92 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[April 1, 1870. 



MICROSCOPY. 



Raphides and Spilerapiiides. — "G. W.," in 

 Science-Gossip, Dec, 1S69, p. 2S1, states that the 

 Prickly Pear " contains in its pulp a multitude of 

 beautiful raphides. Hence it would seem that the 

 old mistake of calling all microscopic plant-crystals 

 " raphides" still requires correction, notwithstanding 

 Prof. Gulliver's very clear description in his valu- 

 able memoir on the subject in that excellent journal 

 the Popular Science Review, vol. iv., and in his sub- 

 sequent papers in the Quarterly Journal of Micro- 

 scopic Science, and in Dr. Seemaim's Journal of 

 Botany. He expressly states that the Cactus Opuntia, 

 the Prickly Pear — abounds in sphtcraphides, but is 

 quite destitute of raphides. As everything relating 



a h 



Fig. 99. 

 u Bundle of Raphides in a cell, with others free. 

 b Sphieraphides— one in a cell, and two tree. 



to the cell-biography of plants is important, and 

 this branch of it especially adapted for microscopic 

 work anywhere, by every person with an ordinary 

 instrument, and who may read the papers above 

 cited, I send you two little sketches as examples of 

 both raphides and sphreraphides, numberless true 

 specimens of which are everywhere to be found, 

 both in town and country. Pig. a shows Raphides 

 in the common Willow-herb (Jipilohimn) ; and fig. 

 h, Splneraphides in one of the still more common 

 weeds known under the name of Goosefoot {Cheno- 

 podium) -. the figures are magnified about 75 dia- 

 meters. Prof. Gulliver shows that raphides are of 

 great importance in systematic botany, and that no- 

 thing can be more easy and instructive than the 

 examination of both raphides and splneraphides. — 

 Q.F. 



Mounting Insect Eggs.— "Will you, or any of 

 your readers, kindly inform me of the best method 

 of preparing and mounting the eggs of butterflies 

 and moths for the microscope ? — /. P. A'. 



[The chief difficulty is to kill the eggs without 

 doing them any injury. Carbolic acid and benzole 

 have both been tried, but, as stated, without good 

 results. We shall be glad of any practical hints on 

 the subject from our correspondents, as the time for 

 experiments is just coming on.] 



Crystals for Polariscope. — We have received 

 from Mr. J. B. Dancer, of Manchester, a series of 

 slides of crystals, excellently prepared, and some of 

 them novel. They consist of benzoic acid, palmitic 

 acid, stearic acid, suberic acid, phthalic acid, mar- 

 garic acid, azelaic acid, fatty acids from human fat, 



hematoxylin, binitrobenzol, diazoamidotoluol (by 

 the bye, such a name ought to be worth something), 

 and dinitrophenylic alcohol. This is an excellent 

 series of "objects for the polariscope," each with a 

 full description, not only how to view the object, 

 but also what it is, and how it is obtained. The 

 series, therefore, is not only beautiful but educa- 

 tional, and deserves to be widely known. 



Scale of Chub (fig. 100). — In continuation of 

 our series of illustrations of the scales of freshwater 

 fishes we give that of the Chub (Cyprinus cephalus). 

 We have nothing in particular to write about it, 



Fig. 100. Scale of Chub. 



except to commend it to our readers, as one of our 

 artist's happiest efforts to render this series worthy 

 of their approval. 



Soiree of Quekett Club. — The soiree of the 

 Quekett Microscopical Club was held (by permis- 

 sion) at University College, on Friday Evening, 

 March 11th, and was as great a success as any of its 

 predecessors. Not being so crowded as last year, 

 on account of a reduction in the number of tickets 

 granted to each member, it was far more com- 

 fortable, and the arrangements gave greater satis- 

 faction. A large number of microscopes were 

 arranged in the library and museum by members of 

 the Club, who vied with each other in the exhibition 

 of attractive objects. All the principal opticians 

 were also exhibitors. Messrs. Powell & Lealand 

 showed their immersion rVth, and Mr. Crouch his 

 immersion £th. A large collection of beautiful pho- 

 tographs from the India Museum was kindly lent 

 by Dr. Forbes Watson, and others by the late Pre- 

 sident, Mr. A. Durham, Mr. Prank Good, and Mr. 

 A. Henderson. Altogether the evening was a very 

 pleasant one, and will long be remembered by those 

 who were fortunate enough to be present. 



