Elementary Biology. By Professor Huxley and Dr. Martin. (Mac- millan
and CO.)—The dry bones of former scientific teaching in our schools have been during the last few years gradually clothed with living flesh. The deterrent, uninteresting details of the sciences which had formerly to be committed to memory are now rendered attractive by experiment. Chemistry and physics have hitherto been the highest- favoured, because of the fund of experiment they are capable of. Geology came next in favour, for the pleasant and profitable excursions which a practical study of it necessitated. Now, in the able hands of Professor Huxley and Dr. Martin, the study of tho elements of biology, the ground-work of botany and zoology, will take a prominent part in the practical work of our school laboratories. Boys prefer to obtain their knowledge from observation itself, rather than get it second-hand from books; and this, in addition to its being more agreeable, is in an eminent degree more profitable. In the present volume, a few ele- mentary forms of both vegetable and animal life, easily obtainable, have been selected, such as yeast, =noble, bacteria, moulds, the bean- plant, mussel, lobster, and frog, and each receives separate treatment. After a general description, directions are given for a detailed observa- tion by the microscope or dissection, with full instructions how to pro- coed in tho latter case. The dissection of the frog is admirable, and would do well to go along with St. George Mivares book on this animal. After passing through this course, the student is in a much higher position for turning special attention to either botany or zoology, than had he commenced at once with either subject, without the discipline he gets here by studying the general forms of all life.
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