We are happy to have on our table the first number of a periodical work
to be exclusively devoted to the Illustration of the Natural History of
the living Animals in the Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological
Society. It is from the Chiswick press; the drawings are by Mr. William
Harvey, and the Engraving by Messrs. Branston and Wright; and of
printing and embellishment, the present number is a truly splendid
specimen, and is equal to any of the costly "Annuals."
We believe the sale of works on Natural History to have been, till
recently, very limited; this has probably arisen from their technical
character, and consequent unfitness for the general reader. Mr. Loudon
was, perhaps, the first to familiarize the study of Zoology, in
originally making it a portion of his excellent Gardeners' Magazine.
The formation of the Zoological Society next rendered the study more
popular, and the gardens in the Regent's Park at length made it
fashionable, and ensured it patronage. About this time Mr. Loudon
commenced his Magazine of Natural History, which has been very
successful: it is one of the most unique works ever published, both as
regards the spirit and research of the intelligent editor, and the good
taste with which the work is illustrated--the latter being a very
important feature of a work on Natural History.
The proceedings of the Zoological Society are, we believe, regularly
reported in the Zoological Journal, published quarterly, and edited by
N.A. Vigors, Esq., the ingenious secretary of the Society; but, valuable
and clever as may be this work, it is not calculated for extensive
reading. We are pleased, therefore, with the appearance of "_The
Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society_," which is popular
and scientific, and so elegant as to be fit for any drawing-room in
the empire. It is published with the sanction of the council, and is
superintended by the learned secretary; the descriptions, anecdotes,
&c. being furnished by E.T. Bennett, Esq. the vice-secretary.
The present number contains Engravings and Descriptions of the
Chinchilla, (about which all our lady-friends will be very curious);
the Ratel; the Wanderoo Monkey; the Hare-Indian Dogs, the Barbary Mouse;
the Condor; the Crested Curassow; the Red and Blue Macaw; the Red and
Yellow Macaw: all these and the tailpieces or vignettes appended to the
descriptions, are beautifully engraved. The Quadrupeds are, perhaps,
the most successful--the group of Hare-Indian Dogs, for instance, is
exquisitely characteristic. Of the literary portion of the work we
intend to present our readers with a specimen in our next number.
* * * * *
CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF AN OYSTER CATCHING THREE MICE; AND A LOBSTER CATCHING
AN OYSTER.
(_For the Mirror._)
Borlase, in his _Natural History of Cornwall_, page 274, says, "The
oyster has the power of closing the two parts of its shell with
prodigious force, by means of a strong muscle at the hinge; and Mr.
Carew, in his _Survey of Cornwall_, 1602, with his wonted pleasantry,
tells us of one whose shell being opened as usual at the time of flood,
(when these fishes participate and enjoy the returning tide) three mice
eagerly attempted to seize it, and the oyster clasping fast its shell,
killed them all. It not only shuts its two valves with great strength,
but keeps them shut with equal force, and (as I have been informed by
a clergyman of great veracity, who had the account from a creditable
eye-witness to the fact) its enemies have a skill imparted to them to
counteract this great force. As he was fishing one day, a fisherman
observed a lobster attempt to get at an oyster several times, but as
soon as the lobster approached, the oyster shut his shell; at length
the lobster having awaited with great attention till the oyster opened
again, made a shift to throw a stone between the gaping shells, sprung
upon its prey, and devoured it."