1882.1 . Analyses of Books., 685 
necessity for physical culture. But when a sportsman and a 
champion of sport, thus willing to infliCI pain and death upon 
animats for his amusement, or the cultivation of his own nerves 
and muscles, ventures to find fault with experimental physiology 
we are reminded of sundry proverbs not to be quoted in these 
days. 
Were the repetitions and some of the slightly thread-bare 
anecdotes struck out of these volumes they would become much 
more readable. In the meantime it is perhaps not unwhole- 
some for “ third rate men of science,” like ourselves, to learn 
how we appear from a totally novel point of view. 
Portfolios of Drawings and Descriptions of Living Organisms 
(Animal and Vegetable) illustrative of F resh-water and 
Marine Life. Nos. 1 to 8. 1879 to 1882. By Thomas 
Bolton, 57, Newhall Street, Birmingham. 
For some years past Mr. Bolton has supplied specimens of 
living organisms for microscopical study, arrangements being 
made by which they are transmitted by post at periods suiting 
the requirements of the various institutions and individuals con- 
stituting his subscribers. Each tube has been accompanied by 
a sheet containing a full account of the specimen : these are 
now issued in a cohered form, each portfolio containing about 
eighteen figures and descriptions. 
Respecting the figures they are all truthful, and appear in most 
instances to be drawn from the objedts themselves : when this is 
not the case the source from whence they are obtained is stated. 
Although some of the plates are roughly printed, being evidently 
the work of one of the numerous processes for multiplying copies 
of writing, and despatched hastily with some specimen unable to 
bear delay, most are extremely well executed, the whole forming 
a useful collection for reference, containing figures which would 
have to be sought for, if published at all, in many costly books 
and periodicals. 
The descriptions, usually on the back of the leaflet, are of 
great value to the microscopical student, being well adapted to 
to show the receiver of the specimen what he is to look for, — a 
needful precaution with a tube containing perhaps a small portion 
of some plant with numerous all but invisible living organisms 
attached. 
The account is very full, the matter sometimes original ; 
frequently, in the case of a new or rare specimen, a copy of a 
letter received from some eminent authority to whom it was 
