126 
REVIEWS. 
critical, and while the descriptions of scenery and pictures of Scottish life 
will interest the general readers, the man of science will be glad to have an 
opportunity of perusing the life-long education of one who keeps his eyes 
and mind open, though often pursued in a bitter school. To another class 
of readers it might prove beneficial—we mean those employed in the work 
of education ; but we fear that long-cherished prejudices will prevent their 
being awakened to a sense of the true object of all education—self-govern¬ 
ment and self-culture; wanting which, the most u finished scholars” they 
can 11 turn out” will be but pieces of animated mechanism, unable to reason 
with judgment or act with independence. 
The Micrographic Dictionary ; a Guide to the Investigation and 
Structure of Microscopic Objects. By J. W. Griffith, M.D., F.L.S., 
&c., and A. Henfrey, F.R.8., F.L.S., &c. 8vo. London: J. Van 
Voorst. Parts 1 and 2. Price 2s. 6d. each. 
We have here the promise of a want, long felt by the microscopist, being ably 
supplied. The progress which natural science has made in the last few 
years, while it has opened out new fields of research, has also created fresh 
difficulties to be overcome; and the task of lightening the toil of the eager 
and anxious student is one that requires considerable ability and discrimi¬ 
nation to be pursued with success. In no country has the naturalist been 
provided with the materials for study in greater abundance than in our own; 
A series of British monagraphs has issued from the press of Van Voorst, 
each edited by a master hand. To all of these the “ Microscopic Dictionary” 
promises to be an indispensable adjunct. No field can open out for the la¬ 
bours of the naturalist in which he may not expect to find some informa¬ 
tion in its pages. The hands into which the editorship has fallen form a 
sure guarantee for the ability with which it will be conducted, both its edi¬ 
tors being men who, in addition to other qualifications, have had many 
years’ experience in the use of the microscope, in the most varied fields of 
research; and the present publication may be regarded as, in some 
measure, the result of their past labours. The numbers now before us con¬ 
tain the introduction (which should be carefully read by all who intend 
purchasing an instrument), and a portion of the letter A; several carefully- 
executed plates illustrate each part—some of which are coloured. Before 
taking leave of this publication, which we purpose noticing more fully at a 
future time, we would wish to state the intentions of the editors as to the 
subjects to which its pages will be devoted—■ 
“ 1. Instruction in the selection and use of microscopes, and of the various 
essential pieces of apparatus connected with them, a description of the methods 
of ascertaining the structure of the objects, which can only be studied by their aid. 
