avie, a small village, built on a rising ground, about five miles to the southeast of Soccatoo. The body was then taken from the camel's back, and placed in a shed, whilst the slaves were digging the grave; which being quickly done, it was conveyed close to it. I then opened a prayer-book, and, amid showers of tears, read the funeral service over the remains of my valued master. Not a single person listened to this peculiarly distressing ceremony, the slaves being at some distance, quarrelling and making a most indecent noise the whole of the time it lasted. This being done, the union-jack was taken off, and the body was slowly lowered into the earth, and I wept bitterly as I gazed for the last time upon all that remained of my generous and intrepid master. The pit was speedily filled, and I returned to the village about thirty yards to the east of the grave, and giving the most respectable inhabitants, both male and female, a few trifling presents, entreated them to let no one disturb its sacred contents. I also gave them 2,000 cowries to build a house, four feet high, over the spot, which they promised to do. I then returned, disconsolate and oppressed, to my solitary habitation, and leaning my head on my hand, could not help being deeply affected with my lonesome and dangerous situation; a hundred and fifteen days' journey froin the sea-coast, surrounded by a selfish and cruel race of strangers, my only friend and protector mouldering in his grave, and myself suffering dreadfully from fever. I felt, indeed, as if I stood alone in the world, and earnestly wished I had been laid by the side of my dear master: all the trying evils I had endured never affected me half so much as the bitter reflections of that distressing period. After a sleepless night, I went alone to the grave, and found that nothing had been done, nor did there seem the least inclination on the part of the inhabitants of the village to perform their agreement. Knowing it would be useless to remonstrate with them, I hired two slaves at Soccatoo the next day, who went immediately to work, and the house over the grave was finished on the 15th.'-pp. 276-278.

Under circumstances of great difficulty, Lander effected his return to Badagry. He has given in his journal, an extremely interesting account of his route, which was frequently different from that pursued by Clapperton. If his published journal was written by himself, it does him infinite credit. We confess, we have doubts on this point, as the diction is so tastefully simple, that we suspect it to be the production of no "'prentice hand." In this respect it has often the advantage of Clapperton's composition, which is by no means remarkable for choice of expression. We must, however, add, that his journal is, in every respect, deserving of attention, and calculated to secure it. It is racy, often phlegmatically humorous, and sometimes picturesque.

It appears that the religion of most of the negro communities, whom Clapperton visited on this journey, was Pagan. Some professed to follow the precepts of the Koran, which, however, they do not seem to have very well understood, or uniformly to have

practised.

We take leave to express our hope, that the Colonial Office will not lose sight of the advantages which may be derived from

Captain Clapperton's last journey. A noble field for enterprize and policy has been opened by his exertions, and we may add, notwithstanding a few incidents, under favourable circumstances. These circumstances may be, and ought to be, turned to advantage; if with no other view, at least with the hope of extinguishing the horrible traffic in slavery.

ART. VI. A History of British Animals; exhibiting the Descriptive Characters and Systematical Arrangement of the Genera and Species of Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Mollusca, and Radiata of the United Kingdom, including the Indigenous, Extirpated, and Extinct Kinds, together with Periodical and Occasional Visitants. By John Fleming, D.D., F. R. S. E., &c., author of the Philosophy of Zoology. pp. 565. 8vo. Edinburgh: 1828.

DR. FLEMING has long been known as one of our most zealous cultivators of Natural History in all its departments, and more particularly he has devoted himself to the practical investigation of our indigenous productions; and though his clerical duties must confine him in a great measure to his parish, yet he has enjoyed opportunities of residing in or visiting some of the most interesting parts of the empire. He resided, if we recollect right, during his earlier career as a naturalist, in the Zetland and Orkney islands; and he spent some time in the South of Ireland, where he was indefatigable in exploring both land and water, studying the habits and the instincts of animals, and collecting specimens for the purposes of scientific examination and systematic arrangement. This refers to about ten or twelve years ago, and during that period Dr. Fleming has made his name well known to naturalists by the publication of his "Philosophy of Zoology," and numerous papers in the scientific journals. Such are a few of the qualifications which the author possesses for furnishing a history of British animals. He himself says

