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342 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
gists. These three subjects are admirably illustrated with exquisite 
microscopic figures, plain and coloured, and altogether they consti- 
tute a most beautiful and instructive study for the lovers of natural 
history. One chapter is devoted to an explication of the terms em- 
ployed in microscopic science, including a description of the vertical 
microscope ; and, in another chapter, the achromatic telescope, 
with its apparatus and the mode of using it, is perspicuously ex- 
plained by descriptive and graphic illustrations. Among his prac- 
tical remarks on microscopes for viewing and drawing aquatic 
larve, Dr. Goring introduces the important observations,—that 
water-insects do not appear to require air to support their eaist- 
ence, and that Thames-water is utterly poisonous to nearly the 
whole race of aquatic insects. In a particular discussion, he en- 
deavours to answer the inquiry, ‘“‘ Whether there is a best pos- 
sible way of constructing the stand or mounting of Microscopes, the 
specific purposes to which they are applied being first determined ; 
and, from the reasons and facts adduced by him, he deduces the 
conclusion, “ that the principles at least of the best possible con- 
struction of the mechanical part of microscopes, may be defined.” 
To this, he adds a proposition to supplant the term compound micro- 
scope, by the word Enerscorg, formed of éy7i;, nigh, and cxortw, to 
view, which well expresses an instrument for closely observing near 
objects. The doctor trusts that his designation for the compound 
microscope will be adopted as lawful and orthodox ; and, entertain- 
ing the same impression, Mr. Pritchard gives a minute description 
of the instrument, under the name of “ Dr. Goring’s Operative 
Aplanatic Engiscope,” and he exhibits all its parts distinctly on a 
plate containing twenty-five representative figures. In the last 
chapter, Dr. G. furnishes the reader with very full and clear direc- 
tions regarding the manner of observing with, and managing, his 
new instrument, which is denominated “ Aplanatic” fpr the reason 
that he considers it “ free from both kinds of aberration, or devoid 
of all errors.” An appendix to the treatise consists of four appro- 
priate articles—on the optical phenomena of certain crystals, and 
further observations on the same, by H. F. Talbot, F.R.S.—the ex- 
ordium to the first edition of this work, by Dr. Goring,—and an 
account of Swammerdam’s method of dissecting and preparing ob- 
jects for the microscope. Such, then, is an analytical view of the 
“‘ Microscopical Illustrations,” which, in all that concerns the en- 
gravings and their colouring, the descriptions and their philosophy, 
do constitute a scientific monograph pre-eminently remarkable for 
the excellence of its arrangements, the perfections of its graphic re- 
presentations, and the amusing as well as instructive tendency of its 
principles. 
