212 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [July. 



Coming upon the heels of Dallinger's edition of Carpenter, 

 some will ask for a differentiation between the two. Carpenter 

 covers a broader ground and goes far outside of microscopy pro- 

 per, into biolog}', etc., while Van Heurck does not. As describing 

 the instrument itself with variations, probably Van Heurck is 

 superior. Certainly the same ground is covered by both to a 

 great extent and Van Heurck's figures show to much better 

 advantage by reason of the larger pages and heavier paper. 

 Both are guilty of slighting American makers and of utterly 

 ignoring such instruments as Griffith's Microscope, and King's 

 Microtome. Bullock's and Zentmayer's instruments also seem 

 to be entirely overlooked by Mr. Van Heurck. But for the 

 notice of Bausch and Lomb's work, one might suppose the Bel- 

 gian very ignorant of American skill. The various English and 

 Continental microscopes receive volumnious attention, — nearly 

 100 pages. These descriptions are all valuable as are those of 

 European accessories. As we keep out all such goods by a 

 protective tariff, it is perhaps but fair that Van Heurck should 

 try to keep a knowledge of American goods out of Europe where 

 his book will circulate most freely. There is great need of a 

 book of this sort by an American author who shall properly 

 present our goods to the world. Will not Ward, Stokes, Tolman, 

 or Seaman undertake it ? 



In his chapter on the past and future of the microscope, Van 

 Heurck gives an exceedingly interesting treatise, but in " The 

 Microscopist'd Library," where he enumerates and recommends 

 some books and periodicals, he has again shown his ignorance 

 or prejudice. For example, he cites the Journal of one of our lo- 

 cal societies, and makes no allusion at all to the Transactions of 

 our National Society. Although we send him our Journal reg- 

 ularly, he makes no reference to it. His own book on Diatoms 

 is reported, but not Wolle's Diatomacea? of North America. As 

 a book for beginners, he cites Giltay's "Seven Objects observed by 

 the Microscope, " but does not notice Dr. Stokes' " Microscopy 

 for Beginners." Although he owns a set of the leading American 

 periodical in which are hundreds of reviews, yet he ci es only 

 three American publications in his list, 



Taken with all due allowances, the book is still a good one to 

 have and we take much pleasure in commending it to such of 

 our readers as have plenty of money. The price is $7.00. 



