PHIPSON, ON THE UTILIZATION OF MINUTE LIFE. 197 
Not to mention locusts, which are doubtless good and palat- 
able food, what can be said of the natives of New Caledonia, 
who devour roasted spiders about. au inch long; or of the 
Indian children mentioned by Humboldt, who delight in 
centipedes eighteen inches long; or of the Mexicans, who 
consume in large quantities an aliment composed wholly of 
the eggs of a Notonecta, &c. &e. 
We have no space to notice the chapters on the Crustacea 
aud Mollusca. Connected with the latter will be found some 
interesting observations on the Tyrian purple, which, however, 
would have been perhaps of more importance in an economical 
point of view before the introduction of the beautiful aniline 
colours. The chapter devoted to “Infusoria and other Ani- 
maleule” will be found to contain much matter highly 
interesting to microscopists. 
The antiquarian, in bringing the microscope to bear in his researches, 
and by the discovery of these siliceous shells of Infusoria in various 
ancient articles of pottery, and the remains of similar species in the clay 
of the vicinity in which they occur, has proved that these vases were 
made upon the spot, and not imported from the higher civilised nations 
of that day, as had been previously supposed. In like manner thieves 
have been tracked and robberies discovered by means of the fossil 
Infusoria adhering to the boots of the suspected persons, though the 
latter had travelled many miles from the spot where the act was 
committed.” 
And again— 
“In the lakes of Sweden there are vast layers of iron oxide almost 
exclusively built up by animalcules. This kind of iron-stone is called 
lake-ore, In winter the Swedish peasant, who has but little to do in 
that season, makes holes in the ice of lake, and with a long pole brings up 
mud, &c., until he comes upon an iron bank, A kind of sieve is then let 
down to extract the ore. One man can raise in this manner about one 
ton per diem. 
“ Besides the excellent polishing material furnished by these infusorial 
deposits, Liebig has recently drawn attention to another application of 
which they are susceptible. His observations were made upon an infusorial 
deposit which constitutes the under soil of the commons or plains of 
Liinebourg, in Germany; and he has shown that these microscopic 
remains, as well as those taken from several other localities, can be very 
easily converted into silicate of potash or silicate of soda, sometimes 
known as ‘ soluble glass.’” 
The work concludes with a short account of sponges. 
It will be seen, from the length of this notice, that we regard 
Dr. Phipson’s work as one well deserving of attention, and 
containing, if not novel, at any rate useful and interesting 
information. 
