536 REVIEWS. [May, 



breeding, and the utility of the babe, now more than twice as 

 old as Methuselah. 



If not asking too much in a quarter where we have no title to 

 ask for anything, we do earnestly desire to know or learn, or be 

 told what is the precise meaning of these words of learned length 

 and ominous sound, viz. morphology, intrinsic identity of organs, 

 organic unity, homologous organs, (' homologous' applied to ma- 

 thematical truths is intelligible,) — who can tell what organs 

 are so? 



Would it not be worth while to explain both the nature and 

 capabilities of the science? As a game or amusement of scien- 

 tific puzzles it may be ornamental and useful to those who de- 

 light in abstruse learned or scientific trifling ; but its service in 

 explaining the history of vegetation appears to some as bene- 

 ficial as an ignis fatuus is to the benighted wanderer in the 

 cloudy and dark night. 



Far be it from us to prejudge, much less condemn, a subject 

 which we do not understand. We seek enlightenment; and if Mor- 

 phology does throw light on our path, and help the uninstructcd 

 to thread the intricate ways of knowledge, we shall not be the 

 last to sound the trumpet of its praise. If it be what many other 

 abstruse investigations are, a mere jangle of wordy discussion, 

 we will warn our readers to eschew it as they would any other 

 profitless dispute, lest it should turn out like a bargain between 

 a farmer and a horse-jockey. Farmer Hodge sold a steed to a 

 horse-dealer, — as the story-book or Joe Miller tells us, — and the 

 latter, after paying the money, requested the farmer to tell him 

 if the animal had any faults ? The farmer answered, " No he 

 had but one." " What is it ?" said the other. " If you let 

 him out of your hand, you can scarcely ever catch him." " Oh V 

 said the jockey, "is that all?" "No," said the farmer, "I 

 forgot to tell you that he is good for nothing when you have 

 caught him." 



Sritish Museum, Marcli, 1863. 



[The Editor begs to apologize to the amiable author of the 

 ' History and Present Condition of JNIorphology,' the review of 

 which was mislaid and forgotten.] 



