BARBWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



185 



M. Bertholet has been making experiments with 

 nitrates and their origin and transformations. They 

 are partly derived from the soil, and partly from the 

 atmosphere, and are found chiefly in the stems of 

 plants. 



We have received a copy of Dr. Lindorme's paper 

 read before the National Eclective Medical Associa- 

 tion at its annual meeting at Topeka, Kansas, on 

 the "Scientific Basis of Eclecticism in Medicine." 



Mr. William Mawer, F.G.S., has published a 

 charming little contribution to Lincolnshire geology, 

 (illustrated), under the title of " How the River Lud 

 cut through Hubbard's Hills." 



The Seventh Annual Report of the Hackney 

 Microscopical and Natural History Society has 

 appeared, giving the address of the President, Dr. 

 M. C. Cooke, abstracts of the papers read last winter, 

 the Report of the Council, &c., from which we are 

 pleased to learn the society is flourishing every way. 



Dr. M. C. Cooke has given an account, in 

 *' Grevillea," of the occurrence of a microscopical 

 fungus {Tilletia spJucrococca) in the ovaries of a 

 grass {Agrostis piiinila) from Glen Cluny. 



The Marine Biological Association has now been 

 incorporated under the Act relating to associations 

 not aiming at commercial profits. Its primary object 

 is to establish a thoroughly well-organised laboratory 

 on the English coast, where the study of marine 

 zoology and botany may be carried on by naturalists 

 — as at Naples, at Roscoff, in France, and at Beau- 

 fort and other institutions in the United States. 

 These studies will be especially directed to such 

 questions as oyster-breeding, and the spawning, food, 

 and habits of sea fish, so as to provide knowledge 

 which is urgently needed by our various fishing in- 

 dustries. Ten thousand pounds are needed to establish 

 the laboratory. Those who desire to aid scientific 

 men in this really national enterprise should com- 

 municate with the secretary of the association, Pro- 

 fessor Ray Lankester, of University College, London. 

 Messrs. Clowes and Sons, Limited, the well-known 

 printers, have generously contributed to thepreliminary 

 expenses of the association, by undertaking the 

 gratuitous printing of some of its circulars. 



Mr. a. Balding notes the fact, that the round- 

 kaved sun-dew catches insects as large as dragon- 

 flies. 



An Exhibition of Forestry is now being held in 

 Edinburgh. The catalogue contains much valuable 

 information. 



Mr. A. J. Doherty requests us to inform our readers 

 that he has withdrawn from his connection with Mr. 

 J. E. Ady, and that none of the slides accompanying 

 the " Popular Studies in Comparative Histology," 

 with the exception of the sections of Physcia stcllaris 

 and Rosa caiiina, will be prepared by him. 



A MOST interesting paper on " Scottish Galls," by 

 the editor, Professor J. W. H. Trail, appears in the 

 last number of the "Scottish Naturalist." We are 

 glad to see it is " to be continued." 



MICROSCOPY. 



Difficulties in Mounting. — I should be very 

 much obliged if some readers would help me out of 

 a difficulty I have in mounting objects for the 

 microscope in Glycerine jelly or Deane's medium. 

 My objects require cells, say f'g of an inch deep ; they 

 have been well soaked and contain no air. I heat 

 the medium till it just melts, and mount the object 

 without any air bubbles ; when cold, I varnish with 

 gold size. Some slides remain perfect ; others, perhaps 

 the next day, perhaps a fortnight afterwards, are 

 quite spoiled by air-bubbles or vacua, which spread 

 in a branching manner just under the covering glass. 

 None of the books on mounting which I have 

 consulted allude to this in any way. What mistake 

 do I make ? In mounting in balsam I have great 

 difficulty in making the balsam (dissolved in benzole, 

 or Remington's depurated balsam) harden in cells. 

 I have heated the slides for six hours a day for a week 

 over a gas stove, the slides being quite hot to touch. 

 What ought I to do 1—G. S. S. 



Mounting Infusoria. — Writing in Science- 

 Gossip for July, under the above head, H. M. J. 

 Underbill, Oxford, states that a friend of his, a 

 chemist, said he never heard of a compound called 

 "chromic oxydichloride " acid. Perhaps he would 

 know it better under the name of " Chlorochromic 

 acid," the deep red liquid obtained by distilling a 

 mixture of common salt (or some other chloride), 

 potassic bichromate, and strong sulphuric acid. — 

 H. L. E., IVidncs. 



Petrological Studies.— Mr. J. D. Ady has 

 issued another part of these Studies, dealing with the 

 Dolorite of Whitwick, the Olivine-Serpentine of 

 Saxony, and the Luxulyanite of Cornwall. It is illus- 

 trated by three admirably drawn plates, and the text 

 is turned out with the usual neatness and finish. 



Cole's Microscopical Studies. — The various 

 parts of the different departments of microscopical 

 research in which ]\Ir. Cole is engaged, appear with 

 marvellous regularity. These various departments 

 are well suited for the numerous classes of students 

 who use the microscope as a tool to work with. 

 Part ii. of " The Methods of Microscopical Re- 

 search " continues the subject of "Mounting," 

 wherein the learner gets the benefit of the full 

 experience of the most able mounter of the day. 

 No. 10 of the " Popular Microscopical Studies" has 

 appeared, dealing with " Sponge," and accompanied 

 by a plate showing the various types of sponge 



