on his Religio Medici and Enquiry into Vulgar Errors, and some of his most remarkable tracts, such as Hydriotaphia or Urn Burial; but in this volume Mr. Southwell has shown Browne to have also been an observant Norfolk naturalist. It is pleasant to read that in those days "Bistardæ or Bustards are not vnfrequent in the champain & feildie part of this country"; and in a footnote Mr. Southwell states that Browne in 1681 was on the verge of discovering the presence of the gular pouch in this bird, first demonstrated by Douglas in 1740. The Hoopoe appears to have been not an uncommon bird in Browne's days and aviculturists may be interested to learn that "Loxias or curuirostra" were known then to be "kept in cages butt not to outliue the winter." Among fishes, Browne's record of "a sword fish or Xiphias or Gladius intangled in the Herring netts at yarmouth" appears to be the only authentic record of this southern species in British waters.
If the charm of this book is to be found in the somewhat quaint chronicles of Sir Thos. Browne, its value certainly attaches to the copious and trustworthy notes of Mr. Southwell, promoted and assisted in some instances by Prof. Newton. These notes might stand by themselves as a commentary to the zoology of Norfolk, and have the merit—not universally found in annotation—of being accurate in observation, and also exhibiting a knowledge of the literature, and much of the old literature, on the subject.
