46 

 NOVELTIES. 



Growing Slide. — We are all acquainted witli the " live box," its 

 conveniences and its disadvantages. We know that it is not suited 

 for very delicate manipulation, and that it is easily damaged. It is 

 difi&cult to keep an object long in it, and not always easyto keep 

 the living organism in the field of view. Mr. Curties, F.R.M.S., 

 has greatly improved upon this old contrivance, by introducing a 

 "live box" for aquatic objects, at once simple and effective. 



It consists of a glass slide, Sin. by lin., usually termed a hollow 

 slip, in the centre of which is an oval or circular " well." At one 

 end of the slide a small hole is drilled, through which passes a 

 pin, having at the upper end a fine screw. This pin, or pivot, 

 carries a brass button, to which is cemented an oblong thin glass 

 cover. By screwing a smaller button to the upper end of the 

 pivot the two surfaces of slide and cover are brought into contact. 



On moving the covering glass aside, the object, with a supply 

 of water, may be readily introduced, and the cover being slid back 

 into its place, the slide is ready for examination. 



This slide cell offers unusual facilities for observing the habits of 

 many interesting specimens of pond life, and forms also au excel- 

 lent " growing slide." For this purpose, and generally when it 

 is required to keep an object alive, it may be kept in a perpen- 

 dicular position in a wide-mouthed bottle filled with water; or 

 better still, a small glass tank may be made of a proper depth, 

 having a wooden top in which holes may be cut as guides, through 

 which the slide may be plunged when not required for observation. 

 In this way a number of slides may be kept ready for use, and 

 organisms in different stages of development may be isolated and 

 watched, and their changes noted. Any apparatus which facilitates 

 the study of the life history of any organism gives another step 

 towards the increase of our knowledge, and Mr. Curties deserves 

 our thanks for his simple, inexpensive, and useful contrivance. 



" CoAGDLiNE." — Under this name a transparent cement has re- 

 cently been introduced by Mr. Kay, of Stockport, which, we 

 think, will be of use to the microscopist. It is extremely tenacious, 

 and when slightly heated by placing the bottle in wami water, it 

 may be applied by a camel's hair brush to the surfaces intended to 

 be united. It soon sets, and so strongly that when used to join 

 glass, the glass itself will often break on the application of force, 

 before the cement fails. It promises well for the large built- 

 up cells, or small tanks, such as the one just recommended for the 

 reception of Mr. Curties' " slide cell." 