'He trusts to be forgiven, if he ventures as a compensation for acknowledged defects, to prefer some claims on the confidence of the reader. He has received many valuable contributions from kind friends, whose favours he trusts he has not been reluctant to acknowledge. He has long been a practical observer of British animals, or what a friend of the Honourable Daines Barrington used to term an out-door naturalist. This circumstance has enabled him to correct the specific characters of several animals, and to point out with greater accuracy their habits and distribution, to suppress several spurious species, and to give to the synonimes, in many cases, a greater degree of precision. He trusts, the additions to the British Fauna which he has here contributed, will not at the same time be overlooked.'p. 21.

The work, which, with such qualifications, Dr. Fleming has produced, is in many respects an admirable one. It is comprehensive, minute, and accurate, so far as accuracy can be expected in such a publication; and, what could scarcely have been anticipated, considering his plan, it is occasionally interesting and readable. To the plan, however, strong objections may be made, which the author himself may, perhaps, acknowledge to be wellfounded, when he sees them stated. Be this as it may, they are here introduced with all respect for Dr. Fleming's talents, and out of a desire to see the remaining portion of his work (comprehending British insects) improved, so as to ensure it a more certain popularity and larger circulation.

A slight glance through the pages of the 'History of British Animals,' will show that the title by no means corresponds to the contents. It would, indeed, have been more correctly designated an "Index Natura, Compendium, Conspectus, or Manual of British Animals," being altogether founded, (in the details though not in the arrangement), on the model of the Linnæan school; and it is well known, that the works of this school were never intended to be read, but to be consulted as field books, or museum books. The title of "history," however, suggests the notion of a book to be read; and this, except in occasional passages, Dr. Fleming evidently could not intend. Such passages, it must be allowed, though some of them are very brief, occur more frequently and copiously than in most other works constructed on this model; but this is precisely the point where Dr. Fleming has erred. In trying to relieve the dryness of his brief Linnæan characteristics, which must have been his object, he has swelled out the volume, and rendered it expensive, without approaching the attainment of popularity by rendering it readable. His own statement is,

'In the description of species, the author has seldom indulged in physiological details or delineations of instinct. He refers to his " Philosophy of Zoology," to which the present work is destined to serve as an adjunct, for ample illustrations on these subjects.'-p. 21.

With due deference to Mr. Fleming, this seems to be a very imperfect view of the matter; for his Philosophy of Zoology is as far from containing a History of British Animals as the work before us, though it does contain occasional sketches, delineated too in a masterly manner, of some of the more interesting species. Nay, a genuine history of British Animals is still wanting, and we know few living naturalists better fitted for the undertaking than Dr. Fleming; but it must be constructed upon a very different plan from either the present work or his Philosophy of Zoology. There are two methods which might be advantageously adopted for executing such a work:

The first, and perhaps the best, method would be to compress the work before us into a purely Linnæan Index Naturæ, somewhat after the form of " Haworth's Lepidopteræ Britannicæ," or rather of Sir J. E. Smith's " Compendium Floræ Britannicæ," retaining

"

only the more useful synonimes, as these tend so much to increase the size of the book. In such a form it would be excellently adapted as a manual of reference, either in the field or in the cabinet. Again, as a companion to this proposed index or manual, there ought to be one volume, or several, containing interesting details of the habits, instincts, and peculiarities, of at least as many of the species as may be of sufficient importance to require it. A better model for the execution of this second part of the plan, could not be named than the eloquent Buffon-excepting of course his glaring inaccuracies, his gross credulity, and his contempt for orderly arrangements and systems.

The second method, which will readily suggest itself, would be an amalgamation or union of the two parts of the first; introducing each genus of animals, with a compressed synopsis of all the British species, in very small type, and following it up with carefully composed readable details of habits, instincts, and peculiarities. The publications of Bewick and Pennant come the nearest to this plan of any works which we at present recollect, though their numerous deficiences and imperfections render them unsafe to be copied or trusted to, without other authorities.

