Microscopic Illustrations, 8!Z^ 



gnat, the larva and chrysalis of the ephemera raarginata, 

 and the larva of a British hydrophilus, or water- devil. 



The rest of the work is occupied with a dissertation on the 

 best possible ways of constructing the mechanical parts and 

 apparatus of microscopes, — a description of the operative, 

 aplanatic engiscope, (achromatic, compound microscope,) 

 and the most improved methods of observing with it, &c. 

 Dr. Goring wishes to introduce a more accurate definition of 

 the names of microscopes, (p. 48) by terming all those instru- 

 ments which operate by means of a magnified image, engi- 

 scopes, and the rest simple, or compound microscopes, ac- 

 cording to their nature. We wish him much success in this 

 hopeful scheme, but think he should have learnt to spell this 

 said word engiscope, right ; we beg to acquaint him, that the 

 Greek upsilon is always rendered in English by a y, and 

 that the correct orthography of the word is engyscope. 



With respect to the operatic, aplanatic engiscope, we 

 shall observe, that it is, of course, one of the new micro- 

 scopes ; yet, we must confess, that, with a few immaterial ex- 

 ceptions, we see very little new about it ; at least in its 

 mechanical structure and apparatus, we are confident that 

 there is nothing in it which has not already been executed, 

 in detail at least ; it would appear that he has merely selected, 

 from a variety of constructions, both English and foreign, 

 those parts which he conceives to be most valuable and 

 effective and combined them together ; and, perhaps, in this 

 case, he has acted more wisely than if he had, by striving 

 after originality, produced a construction much more different 

 than this from those of our best makers. 



The instructions for managing it (and it includes the 

 simple microscopes, and Amician reflector) are, however, 

 certainly both novel and elaborate, and written with great 

 perspicuity. No one could have delivered them, who had 

 not been long and intimately acquainted with the best 

 methods of observing with microscopes ; and whatever may 

 be the description of the instrument which a microscopist 

 may use, he cannot, we think, fail to derive both pleasure 

 and advantage from reading them. We shall conclude by 

 selecting two passages, which we think are a fair example of 

 the quaint but forcible style in which the book is written. 



*' Now, courteous disciple, I shall endeavour to instruct thee 

 how to manage thy tackle, and will, moreover, have the extreme 

 complaisance to suppose thee (in all microscopic matters, at least) 

 one of the awkward squad, as stupid as an owl, and as ignorant 

 as a cart-horse. I will tell thee as well as I can, all that thou art 

 to do, and all that thou art not to do, I will try to make thee 

 know the right end of thy instrument from the wrong one ; how 



