Jan. 1, 1869.] 



UABDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



19 



Microscopic Collecting-Case. — A new de- 

 scription of collecting-case for professional or 

 amateur microscopists, made by Mr. Stanley, of 

 London Bridge, was exhibited at the Quekett 

 Microscopic Society's meeting on the 27th of No- 

 vember last, by Mr. Earmer, and met with general 

 attention and approbation. The description of this 

 article, of which an illustration is given below, will 

 no doubt be interesting to many. In outward form 

 it much resembles a rather large japanned tin 

 sandwich-box, being similarly constructed to fold in 

 two equal parts, the only outward addition being a 

 leather strap, omitted generally from sandwich- 

 boxes, which enables it to be carried suspended 

 from the neck, to rest under the armor upon the loins, 

 to the taste of the wearer. So far as concerns the 

 exterior, it appears light, rather professional-looking, 

 and not inelegant. As regards the practical part, the 

 interior consists of several divisions, or compartments, 



which we think from position and other circum- 

 stances may contain choice diatomacese or other ob- 

 jects of our research ; we secure bottle a to the brass 

 clip, and screw it to our walking-stick or rod ; thus 

 secured, the bottle will dive for mud, water, or 

 weed, which we continually examine by the aid of 

 one of the dipping-tubes, microscopic slide and lens. 

 If our objects are satisfactory, we reduce the bulk 

 as much as possible by straining off or dipping, 

 and examine and place the quantity we wish to 

 save in one of the vials, commencing with No. 1 ; 

 or, if very full of good things, we save a quantity 

 in bottle d ; or if we wish some special choice speci- 

 men, we isolate it in vial No. 2. At the end of our 

 search in this spot we place in our note-book the 

 locality and particular objects we have collected, 

 as nearly as we know, with number of bottle or 

 vial in which we have placed them, and plod on 

 our journey. And thus with other spots and other 

 objects, wet or dry, until we are satisfied 

 with our results, sometimes filling only the 

 seven bottles for evening examination, at 

 other times selecting and discarding as 

 time and inclination suggest.—/. S. 



Fig. 16. Collecting Case. 



which are fitted with the simple useful collecting- 

 apparatus to be described. The first, or upper com- 

 partment, contains three wide-mouthed bottles, each 

 capable of holding three fluid ounces : these are 

 lettered a, b, c, respectively, and are each fitted with 

 a varnished cork. The second compartment con- 

 tains four similar bottles of a smaller size, and let- 

 tered respectively d, <?,/, g. In the third, or lower 

 compartment, a kind of brass clip is secured by an 

 india-rubber band ; this clip, when detached, will 

 hold the neck of either of the bottles described ; it 

 has also a screw connected to it, by which it may be 

 fixed on the end of a walkiug-stick or other rod 

 that may be used as a dipping-rod ; this compartment 

 also contains a pair of forceps, a double hand-lens, 

 four dipping-tubes, and a series of eleven parallel 

 vials, fitted with corks, which are varnished and 

 numbered respectively one to eleven. An opposite 

 compartment to this contains a similar set of bottles 

 numbered from twelve to twenty-two ; this, with a 

 sunk glass microscopic slide, and a piece of wash 

 leather for cleaning or wiping, completes the 

 whole arrangement. With the above apparatus it 

 is presumed we should be equipped for a week's or 

 longer journey, and should operate something after 

 this manner. We arrive at, say a pond or ditch, 



January. — This is not usually considered 

 a good month for obtaining microscopical 

 objects out of doors, but even now some 

 of the common Rotifers and Vorticellidce 

 are to be obtained in quiet pools, and 

 Conochilus volvox may be collected even 

 when ice covers the surface of the water. 

 Eungi are also to be found belonging to 

 several families. Dead leaves will furnish some, and 

 dead twigs other, species of Sphceria, but in most in- 

 stances their fruit will be in better condition in 

 March. Of the Myxogastres, tufts of Trichia and 

 Stemonitis should be sought on very rotten wood. 

 Moulds of various species may be collected on 

 decaying vegetable matter. The exuvise of cats and 

 dogs will furnish Mucor canimis, and on the former 

 we have found at this season the rare Isaria felina, 

 in white fleecy tufts. Insects are not very numerous, 

 but the " cricket " will be found singing " on the 

 hearth," if his gizzard is wanted, and the Water 

 Beetle (Dytiscus) and Boat-fly (Notoneda) are still in 

 their haunts. This is a good season for exploring 

 under the bark of old trees and prostrate timber. 

 Correspondents are invited to contribute notes of 

 microscopical objects to be sought for in Eebruary 

 and the ensuing months, so that we may continue 

 this "looker-out" for objects of interest to the 

 microscopist throughout the year. It may be fol- 

 lowed, with advantage perhaps, in Botany, Ento- 

 mology, &c, another year. Contributors are 

 desired to be as brief as possible, and to include 

 specially those objects which the succeeding month 

 is expected to furnish in the greatest numbers or in 

 greatest perfection. 



