May 1, 1S69.J 



HABDWICKE'S SCIENCE GOSSIP. 



115 



MICROSCOPY. 



Live-box. — In March, 1867, 1 had the pleasure 

 of bringing to your notice a modification of a live- 

 box (sec March, 1S67, p. 6C). Having further simpli- 

 fied and improved it by cementing the under thin 

 glass cover, and closing the upper by a single screw 

 and simple spring, I am desirous of communicating 

 same through your valuable pages to my fellow 

 microscopists, to whom (as it can be made by any 

 one, and at a cost of a few pence) it may be of use. 



Fig. 84. 



Fig. 85. 



this screw three pins, which are to be let into cor- 

 responding holes in the stage of the microscope. 

 If a strong magnet is rubbed half-a dozen times in 

 one direction over this piece of steel, it will become 

 a*'permanent magnet. The carrier (or keeper) as 

 in Mr. Ladd's microscopes is a bar of soft iron, 

 5 of an inch broad, and i of an inch thick, and 3.; 

 inches long. This stage possesses the following- 



Fig. 86. 



A. Glass slide with two drilled holes ; B. Thin glass cemented 

 to glass slide; C. Thin glass cover, loose; D. Spring 

 cut out of thin sheet brass ; E. Brass binding-screw ; F. 

 Front view of slide, showing position of spring ; G. Spring 

 cut from thin brass at waved lines, and turned back at 

 dotted line, H., and cut level with G. 



If desired to enable the instrument to be turned 

 over, the binding-screw may be shortened, and a 

 piece of glass cemented on where indicated by faint 

 dotted lines.—/. W. Meacher, 10, Hillmarten Road. 



A Cheap Magnetic Stage.— Get a smith to 

 forge a piece of steel a quarter of an inch thick, the 

 shape of the drawing; and on the under part of 



■are — ibwua. | >j? ^ \i. A/Ji l r < t$7pZ £Z' t %l ' ?P '*? ? 



Fig. 87. 



advantages : it is exceedingly cheap, the movements 

 universal, it can be fitted to almost any stage, and 

 can easily De removed when not in use. — J. H, 

 Cheltenham. 



Hemiptera for the' Microscope. — Now that 

 a minute Hemipterous insect from Ceylon (Tingis) 

 is introduced as an interesting microscopic object 

 (which it certainly appears to be), it may be Avorth 

 while to call attention to some allied species which 

 occur in this country— the genera Campylostira and 

 Orthostira, in both which, though the array of 

 spines is wanting, yet the thorax and elytra are 

 coarsely reticulated, and over-lap the margin of the 

 body in a manner similar to Tingis. One species is 

 not uncommon in moss in the south of England, 

 and in former years in searching for minute coleop- 

 tera I used frequently to meet with it. The species 

 are described and the genera illustrated in Messrs. 

 Douglas and Scott's " British Hemiptera-Heterop- 

 tera."— George Gmjon, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. 



Snails' Eggs.— I have not yet seen any notice ot 

 the spawn of water-snails as an interesting micro- 

 scopic object, but any one who has access to a fresh- 

 water aquarium will find it not unworthy his 

 attention, as no matter at what stage in develop- 

 ment it is examined, the young snail in each egg 

 can be seen in active motion.— Edwin Holmes. 



Balsam Substitute.— I have lately used the 

 clearing liquid sold for rendering "Diaphanie" 

 transparent, as a mounting medium instead of 

 balsam, and find it easier to manipulate, free from 

 bubbles, and to dry quicker.— Edwin Holmes. 



