CHEAP METHOD OF MOUNTING MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 187 



spectators and shooters crowded the bridge and neighbouring quays with every 

 description of fire-arms that could -be obtained at the moment. The word was 

 now given to row up in line, and commence the attack — bullets, 'marbles, and 

 shot, flew about, thick as hail; and as often as one took effect, it was followed 

 by loud cheers, until up turned one of the largest Porpoises in its last struggle, 

 which, amidst renewed cheers and the aid of an harpoon, manufactm-ed by an 

 ingenious blacksmith near the spot for the occasion, was towed ashore. Hos- 

 tilities were now recommenced, and as often as any of these monsters showed 

 their dorsal fins and huge backs above water, they disappeared as quickly, 

 after receiving two or three additional bullets; when the returning tide put 

 an end to our further sport, but not until two more had been killed and 

 landed. The others took advantage of the flow of water, and made their 

 escape. 



Their lengj;h was as follows: — First, eleven feet two inches; second, eleven 

 feet one inch; third, ten feet one inch. The weight of number 2 was within 

 a few pounds of eight cwt. In descriptions of these animals by Sir William 

 Jardine, and many other authors, the length is stated at usually four to six 

 or rarely eight i'eet long. I am informed another Porpoise was picl cd up 

 dead the day following near Sutton Pool: no doubt one wounded on Laira. 



Laira House, Plymoxdh, August 2oth., 1851. 



CHEzVP METHOD OF MOUNTING MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 



BY J. B. D, 



The ordinary way of mounting microscopic objects ' is to procure slips of 

 glass, generally about three inches by one, and on them form cells for tcet 

 ohjcds, or merely cover dry ohjects, with another slip, either of the same size, 

 or a very small piece of what is termed thin glass, cemented with gold size 

 or Canada balsam. A want has been felt of a cheap method for putting up 

 the commoner and less delicate objects, and, if possible, to supply that deside- 

 ratum is my aim. Pieces of thin card-board are cut into the size required 

 for slides, and with a punch, a hole is driven in the centre of each, say 

 half-an-inch in diameter. The object is then to be carefully placed between 

 two very thin and equal pieces of mica — to be had of any Philosophical 

 Instrument Vender, — which are cemented at their edges by gold-size. Two 

 of the cut cards are now taken, and one side of each, covered with a thin 

 coating of glue; the mica is laid on one, so as to bring the object as nearly 

 in the centre of the hole as possible, and the other placed over it, and gently 

 pressed between books until the glue has hardened, and thus secured Iho 

 object in its place. The name should then be written on the slide, which 

 is now ready for laying away for future use. 



It is not proposed to put up the finer objects by this method, but for 



