7 he h'ish Naturalist March ^ 



REVIEW. 



MICROSCOPY FOR STUDENTS 



Modern Microscopy : A handbook for beginners and students. By 

 M. J. Cross and Martin J. Cole. With chapters on special subjects 

 by various writers. Fourth edition. Pp. i.-xvii. and 1-325. London: 

 Balhere, Tindall & Cox, 1912. Price, 65. net. 



It has been said that " nobody can learn to play the piano by reading 

 a book," and it may be accepted as a truism that no one can learn to 

 work with the microscope by pursuing a similar method of study. Yet 

 in neither of these fields of activity is " book knowledge " to be despised. 

 This book is an attempt to give the uninitiated help in overcoming the 

 many difficulties that beset the path of the beginner. That it fulfils its 

 function admirably is testified to by the appearance of this the fourth 

 edition. The book is comprised of an introduction and three parts. The 

 first part is devoted to the microscope itself, its various parts and acces- 

 sories. In this part also such subjects as dry and immersion lenses are 

 dealt with, illumination and illuminating apparatus, choice of objectives, 

 and similar subjects. If this part of the book is read and understood, there 

 ought to be no difficulty in the worker getting the best work out of his 

 instrument of which it is capable. Dark ground illumination is also clearly 

 explained, a method which has been greatly extended in recent years. 

 The hints on the care and use of the microscope and choice of an outfit 

 are exceedingly good and very practical. 



In Part II. are directions for the preparation of objects for the micro- 

 scope, both animal and vegetable, cutting and grinding hard tissues, such 

 as bone, rock sections, metal sections, etc., as well as instructions for 

 finishing off slides, and for making dry mounts of various objects. 



Part III. deals with various subjects, each of which will appeal to some 

 special worker, r.t^., the petrological microscope, Rotifera, Foraminifera, 

 microscopy of foods, etc. 



From the above summary it will be seen that the book covers a wide 

 range, although it is of a handy size. We think that Flemming's method 

 for staining karyokinetic nuclei is not so good as the iron haematoxylin 

 method of Heidenhain, inasmuch as the former is uncertain and the 

 latter reliable. However, a student who has arrived at this stage will 

 be able to judge for himself. But for the legend underneath, we think it 

 would be difficult to recognise Fig. 65 as a representation of the Cam- 

 bridge rocker. 



The book is undoubtedly a good one, and if its instructions are followed 

 a good and solid foundation in the art of microscopy will have been laid. 

 In addition to the beginner we think that there are many who are no 

 longer beginners who would derive much advantage from becoming 

 acquainted with its contents. 



J- A. C. 



