Bibliographical Notices. 115 



however^ are preceded by an introduction of considerable length, de- 

 signed to present to those who stand in need of such preliminary 

 information a general view of the organized creation. The charac- 

 teristics of organized structures are first pointed out, and the ele- 

 mentary tissues of plants and animals described. Here will be found 

 various novel and interesting analogies, especially in regard to the 

 variations which the type of the spiral vessel presents. An outline 

 view is then given of the characters of each of the principal groups 

 of the vegetable and animal kingdoms, in which the links of transi- 

 tion and their respective analogies are specially pointed out. 



Under the head of General Physiology are discussed the nature 

 and causes of vital actions ; the dependence of life upon external sti- 

 muli ; heat, light, electricity, &c. ; and the laws of organic develop- 

 ment. These are succeeded by a connected view of the functions 

 performed by organized beings, in which their mutual relations are 

 shown, and the distinctions between plants and animals definitely 

 pointed out. 



In the second book, comprising Special Physiology, each function 

 is considered in detail. The evolution of its particular organ in the 

 ascending scale of being is described, first as regards the vegetable king- 

 dom (in the manner we have already instanced), and then the animal 

 kingdom, and its correspondence with the development of the same 

 organs in the embryo of higher beings is displayed. Under this 

 head are introduced explanations of various interesting malformations 

 or monstrosities which result from arrest of development ; these are 

 most frequently presented in the circulating system of animals. 



The advantage which the physiologist derives from bringing into 

 comparison the facts derived from an extensive variety of sources is 

 perhaps nowhere more evident than in regard to the reproductive 

 system of vegetables. It has been so much the habit of botanists to 

 separate instead of approximating, that analogies are often obscured 

 by the multiplication of terms ; so that the inexperienced cryptoga- 

 mist is bewildered by the different appellations which the same or- 

 gans receive in distinct groups and by the want of any indication of 

 their similarity beyond what he may discover by his own inquiries. 

 Mr. Carpenter appears to us to have extremely simplified this difli- 

 cult subject by showing the fundamental correspondence between 

 the reproductive organs in all the tribes of Cryptogamia, and he has 

 brought forward strong evidence to show that this may be traced 

 even into the Phanerogamia, which diflfer from the others only in the 

 addition of new organs, and not in the alteration of the character of 

 the original ones. Without pronouncing a decided opinion upon this 



