192 Bibliographical Notices. 



table, and was surprised to see a crowd of small flies immediately 

 rush out at the throat ; I raised the flowers into their natural po- 

 sition again, and though I saw, by placing them between me and 

 the light, that very many flies were still in the tube, all very restless 

 and attempting to escape, not one could climb up the now erect 

 throat. I could not discover with the microscope any cause for this, 

 and am forced to suppose that there may be a particular condition 

 of the surface in the upper part of the tube from secretion or some 

 other cause, which prevents the adhesion of the feet of the insects, 

 though they are able to walk along it when horizontal." 



Microscopic Illustrations of Living Objects, SfC. ; with Researches con- 

 cerning the most eligible method of constructing Microscopes and 

 Instructions for using them. By Dr. C. R. Goring and A. Pritchard. 

 8vo. Whittaker and Co. 1838. 



The present work may be divided into two parts, the first by Mr. 

 Pritchard on the natural history of several aquatic larvae, which on 

 account of their great transparency are well suited for the micro- 

 scope ; forming as they do objects of great amusement to the general 

 observer, and of research to the inquiring naturalist. Among these 

 are the larvae of a species of gnat, of Ephemera marginalis, and of a 

 species of Hydrophilus, each being illustrated by several wood-cuts, 

 and a highly finished coloured engraving. The second jiart, the me- 

 chanical and practical part, is, with the exception of the Introduc- 

 tion, from the pen of Dr. Goring, — on the terms employed in micro- 

 scopic science, method of constructing and using microscopes, prac- 

 tical remarks on viewing and drawing of microscopic objects, illus- 

 trated by numerous wood-cuts and a well-executed copper-plate. A 

 great portion of this has been rewritten on account of the great pro 

 gress made in this department of science since the appearance of the 

 first edition. Mr. H. F. Talbot's memoirs on the optical phaenomena 

 of crystals, which appeared in the ' Philosophical Transactions ' for 

 1837, and observations on Swammerdam's method of dissecting and 

 preparing objects for the microscope, extracted from 'Adam's Essays 

 on the Microscope,' are added as an Appendix, and give additional 

 interest to the volume. 



The style is popular without being diff^use, and the matter on the 

 whole exceedingly well arranged. We have no doubt that the work 

 will meet with a favourable reception both from the general lover of 

 science and from those more deeply engaged in unveiling some of 

 the wonderful mysteries with which nature abounds. 



