CLARKE, ON OBJECTS FOR THE MICROSCOPE. 107 
terial under the microscope would involve a labour which the results would 
not repay; but the above operation effects the purpose in a few minutes. 
At the same time it is only the smaller and more delicate objects that can 
be thus collected. The larger and heavier ones sink to the bottom of the 
water along with the refuse sediment: by placing the weé sand on a flat 
plate or dish, and gently shaking it, the shells rise to its surface, where 
they are readily discovered by means of a pocket-lens. The superfluous 
water should first be drawn off, with as little disturbance as possible, and 
the sand dried, otherwise the glistening moisture interferes with the search. 
“When specimens are wanted in a living state an entirely different pro- 
cess must be adopted. On parts of the coast where the sand is coarse and 
gravelly there is nothing for it but dredging up the smaller corallines and 
seaweeds, and picking out the specimens one by one; but where the sea- 
bottom is muddy and fine-grained the process applied by Mr. Warrington 
to the oyster-ooze of Feversham is the best. It is just the reverse of the 
floating process just recommended, since the chambers of the shells are 
occupied with animal sarcode ; consequently they cannot be rendered buoy- 
ant. The mud is put into a vessel containing water and well stirred up. 
The fine inorganic particles are floated off, whilst the shells, from their 
greater density and larger size, sink to the bottom; a repetition of the 
washings leaves them perfectly clean.” (Pp. xii, xii.) 
We cannot close our notice of this book without recom- 
mending the Ray Society and its publications to our readers. 
This Society has been the means of giving to the public 
some of the most important works on natural history that 
have been published during the present century. Its 
labours are only limited by its want of funds; and we hope 
that, if it be only for the sake of encouraging the publication 
of such valuable works as this, that our microscopic friends 
will be induced to join its ranks. The present work is to be 
followed by one from Dr. Carpenter, on the physiology and 
general history and arrangement of the Foraminifera. 
We may also add that Dr. Bowerbank is now engaged in 
the preparation of a work on the British Sponges, to be 
published by the same Society ; and that little will then be 
left to complete the history of the British Protozoa. 
A Descriptive Catalogue of the most instructive and beautiful 
oljects for the Microscope. By L. Lane Cuarke. London: 
Routledge. 
Tue idea of this book is a good one; and, on the whole, 
it is very well carried out. It is, as the title-page indicates, 
a description of microscopic objects. It supposes the reader 
possessed of a microscope, and that he has access to 
