reviews. 
29 
tion. We know of few more pleasing essays in the natnral sciences, and we 
know of no works that we would more willingly place in the hands of our fair 
naturalists than these. Interesting alike to the scientific and to the un¬ 
scientific, unsentimentally and pleasingly written—with vignettes worthy of 
Bewick—we think these volumes will become deservedly popular. 
A Handbook to the Marine Aquarium. By Philip Henry Gosse, A.L.S. 
Small 8vo. pp. 47, with Frontispiece. London : John Van Voorst, 
Paternoster Row. 1855. 
This little book is simply a manual containing a concise collection of 
“ Practical instructions for constructing, stocking, and maintaining a tank, 
and for collecting plants and animals.” To those who desire a cheaper 
medium of information on these points than Mr. Gosse’s larger works, and 
to those who seek a fuller account of the most recent improvements in this— 
we might now almost say “fashionable”—branch of science, it is alike 
acceptable. Experience, doubtless, is the only sure guide to a thorough 
knowledge of how to manage animal life; yet those who are able to devote 
a large amount of time and talent to the subject may, by making known 
their observations, save their followers many sacrifices, not only of time 
and money, but of temper and opportunities. We hold it, then, to be the 
duty of every true naturalist to communicate to others all he knows of all 
he sees, and we bid him not fear that he will be richly rewarded—rewarded 
by public approbation and respect, as well as by receiving in return tenfold 
more than he is able to impart. We rejoice to see Mr. Gosse advancing 
so rapidly, yet steadily, in the department he has chosen, and his books 
continuing to maintain so high a tone of religious sentiment, not intrusive, 
but impressive, ever regulating, while it does not absorb more than a due 
share of his writings. Might we not suggest that it would greatly serve the 
cause of science were he to turn his attention also to fresh water aquaria ? 
Not to speak of the more obvious facility in constructing and stocking them, 
fresh waters abound in forms much more highly organised than most of the 
denizens of ocean—creatures whose habits are little known, and would, 
therefore, well reward research. It would be enough tp mention the water- 
beetles alone, in their different stages of perfection: who can detail any 
particulars of their manners ? Some of our readers will readily call to 
mind, also, the recent and very interesting observations which Dr. Kinahan 
was led to make on the nidification of the Gasterostei; and startling to 
popular notions as the fact of fishes constructing bird-like nests may seem, 
who will presume to say that wonders more striking may not yet appear ? 
E 
