MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY.

Twenty -four monthly numbers of the second series of the Maga- zine of Natural History are now before the public, and from their contents a tolerably fair estimate may be formed of the character which the work is likely to maintain, in that portion of our periodical literature devoted to science, and the degree of confidence it is entitled to from those who contribute to its pages.

The Editor willingly renews the conditional pledge held out in 1837, with regard to its continuation, and in one respect he may do so with greatly increased confidence, since the risk of an inadequate supply of communications, is a crisis which no longer threatens the Magazine, although one which undoubtedly existed about the time the change in the Editorship took place.

Altogether indeed the circumstances under which the publication of the present series was determined on were most inauspicious.

The Editor was unknown even by report to the subscribers : several of the more valuable Contributors had seceded to establish the « Magazine of Zoology and Botany, whilst another por- tion of them had united to establish a rival periodical, under the falla- cious expectation that it would prove a source of pecuniary emolument ; and no lack of solicitations and tempting proposals was wanting to win over the few who yet stood by Mr Loudon.