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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



sections of paraffin, which are square, adhere together 

 by their edges into a ribbon, which may grow to an 

 indefinite lengtli. It is essential that the paraffin be 

 of the proper consistency and at the right temperature. 

 Slides are now prepared by spreading a thin layer 

 of shellac dissolved in creosote on one surface, to 

 which the ribbons are now transferred, two or three 

 being placed parallel on each slide, so that the 

 sections may be readily examined in succession. 

 By heating for a short time in a warm oven the 

 sections become firmly attached to the slide, and 

 may be mounted in balsam with very little trouble. 

 As a result of this method of procedure we were 

 ■ shown a series of sections across the body of Lingula, 

 in which the arms were shown in section precisely as 

 in life, and in the stomach were remains of diatoms 

 quite undisturbed by the operations of preparation. 



The D1ATOMACE.9; OF Norfolk. — It is with 

 much pleasure we call attention to Mr. F. Kitton's | 

 important announcement that he proposes to publish, 

 by subscription, a century of slides of the Norfolk 

 diatoms. Mr. Kitton's world-wide reputation as a 

 diatomist should secure a large number of subscribers 

 to his scheme. 



The Belgian MiCROSConcAL Society. — As our 

 readers are well aware, this society is one of the 

 most vigorous in the prosecution of microscopical 

 research. Vol. viii. of its " Annales " has just 

 appeared, containing papers on "The Structure of 

 Certain Diatoms, fiom the cement-stone of Jutland," 

 by MM. W. Prinz and E. Von Ermengem (beautifully 

 and profusely illustrated, some parts up to 3000 

 diams.). A paper on "Terrains et Microbes," by 

 Dr. Casse ; besides abundant notes on various 

 microscopical researches, discussions, &c. 



Bolton's Portfolio of Drawings. — Amid the 

 mass of new and welcome materials now furnished to 

 lovers of the microscope, we cannot forget that the 

 name of Mr. Thomas Bolton, F.R.M.S., stands 

 prominent as one of the earliest and most enthusi- 

 astic pioneers. No. x. of his well-known " Portfolio 

 of Drawings " has recently appeared. As many of 

 our readers know, this is a collection of the weekly 

 illustrated sheets which Mr. Bolton sends out along 

 with living specimens for microscopical examination 

 and study. It includes Pediastritm Boryanitni and 

 Encyonenia prostraluiii, in the vegetable kingdom, 

 and RaphidiopJuys clcgans, Hcmidiiiiinn nastifinn, 

 Chilomonas spiralis, Anthophysa vegetans, Limnoco- 

 diuin Sowerbii (the freshwater jelly-fish), AsplancJma 

 priodonta, A. Ebbesboi'nii, Braehiomis JSakeri, 

 Ailosoma qiiaterariitm, Chcetogaster Limnai, Chiro- 

 cephalus diapliaims, Lynceits sp/uei-iciis, Balanus 

 balanoides, oyster spat, young sticklebat, &c., among 

 the animal kingdom. 



"Journal of the Royal Microscopical 

 Society." — There are few of the periodical publica- 



tions of out learned societies which come so wel- 

 comely as this "Journal," thanks to the ability with 

 which it is edited, and the admirable abstracts of all 

 the most important papers, in every language, which 

 appear in the interval of its publication, in which 

 microscopical investigation is involved. In this 

 respect the "Journal of the Royal Microscopical 

 Society " has undertaken and fulfilled a 7-6ie which 

 was never before attempted. The "Journal" also 

 furnishes us with abstracts of the "Proceedings" of 

 the Microscopical Society, and publishes in full 

 (illustrated) all the most important papers. The part 

 for February contains two papers of great value ; the 

 first we more particularly recommend to notice on 

 account of its high sanitary value. "The Constitu- 

 ents of Sewage in the Mud of the Thames," by 

 Lionel S. Beale, F.R.S., and "On the Mode of 

 Vision with Objectives of Wide Aperture." 



" Petrographical Studies," by Messrs. J, E. 

 Ady and H. Hensoldt. The last two parts of this 

 valuable work, from the exquisite neatness of the 

 lithographed text, and the carefulness with which the 

 plates have been coloured, indicate the intention of 

 the authors to give the world a really good and 

 useful production. The objects figured and described 

 are " Paulite-Diorite," from Banff, Scotland, magni- 

 fied twenty diameters; and " Pikrite," from Inch- 

 holm, Firth of Forth, magnified thirty diameters. 

 The slides sent out with these papers are, of course, 

 specimens of the rocks themselves, and they are cut 

 and mounted in Mr. Hensoldt's best style of work- 

 manship. Mr. Ady's " Popular Studies in Com- 

 parative Histology," in which he is assisted by Mr. 

 A. J. Doherty, of the Victoria University, Manchester, 

 commenced on March loth. 



"The Journal of the Quekett Club" 

 (edited by Henry Hailes) for February, contains 

 papers by Dr. M. C. Cooke, " On Circumnutation in 

 Fungi," and by Mr. G. C. Karop, on a " Description 

 of a Table for Microscopical Purposes," in addition 

 to which there are abstracts of the Proceedings of 

 the Society. 



" Studies in ]\Iicroscopical Science " (edited 

 by A. C. Cole, F.R.M.S.).— No. 13 of vol. ii. of this 

 now widely known work, illustrates the subject of 

 "Fibrous Connective Tissue," by a paper on the 

 "Tendon of Lamb," illustrated by a very beautiful 

 coloured plate of the object, magnified seventy times. 

 No. 14 deals with the "Primary Tissue" of plants, 

 and is illustrated by a plate showing a transverse 

 section through the apex of root of maize. The 

 specimen accompanying the "Tendon" paper, and 

 also a mounted " Prothallus of Fern " (mounted in 

 glycerine jelly), are among the best yet sent out, the 

 latter being especially good. It shows all the details 

 of structure, and by the aid of a J the student can 

 perceive the undeveloped antheridia and archegonia. 



