A History of the British Marine Polyzoa

Abstract

THE value to science of Mr. Van Voorst's splendid series of volumes descriptive of the Natural History of the British Islands is scarcely to be overrated. The monographs are all the work of most eminent naturalists, in whom perfect confidence may be placed, and they are sumptuously printed and illustrated with abundance of excellent plates and woodcuts. The thanks of naturalists generally are certainly due to Mr. Van Voorst. The present work is fully equal in merit to its predecessors; it consists of two volumes—one of 600 pages of text, the other containing eighty-three lithographic plates. Mr. Hincks, whose industry is indefatigable, has already contributed to Mr. Van Voorst's series the well-known excellent monograph on the Hydroid Zoophytes. The labour involved in the production of a monograph such as that now under consideration is very great. All the 235 species occurring on the British coast are figured, with one or two exceptions in cases where specimens do not exist for the purpose. All the figures have been drawn by the author himself and beautifully lithographed by Mr. Hollick. Further figures are added taken from various monographs where such are necessary for the elucidation of the subject.

A History of the British Marine Polyzoa.

By Thomas Hincks (London: J. Van Voorst, 1880.)