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Hardwicke’s Science Gossip: a Monthly Medium of Interchange 
and Gossip, for Students and Lovers of Nature. London. 
One of the great means of diffusing a knowledge of na- 
tural objects and natural laws is a sound and cheap scientific 
literature. With regard to the great mass of cheap lite- 
rature, it costs little enough, but then on scientific sub- 
jects it is frequently unsound and mischievous. It may be 
very amusing to those who read only for amusement to have 
natural facts served up in a funny way, but for the purposes 
of instruction such literature is positively injurious. It is 
on this account that we most cordially welcome ‘ Hardwicke’s 
Science Gossip.?. The contents of the work, as far as it has 
proceeded, are full of imterest, and the articles are written in 
a style to be understood by the most uninstructed in the great 
natural facts of the world in which they live. All branches 
of science are contemplated in this journal, but its contribu- 
tions are mainly derived from those who are devoted to the 
study of natural history. Microscopic subjects are not neg- 
lected, and there are several interesting communications by 
microscopical students. We commend this new journal most 
heartily, first to our readers, who will all be interested in its 
contents, and next to that large class of young persons who, 
with literary tastes and leisure, are anxious to utilise their 
knowledge. Miscellaneous reading is seldom profitable, how- 
ever amusing. Let any one have a pursuit, whether it be 
botany, zoology, astronomy, or the microscope, or all these 
combined, he will find his reading turned to a purpose, and in 
the course of time will feel that the world is wiser and better 
for the improvement he has made of his opportunities. 
‘Science Gossip’ is capitally illustrated, contams twenty- 
four pages of large octavo letterpress, with double columns, 
and is published monthly at the low price of fourpence. It is 
really the cheapest scientific journal that has yet been pub- 
lished. 
