THE society's NOTE-BOOKS. 53 



shaped cells is found (see Plate VI., Fig. 12), the ends of which 

 are hexagonal and fit closely together, forming two continuous 

 surfaces, separated from each other by an intervening space, 

 which is bridged over by the central narrow portions of the cells, 

 as by so many pillars, like the blocks of coal which are left at 

 intervals to support the roof of a coal-pit. A. Hammond. 



Insect Dissections.— I have been asked by a friend to describe 

 the manner in which I dissected some insect mounts Avhich I 

 lately sent round the Society. Pro botio publico, I will state that 

 the apparatus I employ is of a very simple description, consisting 

 of a few straight and bent needles, mounted in penholders, two 

 pairs of curved forceps obtained at the opticians, and also two 

 pairs of fine scissors, one bent in the plane of the blades, and 

 another curved at right angles to it, an old plano-convex lens from 

 a telescope mounted on the end of an arm, which projects from a 

 sliding piece which slides on a wooden upright fixed on a stand, 

 in the same manner as a bull's-eye condenser slides up and down 

 on its perpendicular support ; the whole made by a joiner. I 

 employ a bull's-eye with the edge of the wick, and another con- 

 denser to collect the rays rendered parallel by the bull's-eye, thus 

 getting a strong light. Use an old sardine-box for a dissecting 

 trough, with a leaded cork to pin the subject to, the operation 

 being all performed under water, with just sufficient to cover 

 them ; a minute knife extemporised by grinding down a packing- 

 needle, and setting it in a penholder, is often convenient when a 

 lancet is too large. The insects examined are mostly such as I 

 have collected during the summer months and preserved in spirit. 

 When the integument is to be studied, tlie " innards " should be 

 dissolved out by soaking in potash and afterwards washed and 

 brushed out. A. Hammond. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES III., IV., V., VL 



Plate III. 



Fig. 1. — Oaosma tauricum. Drawn by Tuffen West. 

 ,, 2. — Leaf of ditto, natural size. 

 ,, 3. — Stellate hair from underside of leaf, seen as an opaque object, 



X 90. Drawn by John Carpenter. 

 ,, 4. — Diag-ramuiatic sketch of hair of Stinging Nettle. 

 ,, 5. — Ditto hair of Lycopsis. 

 ,, 6. — Scale from Bracken, Ptevls aqiiilina, x 50. 

 ,, 7. — Scale from young shoot of Bracken. Drawn by Tuffen West. 

 ,, 8. — ficale ivom Alyssum calyciiium. Drawn by W. H. Beeby. 



Plate IV. 

 Fig. 1. — Portion of a transverse section of stem of Sugar-Cane, x 50. 

 ecd. , ectoderm, outer layer of cells having stomata or epider- 

 mis. Within this is the bark, between which and the woody 



