186 MICROSCOPICAL MEMORANDA. 



A special work on the Arts and Manufactures has long been a desi- 

 deratum : this, Mr. Aikin has supplied so far as the extent of the pre- 

 sent volume will allow. We can but speak in its praise, both as 

 regards the style in which it is written, the manner in which it is got 

 up, and the delicacy of the illustrations. 



The Literary and Scientific Register for 1842. By J. W. G. Gutch, 



Surgeon, #c. London : Suttaby & Co., pp. 120. 



THIS work, bound as a pocket-book, contains, in a condensed form, a 

 variety of practical information in astronomy, botany, chemistry, medi- 

 cine, meteorology, zoology, and science in general, and blank ruled 

 pages for a Meteorological Register. As a compendium for general 

 reference on scientific subjects, it is deserving a place in the pocket of 

 scientific men. 



Hair of the Moose-Deer. In plate I. of the present volume, is a dia- 

 gram representing the appearance of transverse and longitudinal sections 

 of the hair of the Moose-Deer, forwarded by Mr. G. Busk ; in them 

 the external fibrous sheath, the regular cells, and the internal enlarged 

 cells, which open into each other, may be well seen. This figure will 

 be again alluded to, when Mr. Busk's notes and series of illustrations 

 of the hairs of numerous animals are inserted. Editor. 



Gill's Notice of a similar Growth on the dead Larva of a Gnat, to that 

 recorded by Dr. Stilling on living Frogs. In reference to the case men- 

 tioned, at p. 139 of our Journal, by Dr. Stilling, " On the formation of 

 Contagious Conferva (?) on living Frogs," we beg to state, that on 

 referring to the Technological Repository, Vol. V., 1829, a similar 

 growth is described and figured by Mr. Thomas Gill, -which occurred 

 on the body of a dead larva of a gnat. We extract the description, as 

 given by this observer, for comparison : " The production of transpa- 

 rent tubes, filled at their ends with small spherical bodies, was apparent ; 

 which tubes burst as the water gradually dried up, and these sphe- 

 rical bodies swam about in all directions in a lively manner, the ends of 

 the tubes generally remaining empty, and quite pellucid ; orifices or 

 openings at their ends, through which the spherical bodies had been 

 protruded, being also visible ; the extremities of others were filled with 

 these spherical bodies. Others of the tubes also ramified and divided 

 themselves into branches, proceeding from the main stems." The 

 rapid growth of these filaments is particularly referred to by Mr. Gill. 

 He further adds (Vol. IV. p. 331), that the rudiments of these tubes 

 were found adherent to those very recently dead, so that they seem to 

 prey upon them in the manner of other parasites ; and instantly upon 

 their death, to commence their work of decomposition. Editor. 



Erratum. At page 148, for " Scale 8 J OQ of an inch," read 3^0 of an inch. 



