Goring and Pritchard^s Objects for the Microscope, 189 



to a gradual acquaintance with the science, by instructing him in the pecu- 

 liarities of individual animals, than to make these peculiarities subordinate 

 to classification. We apprehend that, in adopting this course, we pursue a 

 natural and interesting mode of communicating a popular knowledge of the 

 subject. It is frequently better to lead men from the example to the prin- 

 ciple, than from the abstract principle to the example. This is the mode in 

 which a practical knowledge is best attained, in all things." 



The introduction contains some important remarks on what may be called 

 the art of deriving enjoyment from subjects of natural history, or indeed 

 from any subject ; and that is, the art of awakening attention to it. " With- 

 out a habit of attention to the things around them, men walk about in the 

 world with their eyes half shut ; for they are insensible to all but the com- 

 monest external appearances, and have no perception of the minuter pecu- 

 liarities which distinguish one class of objects from another, of the beauties 

 of their structure, or of the harmonies of their arrangement." Hunger and 

 cold are the primary causes of attention to food and dress; but there is no 

 natural stimulus equally powerful to the acquisition of general knowledge. 

 How is this stimulus to be given ? By pointing out its pleasures and advan- 

 tages ; the curiosity which it gratifies, and the distinction which it confers. 

 To fix the attention of young people it is good to limit it to one thing at a 

 time. How many boys arrive at the condition of manhood without know- 

 ing any thing more of a spider than that such an insect exists ; but let the 

 boy be confined for a week in a naked room, with no other companion than 

 a spider, and how different will be the interest he will take in the insect, 

 and the knowledge he will acquire of its habits ! This knowledge will recur 

 to his memory every time afterwards when he sees any individual of this fa- 

 mily of insects, and having derived pleasure from them, he will desire to in- 

 crease this pleasure by further observation, and by research into every thing 

 connected with spiders. " It is the distinction between the savage and the 

 civilised man, that the one has no respect for the qualities of the living be- 

 ings or inanimate substances amongst which he is placed, except as they 

 minister to his physical wants ; whilst the other, without neglecting their 

 subservience to his necessities or comforts, views them likewise with re- 

 ference to all the conditions of their existence j considering each variety 

 of the whole world of nature, whether separately or in groups, whether in- 

 dividually perfect or in parts, as affording the most striking illustrations of 

 the extraordinary adaptation of every existing thing to the purposes for 

 which it was created." 



Whatever makes a vivid impression on the senses excites attention, and 

 in this view the engravings which illustrate the menageries, and other mo- 

 dern works on natural history, will not be without their use. They are, in 

 the little book before us, very well executed, as is the literary part of the 

 work ; and, from its low price, there can be no doubt of its extensive dif- 

 fusion, and beneficial influence on those for whom it is intended. 



Goring, C. R., M.D., and Andrew Pritchard: The ^Natural History of se- 

 veral New, Popular, and Diverting Living Objects for the Microscope, 

 with the Phenomena presented by them under Observation, &c. &c. ; 

 conjoined with accurate Descriptions of the latest Improvements in the 

 Diamond, Sapphire, A planatic, and Amician Microscopes; and Instruc- 

 tions for Managing them, &c. &c. To which is added, a Tract on the 

 newly-discovered Test Objects. Illustrated by very highly finished co- 

 loured Engravings, from Drawings of the actual Living Subjects. No. I. 

 London. 8vo, pp. 32, coloured plates. 

 In the preface microscopic science is ably vindicated from the sarcasms of 



the ignorant. The first chapter contains practical remarks on microscopes ; 



the second, on the larva and pupa of a straw-coloured plumed Ciilex or 



gnat ; and the third, on the larva and, chrysalis of the Ephemera margi- 



o 3 



