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HA RD WICKE >S SCIENCE- G OSS J P. 



separate functions of the distinct zooids, on the same 

 colony, and further illustrating the alternation of 

 generations by the growth of the medusiform buds, 

 and their conversion into jelly fishes and subsequent 

 development of their eggs into zoophytes. 



Of the Echinodermata, or third sub-kingdom, we 

 have in our cabinet a few examples, but of the next 

 sub-kingdom, the Vermes, which includes the Poly- 

 zoa (being also somewhat of a refuge for the destitute), 

 we appear to possess no examples. With our geo- 

 grar>hical position, and the excellent hunting-ground 

 of Hilbre close at hand, it is to be hoped that both 

 the Ccelenterata, Echinodermata, and Vermes may be 

 shortly as well represented in our collections, as sub- 

 kingdoms so richly teeming in points of microscopic 

 interest deserve they should be. 



Of specimens representing the Arthropoda, we have, 

 as might be expected, a large number, hitherto 

 mainly classed as insects — and probably all will agree 

 as to the advisability of a less general arrangement 

 of them, as Crustacea, Arachnida, Myriopoda, and 

 Insecta — the Crustacea and Insecta at any rate 

 requiring further subdivision. 



Microscopical attention has lately been rather 

 prominently directed to the Crustacea, through the 

 formation of a zoological station at Naples, and 

 more recently at Jersey, &c. 



Good slides representing this class, and especially 

 dlustrating the embryonic or zoea stages, have been 

 produced, and should find place in our collections. 



There is a good collection of slides of this division 

 at the Fisheries Exhibition. 



As one of the most beautiful and interesting 

 divisions of natural living objects, independently of 

 its extraordinary size (the number of known species 

 of insects being not less than 200,000) and possessing 

 specially microscopical characteristics, where not 

 microscopic in their entirety, the Insecta or Hexa- 

 poda, deserves a natural classification in our cabinets. 

 Insects are usually included under three great divi- 

 sions : the Metabola, the Hemimetabola, and the 

 Ametabola, in accordance with their passing through 

 a complete metamorphosis, or a partial one, or none 

 at all. 



The Metabola includes the five Orders, Ilymenop- 

 tera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Neurop- 

 tera, the species comprised within these orders all 

 undergoing complete metamorphosis. Comprising 

 the Hemimetabola (those having incomplete meta- 

 morphosis) are the Orthoptera and Hemiptera, and 

 under the Ametabola (those undergoing no metamor- 

 phosis), are the Colembola, Thysanura, &c. All of 

 these divisions and orders are, or should be, represented 

 in our collections, and the additional value and 

 interest in having them classified is too apparent to 

 need urging. 



So much for the animal kingdom. A cursory 

 glance at our catalogue will show that a similar 

 criticism to the above might be applied to the 



arrangement of the slides representing the vegetable- 

 kingdom, and that they stand equally in need of 

 classification. 



The first sub-kingdom, the Thallophyta, which 

 includes the sea-weeds, fungi, and lichens, should be 

 well represented, as of entrancing interest micro- 

 scopically. 



Early in biological order, under Frotophyta, we 

 have an example of simple cell-life in the Gloeocapsa, 

 easily preserved and mounted for examination. 



Oscillatoria and Euglense soon follow, but their 

 special features are not well seen, except in the living 

 state. The Orders Schizomycetes and Saccharomy- 

 cetes are of surpassing interest microscopically, as 

 the active accompaniments of putrefaction, disease, 

 and fermentation, and will severely test our best 

 objectives ; the former includes the Bacteria, Bacillus, 

 &c, and the latter the yeast plant. Many of them 

 appeared to be best exhibited as stained and mounted 

 objects. 



The next class, the Zygospores, includes the Myxo- 

 mycetes, among the fungi, and among the Alga; 

 and the Confervacea", Ulvacex-, and Congregate, &c, 

 the latter embracing the Desmidse, and the Diato- 

 macea?. The very successful mounts of Mr. C. 

 Vance Smith now enable us to possess the Desmids 

 in our cabinets in their almost natural state, and 

 with colour preserved ; and the skeletons of the 

 diatoms will always assert their rightful place, pos- 

 sibly sometimes taking up too exclusive attention at 

 some of our hands. 



Under Class III. the Oospores, we have the 

 Volvox and some of the lower seaweeds on the Alga? 

 side, and the Saprolegnia (just now exciting consider- 

 able interest) on the Fungus side. 



The microscopic fungi have many representatives 

 in our cabinet, but the lichens are conspicuous by 

 their absence. 



The second sub-kingdom, the Cormophyta of 

 Sach, or the Bryophyta of other writers, should be 

 represented in all collections by the liverworts and. 

 mosses — full of minute interest. 



Time will not permit, nor is it within the intended 

 scope of this paper, to take even a hasty glance at 

 many divisions of the animal and vegetable kingdoms 

 — so we must not dwell upon the Pterodoplyta, though 

 probably at least as worthy of a life-study microscopi- 

 cally as the Diatomacere. The classification of ferns 

 is founded on their microscopic morphology, and the 

 lycopodiums and equisetums are hardly less inter- 

 esting. 



Of the fourth and great sub-kingdom, the Phanero- 

 gamia, or seed-bearing plants, divided into the 

 Gymnospermia and Angiospermia, and the latter again 

 into the Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons, no 

 doubt all our collections contain numerous specimens. 

 In' our cabinet they are at present included under 

 the three headings, pollen, seeds, and vegetable 

 tissues. 



