New-York tribune., 1869-05-25

lor, time all known cases OF mimicTy and protective
resemblance in the animal Kingdom were confined
70 insects but Mr.. Wallace found very remarkable
casa among birds In tho islands OF Bouru and
Ceram there is a honeysucker CTropIdorhyncus
bouruenss), a strong active, pugnacious little
creature, with powerful grasping claws, and long
curved. sharp beak. The small birds Of prey
arc afraid to attack it. In the islands there is
a kind of oriole (Niimeta bOuruenssl, weak bird,
with small feet and claws and very little courage
It would have poor chance for ife but it so closely
resembles the honeysucker in external appearance
that the two can hardly be told apart. Yet struct-
urally they belong to distinct and somewhat distant
families and this particular kind Of Oriole differs
widely in its pumage from tho gay tints COM
mon among its allies. The laws of variation
and survival of the fttest, so well explained
by Mr.. Darwin, will sufficiently account Tor
the resemblance. Another striking illustration
of these laws is furnished by the Nicobar pigeon
which seems adapted in q very curious way to an
unusual and exceptional necessity. Being ground
feeder and very heavy, hcshy bird, only going up
trees to roOst it is especially subject TO the ATTACKS
of carnvOrous Quadrupeds. It's distribution Is con-
sequently confined TO the smaller islands, Where
these quadrupeds not found. But birds are more
apt TO be blown ont to sea from very small iSiaiu
than large one hence the Nicobar pigeon has wings
known to sustain a flight of 100 miles. An opposite
modification seems to have produced wIngiess
birds tho apteryx, cassowary and dodo, IN New
Zealand and Mauritius Those islands are SO lar
from land that it is safer for heavy groundieeuhg
bird NOT TO fly at ALL and the short-winged varieties
continually surviving prepared the way Ior d group
without wings. In q vast mchlpeiago ho"oNo''
thickly srewn with islands and isets 1t was adVai-
torcous TO be able occasionally TO migrate ana thus
the long and strong-wingcd varieties maintained
their existence longest and ultimately suppanted all
others
The conclusions which Mr. Wallace draws from
the geographical distribution OF plants and animals
respecting the geological history of the islands are
well reasoned and deserve careful attention. We
have no space however, for q summary of his views
and must content ourselves with cordially commend
ing his book and expressing the hope that hc may
soon be tempted to make O,her journeys aud write
as good an account of them.
Little g. Brown have published The Statutes
al Large Of the United States Of Amerea passed at the
third session of the Xh Congress, with treaties con-
ventions, &C., edited by George =. Sanger.
A second series of Miss Alcotts Lille Women
has just been published By Roberts Brothers and will no
doubt be cordially welcomed by the fourteen thousand
young folks who have been made happy by the posses
sion Of the first.
The opening article in Hdrper's for June is
copously illustrated and clearly written paper by Pro
Looins OF Yale College on Tie Aurora Boreaso or
Polar Light" The explanation Of the theory Of this phe
nomenOn Is excellent. Mr. Theodore X. Davis Is the
author and artist Of a pictorial account OF winter
the Plains" and Jacob Abbott furnishes on the
MILITARY PyrOtcchuics Of Former Days" Mr. DE
Lcon's biographical sketch Of the late Said Pacha
vceroy Of Egypt is gossipy. laudatory and readable
N..ga
LEO and Luther with all the shovcst colors his box
"Pagubrokers and Loan Offices" by ". o. Stoddard
with much Of that sort Of STANDARD information" OF
which we should think readers Of magazines and news
papers ought by time 10 be pretty weary contains
resher facts about certain sort Of rrcgular oanoces
which are decidedly interesting The department. "
fiction Is unusually full. MY Euemy's Daughter Is
continued and Miss Muocks - Brave Lady" Is com
mcuced We somewhat puzzled by tho announce
ment that this latter novel has been copyrighted
BY the Harpers. There ure short stories by
Mary " Prescott, John webb, Justin Mccarthy aud
Jane g. Austin. The Reverend Newman Hall contributes
an amazingly prosaic poem British Wild Flowers.'
OF which these lines must sufice Or specimens
"Thi, morning cilmbcd up ~ Martha. Iihl.
oi rural beauties 70 take NY ni,. -
or which viii IS 10 mention each howcr'
In this audabe ohori presume the poet succeeded,
but there Is telling Ihe agony must have cost him.
In the Editors Easy Chair to which itis always gra,e.
ful to turn, Mr. Gurus discoErses pleasantly Of Ida
Lewis aud the woman movement.
We have received reissue Of Speeches on
he Iegisiahre IHdeUrHdeHor 0f Irclgrd by THOMAS
FRANCIS MEAGnER a. NJ Haycrty); lf9ral Culture Of
TiGniey and RmdergaricH Gudc, with music for the
PLAYS, by Mrs. HORACE MtsN and ELIZABETH. PEABODY
a. W schcrmcrhotn & COZ; The study ot Rysi9iogs IN
School, By HORACE mann nhe snmel; The God ReH a
dramatic story translated from the French ~. H. ppn
cot a. Coz; The quaker FUsHs, story ~ the Revo-
luton by the author of fuc scout" uhe S4mcl; The
LIE NJ JoAn Blhu. tho Irish Novelist by PATRICK Jo
s.rH IURRAT to- & J. SaducU; Tie Gh0stHmter, bylug
one Of uniform series Of Eanin's novels
tThc samtl; Wminfd Coiu,ics ~ NihNiaie, talo
Of the Jacobltc wars, by LADY DAcRE hc samol Lore.
Ssif&ierdee. tale, by LADY lIERBEEr Ghe samc)
The Of hodcy Soeisfy philippe by W. @. WnKN
sOS (Oaklcy, Mason d Coz and Scrolls AonograHs,
Orhdmehts Cresis. De- collection Of designs UostOu n.
DeurbOrn The week has also been prolific In Juvenile
books among which may mention GrdHdE'iha's NeH,
uy the author Of Squire Downugs Helm" Robert Car
ter Brothcrs four series 81 the Home circle Library
comprising nineteen neat little volumes by various
thors Clcnuati: Hitchcock ldenl and GiimpscS Of
Pleasant HOmfS cob elton % short stories hy Member
uf hr Ord.r OF Mercy Catholic Publication Society.
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