298 THE MICROSCOPE. 



The members of the Pathological Society are under peculiar 

 obligation to Dr. Quain, their accomplished secretary ; who, 

 unassisted and alone, undertakes all the labour and responsi- 

 bility of the annual volume, and presents it to them with an 

 exact punctuality and completeness that do infinite credit to 

 the Editor, 



Rustic Adornments fob Homes of Taste. By Shirley Hibberd. 

 London. Groombridge. 



Although this work does not contain any microscopical matter 

 that we can criticise, we can, nevertheless, recommend it to our 

 microscopical friends, as containing a large amount of informa- 

 tion about things in which the great majority of them will be 

 interested. No microscopist should be without his aquavivarium, 

 sea and fresh water, to enable him to carry on observations on 

 the structure and habits of the creatures whose existence 

 depends on water. A Wardian case, too, in which to grow ferns 

 and other kinds of plants, will be necessary to those who are 

 investigating vegetable physiology. Even the most learned in 

 the construction of these things will be glad of additional hints, 

 and we can promise them many useful remarks, not only on 

 Aquariums and "Ward's cases, but on Aviaries, Apiaries, 

 Rockeries, Ferneries, and other things in this volume of Mr. 

 Hibberd' s. 



The Microscope. By Dionysius Lardner, D.C.L. London. Walton 



and Maberly. 



This book is a republication of an article on the microscope in 

 the Museum of Science and Art, and contains a vast quantity 

 of matter, for the small price at which it is published. As far 

 as the structure of the microscope goes, the descriptions and 

 illustrations are accurate enough, but in the department devoted 

 to the use of the microscope, it is very much inferior to most 

 recent publications on this subject. The drawings of microsco- 

 pic objects are defective, and sometimes inaccm-ate, a necessary 

 consequence of their being selected from antiquated objects. 

 Dr. Lardner, however well acquainted with the optical principles 

 involved in the structure of the microscope, has certainly not 

 kept up with modern discoveries made by its aid. We cannot 

 but regret that so good an opportunity of getting out a cheap 

 book on the microscope should have been lost for the want of 

 competent assistance in that part of the work devoted to the 

 practical applications of this instrument. 



