378 Bibliography. 



ities of the iron. The crystals of the gray cast iron belong to the octa- 

 hedral system, and present themselves under the forms of several of 

 its classes ; their minuteness is extreme ; when the form is cubic, the 

 linear dimensions are not over f ^^c^^r of an inch, and the weight of 

 a crystal s-s-^^-^-^s's of ^ grain. 



The crystals of the white cast iron are more generally six-sided 

 prisms, &c. A work involving innumerable details must be carefully 

 perused, in order duly to appreciate its value, and this course we, in 

 the present instance, strongly recommend to all those, who from a 

 scientific or practical interest, are disposed to study the history of the 

 most important of the metals — for to iron is man indebted for the high- 

 est attainments in civilization. Its natural history, and its chemical and 

 physical properties, combine a series of attractive results hardly equal- 

 led by any other substance, and in proportion to the importance of this 

 metal to the human family, it is by the bounty of the Creator, diffused 

 over the world with a profuse liberality, which places it almost every 

 where within the reach of man. 



Mr. Alexander has set an example worthy of imitation, by a full and 

 able exhibition of both science and practice in relation to iron, and we 

 trust that this is only a prelude to other labors of the kind, that will 

 contribute to the honor and advantage of the country. 



11. Report on the Invertebrate Animals of Massachusetts, compri- 

 sing the Mollusca, Crustacea, Annelida, and Radiata. Published by 

 order of the Legislature ; by A. A. Gould, M. D. 8vo. pp. 373. Cam- 

 bridge, Mass. 1841. 



Reports on the Herbaceous Plants and Quadrupeds of Massachusetts, 

 the first by Rev. Chester Dewey — the last by Ebenezer Emmons. 

 8vo. pp. 277 and 86. Cambridge, 1840. 



We have already been presented with the reports of Dr. Storer and 

 Rev. Mr. Peabody, on the fishes, reptiles and birds, of the state of Mas- 

 sachusetts,* and which we were given to understand, would big fol- 

 lowed up by those whose titles stand at the head of this notice. The 

 publication of these reports on the various departments of nature, taken 

 in connection with the extended labors of Prof. Hitchcock on the ge- 

 ology, and of Dr. Harris (not yet published) on the insects, has thrown 

 into the hands of the scientific world, and all lovers of nature, a body 

 of accurate and useful information hitherto unequalled in the annals of 

 any of our states ; creditable alike to the liberal foster-care of the 

 renowned commonwealth, whose patronage has called them forth ; and 



* See notice of these reports in Vol. xxxviii, pp. 379 and 393. 



