ff»0 



AT THE MICROSCOPE. '66 



for years, on being turned to when required for studying some 

 particular subject, have dehghted me by the clearness with which 

 the structures entering into their composition were revealed. The 

 simple explanation was that a slow process of penetration, and 

 thereby of improvement, had been all the while taking place. It 

 must be ever borne in mind that the object of an investigator is, 

 and always must be, to see things (as nearly as possible) in their 

 natural condition. By the simple mode given above, we obtain 

 this. The soft cellular tissue of the liber in its different layers, 

 the liber-fibres, the starch, if present, the exact degree to which 

 organisation has taken place in the colloid substance, situate 

 between and separating the bark from the wood (cambium) — all, 

 all are preserved, and can be studied at any future period ; for, 

 Jiiunaiily speakings any length of time. The advantage of this can 

 only be appreciated by those who have tried it. 'Tis like a tho- 

 roughly good book, which you read through and through and 

 through again, and each time you come to it something fresh and 

 true and delightful is found. Ponder these remarks. 



Testis of Mytilusedulis (tr. sec). — I have often speculated upon 

 the early stages of the Mussel, especially when viewing the tiny, 

 delicate, semi-transparent, hirsute little things at a stage which 

 must be not far removed from their birth, and wished to look into 

 it, but have never had any special call to, and so the desire has 

 had to remain ungratified. Mussels, / believe^ are not difficult to 

 keep in small aquaria, so that by obtaining some when spawning- 

 time was on, their study with a microscope might be made a 

 delightful source of mental recreation. 



Young Ticks from New Forest (PI. VI.) (found at Shirley 

 Holms in the New Forest by a young lady to whom they were offer- 

 ing unwelcome attachment. — A. Nicholson). — Happy Ticks, to 

 have found so skilful an embalmer! Happy lady! to have had the 

 courage to bring them so cleverly to our friend, Mr. Nicholson ! 

 When beating for spiders with the Rev. O. P. Cambridge near Bland- 

 ford, in Dorsetshire, some years ago, it was not an uncommon 

 thing for young Ticks to be found in the " net," aii inverted um- 

 brella, along with multitudes of other " small game." And I have 

 now and then found them about my person after a stroll "natu- 

 ralising " on Frensham Common. In the young state they run 

 with great rapidity, but once affixed they become most sluggish 

 creatures. Their habits are most peculiar. You will remember the 

 old tale of the Glutton? How it would ascend a tree, remain 

 motionless on a branch till its prey passed, then drop on its victim's 

 neck, and there remain till it loosed its hold from the helplessness 

 of utter repletion. This, though said now to be (in great part at 



