REVIEWS. 
The Utilization of Minute Life; being Practical Studies on 
Insects, Crustacea, Mollusca, Worms, Polypes, Infusoria, 
and Sponges. By Dr. T. L. Puipson, F.C.S. London, 
Groombridge and Sons. 
WE cannot give a better idea of the scope and intention of 
this work than is conveyed in the author’s preface: 
“ Zoology and Botany have been looked upon as constituting less 
practical branches of Science than Chemistry or Astronomy, for instance. 
The zoological works placed in the hands of students are necessarily so 
full of anatomical details, details of classification, and observations upon 
the habits and instincts of animals, that very little space has (or could 
have) been afforded to notice the wonderful manner in which certain 
animals contribute directly to the welfare of mankind, and the methods by 
which they may be cultivated. 
“ This remark is especially applicable to the lower classes of animals, 
to the Invertebrata, and to these I have devoted the following pages, 
Their investigation in a practical point of view has led, and will still lead, 
to very profitable and interesting results. It has been rendered more 
interesting of late years by numerous experiments, having for object 
the culture and artificial propagation of several of the more valuable 
species. 
It is not sufficient to know that such an insect or such a polype is 
utilized for certain purposes in the Arts and Manufactures; we must 
acquire at the same time a correct idea of the animal itself, and the 
position it occupies in the animal kingdom ; moreover, we must ascertain 
by experiment whether any species already valuable in its natural state 
cannot be rendered more so—cannot be submitted to culture, and propa- 
gated more extensively by artificial means, and thereby increase the 
benefits we derive from it. 
“To exhibit the actual state of this interesting question is the task I 
have imposed upon myself in the present work, which embraces the 
practical history of a great number of animals, and from which I find it 
impossible to exclude even the microscopic Infusoria. 
‘“ When opportunity has been afforded I have mentioned a few pecu- 
liarities observable in several species, for it has been my endeavour to 
render the following pages interesting to the general student, as well as 
to the practical zoologist.” 
The idea is not a bad one, and Dr, Phipson appears to have 
