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Bibliographical fiotue. 



Geology for Beginners. By G. F. Richardson, F.G.S. Of the British 

 Museum, 8vo. pp. 530, London. Bailliere and Co. 



THE author of this publication will be remembered by many of our 

 readers as having furnished translations of several articles from the 

 German on subjects of scientific interest, which have appeared in our 

 pages. We have, therefore, peculiar pleasure in confirming the opinion 

 both of the general and scientific press in favour of the publication, 

 and in congratulating our esteemed correspondent on having produced a 

 work in the highest degree meritorious and useful. Though designed 

 ostensibly for beginners, it is calculated to afford information to the 

 proficient, and even the experienced Geologist may derive instruction 

 from a work so extensive in its plan, and we must add so successful in 

 its execution. Justly conceiving that many of the treatises previously 

 published assumed a degree of knowledge on the part of the student 

 which was not always possessed, and knowing in fact that Geology is 

 but another name for the knowledge of some half dozen sciences which 

 pass under that general term, he has furnished a separate treatise on 

 each, and the " beginner" may here meet with instruction on the varied 

 and interesting subjects of Mineralogy, Physical Geology, Fossil Con- 

 chology, Fossil Botany, and Palaeontology, with a sketch of the history 

 of the Science, a vindication of its utility and importance, &c., history 

 of the various formations, including directions for collecting and des- 

 cribing fossils, and generally pursuing the study. It is obvious that a 

 work embracing such a variety of themes, must possess powerful and 

 varied claims on public patronage ; and we are by no means surprised 

 at the eulogies which it has received from the public press, and the 

 rapidity and extent of its sale. We must not omit to mention that 

 among its varied dissertations the value and importance of microscopic 

 investigation are especially enforced, and information of instructive na- 

 ture imparted. We have noticed some imperfections, such as the too 

 great prolixity of some chapters, contrasted with the brevity of others, 

 together with some of those incidental faults unavoidable perhaps in a 

 work of so extensive a character. They may be remedied in a second 

 edition, and we doubt not the publication will reach many. 



On the occurrence of the Nest ? of an Insect on the Human Hair. 

 On examining some human hair with the microscope, I was somewhat 

 surprised to observe a small elongated cup- shaped nest, of a white 

 colour and much resembling, when viewed with the naked eye, a 

 scale of epithelium. It was situated within a quarter of an inch of 



