278
MICROGRAPHIC DICTIONARY.
people." We hope our better microscope-makers will take
the hint, and see if they cannot manufacture a microscope
that a working man can afford to buy, and yet so good that he
may be able to recognize with it the more interesting forms of
microscopic structure and life. Such a microscope is wanted
for schools, and the maker who will construct one of this kind
for twenty or thirty shillings, will not only probably make his
fortune, but be a benefactor to his race.
It is impossible for us to give, in detail, an account of
Mr. Hogg's book. It is what its name implies—a cyclopaedia of information on all subjects relating to microscopy.
The author seems to have collected information from every
source, and we are glad to find he has recognized in our pages
so large a quantity of the interesting and useful contents of his
volume. We do not like to find fault, but there are some
things in the printing the book—mere matters of taste—
which we hope to see altered, in a second edition. In the
meantime, they do not detract from the value of the information.
THE MIOROOEAPHIC DICTIONABY, Parts I. and II.
By J. A. GRIFFITHS,
M.D., and A. HENFBEY, F.R.S. London, Yan Voorst.
ALL possible microscopical subjects are to be treated of in
this volume in an alphabetical way. Both the authors are
known as good microscopic observers, and the two parts of
the work before us promise well. The plates are accurately
executed, and the Micrographic Dictionary, when complete,
will, we make no doubt, be a standard work on the subjects
of which it treats. We shall notice it more at length as it
proceeds.
THE AQTJABIUM AN UNVEILING OF THE WONDERS OF THE DEEP SEA. By
PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. London, Van Voorst.
W E are beginning to connect Mr. Gosse's name with the
sea-side. For the future, when he announces a book, we
shall conclude that it is to detail more of his pleasant experiences on the sea-shore, and to shed further light on our
knowledge of the habits and manners of the tenants of the
deep. VVho that has seen the aquavivarium (we prefer this
word to aquarium) in Regent's Park, has not longed to have
a tank in their study or drawing-room? Who has not felt
that beautiful and wonderful as plants are, animals are more
wonderful still. One of the objects of Mr. Gosse's book is to
give directions for keeping and domesticating marine animals.
Our wood anemonies in Ward's cases are to be supplanted
GOSSE'S AQUARIUM.
by sea-anemonies in Mr. Gosse's vases.
279
Instead of dogs and
cats we are to have dog-fish and cat-fish. Our gold carp is
to be supplanted by the ancient Wrasse, and the corals on the
fire-place are to give way to living corals working in a little
ocean of their own. But what has this to do with the microscope? Very much. All the animals that can be kept in
the aquarium, afford interesting employment for the microscope. Much yet remains to be known of the structure of
many of the creatures which are most easily kept in this
artificial manner. To those who would wish to examine
these creatures we recommend Mr. Gosse's volume.
It
has several illustrations done in chromolithography, and
also wood engravings of scenery and natural objects, and
is, throughout, written in Mr. Gosse's usually felicitous
style.
BOTANICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MEMOIES.
BAY SOCIETY.
THIS volume consists of Professor A. Braun's Treatise on
Rejuvenescence in Nature, Menighini on the Animal Nature
of Diatomea;, and Kohn on the structure of Protococcus pluvialis. Three more valuable or important works to the
microscopist, at the present time, we could hardly mention.
In Braun's Essay will be found one of the most complete
accounts of cell-development extant. His general views will
be looked upon by English readers as speculative, but they
are full of sound thought based upon extensive and accurate
original observation. The remarks of Menighini will be read
with greater interest in this country, just now, than at any
other time, as at no past period have the structure and functions of the Diatomacese attracted so much attention as at the
present. The paper of Kohn, on the Protococcus, has also,
especial interest, when the question of the nature of animal
and vegetable functions is being so keenly discussed. We
must give the Council of the Jiay Society credit for descrying
the signs of the times, in publishing a volume so entirely
devoted to microscopic research as this. We are glad also to
find that this Society has undertaken to publish other works
interesting to the microscopical observer, such as Professor
Allman on the British Fresh-water Zoophytes, Bowerbank
on the British Sponges, and Williamson and Carpenter on the
Foramnifera.