22 NOTES BY THE EDITOR 



formation. All that he wishes to observe upon Nature is ready to 

 furnish him. Nothing is too precious or rare for him to covet ; he 

 wishes bat a mere speck, a particle, such as the Koh-i-noor could spare 

 him. Nothing is repulsive, examined in its infinitesimal shape. 

 The disease which infected the wards of a hospital does not betray 

 itself in the narrow apartment where he studies all its intimate 

 details. He may study and work until practice comes and takes him 

 off his feet and floats him away into a world of other cares and duties, 

 and, year after year, every day will bring him something new 

 to examine. I will say nothing of the utility, even the necessity, of 

 the microscope to the practical physician and the surgeon. As a 

 mere illustrative companion to scientific study, as a mere intelligent 

 plaything, it is the most precious gift to all who love to look at the 

 universe as its inner life is revealed to the senses." 



In a recent sitting of the Natural History Society of Bonn, M. 

 Von Siebold, an eminent naturalist, read an interesting paper "on 

 the State of the Natural Sciences amongst the Japanese." Their 

 knowledge of these sciences is much more extensive and profound 

 than is supposed in Western Europe. They possess a great many 

 learned treatises thereupon, and an admirable geological map of their 

 island by Buntsjo. They are well acquainted with the systems of 

 European naturalists, and have translations of the more important of 

 their works. They have a botanical dictionary, in which an account 

 is given of not fewer than 5,300 objects, and it is embellished with a 

 vast number of well-executed engravings. The flora of their own 

 island is admirably described in a work by the imperial physician, 

 Pasuragawa. 



The practicability of inter-oceanic communication by the construc- 

 tion of a ship-canal across the Isthmus of Darien, between Caledonia 

 Bay, on the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of San Miguel, on the Pa- 

 cific, has long been a subject of much speculation and controversy 

 among men of science and learning. The magnitude of the work 

 and wonderful influence which its successful accomplishment might 

 exert upon the commerce of the world, and more especially upon the 

 intercourse between our Atlantic and Pacific possessions, induced 

 the United States government to despatch Lieut. Strain, U. S. N., on 

 a tour of exploration, accompanied by a party of officers, engineers 

 and civilians. The expedition arrived at Port Escocean, Caledonia 

 Bay, in January, 1854, and proceeded at once to the discharge of the 

 duty assigned. The majority of the members of the expedition suc- 

 ceeded in crossing the Isthmus and returning, after enduring great 

 hardships and sufferings. A few of the party, unable to bear up un- 

 der the fatigue, expired on the way. The opinion arrived at by 



