. Scientific Reviews. 201 
The Natural History of several new, popular, and diverting Liv- 
ing Objects for the Microscope, with the Phenomena presented 
by them under observation, Be Illustrated by highly-finished 
copie Engravings, from drawings of the actual Living Sub- 
jects. By C. R. Gorine, M.D. and ANDREW PRitcHaARD. 
No. II. Pp. 64. with Three Plates. Whittaker & Co. London, 
1829. 7 
GREAT as is our horror of these diverting titles, we have been 
tempted to approach this work by a hope which certainly has not 
been delusive. To the young microscopist, chapters of practical 
instruction are given, which, at the same time, show how well these 
gentlemen understand their profession, and how capable they are 
of communicating it to others ; and most elegant coloured engrav- 
ings of magnified objects of Natural History, beautify the whole. 
The publication is irregularly periedical ; each number being 
complete in itself. 
The.writings of Dr. Goring will be known to the readers of 
Brande’s Journal, to which the author refers, with the observation, 
that as “‘ periodical publications are considered of small value, 
whatever their merit may be, when their date is passed, it becomes 
necessary to reserve matter worthy of notice from the oblivion to 
which it is too frequently consigned in them, by presenting it to 
the public in another form ;” and when we repeat that it is the ob- 
ject of Dr. Goring to “ add to, abstract from, change, alter, and 
improve” the various tracts he has already written, or to give en- 
tirely fresh matter, we give a favourable idea of the execution of 
his department of the work. 
The portion undertaken by Mr. Pritchard—the drawings and de- 
scriptions of subjects of Natural History—is, however, more attrac- 
tive than the description and explanation of the instruments and 
test objects. 
“* The specimens which I have selected,” says the writer, ‘ are those which 
experience has shewn to excite the strongest emotions of pleasure and satisfaction 
in the great mass of observers of all ranks; whom I have always found to be 
most delighted by comparatively large living objects, seen with medium powers. 
In fact, they seem to afford the same sort of gratification with a menagerie of liv- 
ing wild beasts on the large scale ; and most certainly many of them wonderfully 
emulate the ferocity, voracity, cunning, and cruelty of the mammalia. They 
prey on each other, and fight with a degree of determined obstinacy not inferior 
to that of any beings whatever. They have likewise a thousand diverting pranks 
and humours, quite peculiar to themselves. In addition to these amiable and 
amusing qualities, they possess such a high. degree of transparency, that their 
unique and beautiful internal machinery is as clearly perceptible as if they were 
made of glass; so that, without any dissection, we can unravel all the mysterious 
workings of their nature ; such as the circulation of the blood, the pulsations of 
the heart, the peristaltic motion of the intestines, and the play of every muscular 
fibre. This property of transparency is not possessed by any other living beings 
with which I am acquainted, except the animailcula infusoria. - I may observe, 
that no perfect insects present so many facilities for nau to the microscope, 
VOL. I. Cc 
