i877J 
Notices of Books. 423 
Aids to Chemistry , specially designed for Students preparing for 
Examinations. By C. E. Armand Semple, B.A, London : 
Bailliere, Tindall, and Cox. 1877. 
This little book forms an useful abstract of the history of the 
non-metallic elements, and might serve as an example of good 
leCture-notes to those attending leCtures on chemistry for the 
first time. 
The Aquarium ; its Inhabitants , Structure , and Management . By 
J. E. Taylor, Ph.D., F.L.S., &c. London: Hardwickeand 
Bogue. 
The author of this book refers in his opening chapter to “a good 
deal of quibbling which has taken place respecting the word 
4 Aquarium,’ ” but he considers that it has now “ gained its 
ground,” and has ££ passed out of the regions of philology into 
that of common parlance.” This is all very true as regards the 
present, but we fear Dr. Taylor has overlooked the probability 
of more serious discussions in the future. We can imagine in 
the year of grace 2877, if the world, our modern civilisation, and 
the English language, should last so long, some Dr. Dryasdust 
reading a paper on the primitive character of aquaria, and excit- 
ing the incredulity of the public by maintaining that they were 
originally destined to promote the study of natural history, and 
once contained fishes other than those facetiously characterised 
as ££ loose.” It is but too probable that these establishments, 
whilst increasing in number and in popularity, are being de- 
veloped as general places of amusement in which natural history 
will play a part about as important as did the poor halfpenny- 
worth of bread in Falstaff’s tavern bill. Dr. Taylor, however, 
addresses himself to the lovers of the aquarium in its original 
sense, as a place where the habits and development of aquatic 
animals may be studied, and where valuable observations, 
economical as well as theoretical, may be and have been made. 
The first two chapters of the book are devoted to a history of 
aquaria with a notice of such as have acquired especial reputa- 
tion. Among these a prominent place belongs to the Naples 
Aquarium or zoological station founded by Dr. Dohrn, with the 
assistance of Mr. Lloyd and that of Professor Agassiz, at 
Penekese Island, near New York. These establishments are 
bona fide places for thorough scientific work, fitted up with 
dissecting rooms, physiological laboratories, &c., and are open 
to receive students and others desirous of conducting researches 
in marine zoology. It is scarcely needful to say that ££ rinking,” 
promenade concerts, and theatricals form no part of the pro- 
gramme. Such truly scientific aquaria are much needed at such 