From these remarks it may be inferred, that Dr. Fleming's book is by no means such as to preclude others from entering the lists with him; and so far as sale and popularity are concerned, there can be no doubt that he has been extremely ill-advised in the adoption of his present method. This is the more surprising, as he seems to be well aware of the dryness and imperfection of the Linnæan method, and of that to which Pennant was indebted for his doubtful and short-lived popularity.

'It is painful to advert to the second era of British zoology, during which the artificial method of Linnæus occupied that place which physiology had so successfully filled. We must be careful, however, to make a distinction between the precepts and examples of Linnæus himself, and the conduct of his blind admirers. Linnæus regarded the natural method, which contemplates form, structure, and function, as the ultimate object of the science of zoology. His artificial system, in which external appearances were exclusively employed, was devised as a convenient instrument of research to guide the student in attaining higher objects. Too many of the followers of the illustrious Swede in this country, seem to have viewed the artificial method, not as the instrument, but the object aimed at-overlooking results in physiology which industry had already secured, and presented the science under an aspect which a cultivated mind could not relish, and in which an ordinary observer could perceive little utility. In this retrograde movement of British naturalists, Mr. Pennant led the way, and the completion of his British Zoology, in four volumes, in 1777, gave a new aspect to the science in this country. This naturalist possessed favourable means for study, and no inconsiderable share of industry: but being rather deficient in a knowledge of physiology, he unfortunately seems to have undervalued all that his predecessors had gleaned in that fruitful field, and confined his labours chiefly to an acquaintance with the external characters of animals. He succeeded in imparting to his writings a considerable degree of popularity, by avoiding all minute details, and introducing occasional remarks on the habits of particular species; and by allusions to Greek and Roman authors, he interested the classical reader.'-p. 9.

Had Dr. Fleming acted upon these enlightened remarks in the construction of his own works, he would, there can be no doubt, have produced something very different from the one now under review.

In describing the sheep, for instance, he remarks, that the wool differs among individuals in colour, fineness, and length; and is in so great demand for our manufactures, that innumerable attempts have been made to establish particular breeds. Hence, our short or long woolled kinds; coarse and fine woolled kinds. Of the more ancient breeds, he mentions two as entitled to particular notice. The mugg sheep, in which the face and legs are short, or rarely spotted with yellow, and the forehead covered with long wool. This, he thinks, is the native breed in Scotland, to the north of the Forth and Clyde, The mugg sheep are small in size, and seldom weigh above 8 or 10lb. per quarter. Some flocks have horns, others are destitute of them, and they vary in the length of the tail. They may be considered as the stock of the numerous modern and valuable varieties which are bred in the best cultivated districts. The Shetland sheep is a variety of this kind, having fine wool next the skin, with long coarse hairs; indications of an inhabitant of an arctic climate. The wool is never shorn, but when about to be shed in summer, it is torn from the body by the handa process termed rowing. The black-faced sheep has the face and legs black, and the tail short. It is usually furnished with large horns. This is the species most prevalent in the mountainous districts of the south of Scotland.

Such are the chief remarks which Dr. Fleming has given us respecting our native sheep, and it must be confessed that they are exceedingly meagre and imperfect. It would have been well if he had given us some of the many interesting facts which he could easily have collected, respecting the influence of climate, &c. on the qualities of this useful race of animals. At a recent sitting of the French Institute, M. Roulin stated, that in South America, the lambs which are not from merinos, but the tuna basta, or burda of the Spaniards, are, when yeaned, covered with wool; and this, if care be taken to shear it in proper time, will be reproduced successively; but when this time is allowed to elapse the wool falls off, and is succeeded by short, shining, close hair, like that of the goat in the same climate. In New South Wales, Mr. Dawson, the intelligent agent of the Australian Agricultural Company, says, that both the climate and the soil appear intended by nature to produce fine wool, and fine animals too, even, (though it seems a paradox) from the worst beginnings. The extensive range that can be afforded to every animal, keeps it in good condition, and