Bibliographical Notices. 431 



hhn, given up some of that extreme conservatism in the matter of 

 zoological classification which characterized the former editions. 

 Prof. Duncan has gone still further in his portion of the book 

 towards bringing the information contained in the zoological articles 

 into full accordance with the most modern generally accepted views 

 on this department of natural history. One series of these articles 

 strikes us as being of special importance — namely that on the Fora- 

 minifera, in which we find an exposition of the views entertained 

 with regard to the classification of the animals of that class by the 

 distinguished English naturalists who have devoted so much atten- 

 tion to them. This section of the Dictionary has been prepared by 

 Prof. T. Rupert Jones. The articles on the lower forms of vegeta- 

 tion, and especially those on the Fungi, have been placed under the 

 care of the Bev. M. J. Berkeley; and we need hardly tell the readers 

 of the ' Annals ' that, under these circumstances, they are well 

 done. 



It is impossible in noticing a book of this nature to indicate all 

 the alterations and additions that have been made in it, especially as 

 the majority of them are in themselves but small. In the aggregate, 

 however, very considerable additions have certainly been made, 

 seeing that the present edition contains 100 pages more letterpress 

 than its predecessor. That exceedingly useful element, the biblio- 

 graphy appended to the various articles, has been considerably in- 

 creased in many instances. 



The woodcut illustrations scattered through the text are, with 

 very few exceptions, the same as those used in the secord edition ; 

 but three new plates have been added, and all, or nearly all, the old 

 figures have been freshly engraved on copper. 



No doubt there may be here and there in the ' Micrographic 

 Dictionary ' things which one would like to see improved, and defi- 

 ciencies which require to be supplied; but they are generally in 

 small matters, and where the work done is so good it seems invidious 

 to point out little spots. The most important deficiency that we 

 have noticed is that of an article giving a summary of the modern 

 views on embryogeny — a subject which is daily attaining more and 

 more importance in connexion with zoological classification, rendering 

 some account of the principal phenomena observed in different 

 branches of the animal kingdom, and of the theories founded upon 

 them, quite indispensable in a book of reference like that now under 

 consideration. 



But whatever defects may be noticed in this volume (and we 

 believe that microscopists think the portions of it devoted to purely 

 microscopic interests are a little behind the time),. it seems to us 

 that naturalists are deeply indebted to the Editors for what they 

 have given us. The book is, in fact, so far as it goes, a substitute for, 

 and guide to, a whole library of works on most branches of natural 

 history ; and as such we may most heartily recommend it to the 

 notice of our readers. 



