44 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Feb. 1, 1866. 



MICROSCOPY. 



Clips. — I have tried various methods of pressing 

 the thin glass upon the slides for the microscope, 

 so to remain in situ during the time required to 

 dry or harden, and none to give more satisfactory 

 results than the following. A, a piece of wood 



Fig. 52. Wive Clip. 



8 in. long and f in. thick. E, a spring made with 

 thin iron-wire. The end of the spring is driveu into 

 the table, as at C. A piece of i in. iron-wire is then 

 run through the springs, which forms an axis to work 

 upon, and also keeps them in their places. I place 

 a pin at the side of the spring, so that it will fall on a 

 given spot, and not rub the cover from side to side. 

 The springs are made by binding the thin wire round 

 the i rod about four or five times. — William Goode. 



How to view Live Animalcules.— Animal- 

 cules begin now to abound. It often is difficult to 

 obtain a fair look at them on account of their quick 

 movements. Perhaps it may be pleasant to some to 

 know how to remedy this in a considerable degree. 

 This I do by keeping some clear thick gum-water, 

 and putting a small quantity on the slide. It mixes 

 with the water, and its thickness prevents such 

 quick motion on the part of the animals.— E. T. 

 Scott. 



Clips.— Having used a clip of my own construc- 



tion for some years, I venture to send you one that 

 may appear to have the advantage of not being 

 easily disarranged, and yet easily applied and re- 

 moved, giving at the same time more equable 

 pressure (a matter of some moment when very thin 

 covers are used), and allowing the slide to be placed 

 under the microscope. It is formed of thin sheet- 

 steel (obtainable in Foster Lane, Cheapside, of any 



Fig. 53. Steel Clip. 



thickness), and cut out in one piece, of the form 

 above, with a stout pair of scissors, and then bent 

 the required shape with a pair of pliers. When 

 used, the fore and middle fingers are applied on the 

 under side, and the thumb on the spring. If great 

 pressure is required, two clips may be used, one at 

 each end of the slide, and for any delicate work the 

 width of the steel can be reduced. — J. B. Spencer. 



A Beautiful Object. — While on a visit re- 

 cently to Cumberland lead mine, I was informed 

 that in one part of the mine, COO fathoms from the 

 entrance, and 60 fathoms from the surface, there 

 was a recess about 80 yards long, in which there is 

 total darkness, and where the miners do not work. 

 In the recess there are thousands of flies, a few of 

 which I induced one of the miners to catch and 

 bring to me in a bottle which I supplied for the 

 purpose. The flies, when mounted and examined 

 under a microscope, are seen to be possessed of great 

 beauty. They are best mounted as opaque objects, 

 and when the wings are seen under condensed light, 

 thrown on them in the direction from the tips to the 

 roots, they exhibit the most beautiful iridescent 

 colours. The antennae, the eyes, and indeed the 

 whole body, amply repay careful examination. They 

 also form beautiful objects when mounted in balsam, 

 after having undergone IJ6 hours' saturation in 

 liquid potash. As many readers of the Science 

 Gossip may not have access to lead mines, it may 

 be desirable to mention that the same species of fly 

 may be obtained in abundance from drains and en- 

 closed places. It is known by the common name of 



