on the evening of the 12th.

This month may be considered, as having been remarkably temperate, the Therm. having once only been as low as 33 for a few hours, and has been as high as 51, and generally between 40 and 50. Snow only in a small quantity, once succeeded by a storm of hail. The month of February is esteemed the wettest of the year. The present has produced but little rain. On 13 days there has been rain, but in small quantity. On 20 days of 25 the wind has been from S. S.W. or $.E.