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BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



A History of Infusoria, including the Desmidiacece and Biato- 

 macecE, British and Foreign. By Andrew Pritchard, Esq., 

 M.R.I. Fourth Edition, enlarged and revised by J. T. Arlidge, 

 M.B., B.A. Lond. ; W. Archer, Esq. ; J. Ralfs, M.R.C.S.L. ; 

 W. C. Williamson, Esq., F.R.S. ; and the Author. Illustrated 

 by Forty Plates. London : Whittaker & Co., 1861. 



In no department of natural history have so many and such import- 

 ant revolutions been effected of late years as in that which treats of 

 the minute forms of animal and vegetable life. In other branches of 

 science, the application of more comprehensive vievs's than previously 

 existed, and the consequent improved systems of classification, had 

 already established a solid basis whereupon each new fact and dis- 

 covery could with ease and safety be engrafted. But in the case of 

 certain large groups of organisms belonging to the minute world, our 

 information has, even up to the present time, been undergoing such 

 a continuous process of transition, that it has become extremely dif- 

 ficult, if not absolutely impossible to render any work, comprehend- 

 ing the whole field of microscopic natural history, conformable at 

 every point with the latest state of our knowledge. Were every work 

 of this kind to be withheld luitil each separate department of science 

 discussed in its pages had received the last finishing touches imparted 

 by monograph writers to their own special subjects, the chances are 

 that the shelves of the publisher would never be relieved of their 

 burden, and that those who labour so diligently to supply the student 

 with the information he thirsts after would speedily become bankrupt 

 in zeal, in the power to do good, and, last, but unfortunately not 

 least, in that gross element in the absence of which any enterprise, 

 whether purely commercial or scientific, can hardly be expected to 

 succeed. 



Under this view of the case (and it is the only rational one, as far 

 as we can judge), we hail the appearance of the fourth edition of 

 Pritchard' s 'History of the Infusoria' as supplying a distinct want, 

 and placing before the lovers of microscopic literature, in a condensed 

 but most lucid form, the whole of the reliable information collected 

 by writers both at home and abroad. 



In retaining a title which militates somewhat against the latest 

 systems of classification, Mr. Pritchard has simply accepted the least 

 objectionable of two alternatives ; for the most cursory perusal will 

 show that, whilst it has been found expedient to retain the commer- 

 cial value which has gradually accumulated, as each succeeding edi- 

 tion of the work was published, by adherence to its original designa- 

 tion, the doing so has not interfered in the slightest degree with the 

 completeness of the information conveyed under each distinct head- 

 ing. Indeed, it is only necessary to glance at the names of the 

 coadjutors who have so ably assisted the author, to guarantee this fact. 



Mr. Pritchard tells us, in his preface, that he proposes to lay be- 

 fore his readers a "resume" of the present state of our knowledge 



