[ 32(3 ] 



Sclecteb Motes from tbe 1Hote=*S5oofte of tbe 

 lpo6tal fIDicroacopical Society. 



Ophiocoma.— The disc of Ophiocoma is readily bleached by 

 immersion in Liq. Pot., care being taken not to carry the process 

 so far as to dissolve the integuments. A. Nicholson. 



Larva of the Lace- Wing Fly (PI. XI II., Figs. 1-3). — I send a 

 drawing of this larva, concerning which I find the following parti- 

 culars in " Westwood " :^The insect belongs to the order Neurop- 

 tera, family Hemerobiid^, genus Chrysopa. It is distinguished, 

 in its perfect state, by the brilliancy of its eyes and the delicacy of 

 its wings. The larvae feed upon Aphides, and are furnished with 

 long curved mandibles, w^herewith they seize and suck their prey. 

 These mandibles, according to Westwood, are grooved beneath, and 

 the maxillae, which are of a similar construction, play in the groove. 

 So ravenous are these insects, that it only takes half-a-minute for 

 them to suck one of the largest aphides. They sometimes prey 

 upon each other, the conqueror in like manner sucking the body 

 of his victim. A. Hammond. 



Section of Spinal Cord (PI. XII., Fig. 2).— Quain's Anatomy 

 gives figures of this, of which I copy a rough sketch and the fol- 

 lowing information : — The spinal cord consisted of white and grey 

 nervous substance. The white matter (cc), forming by far the 

 larger portion of the cord, is situated externally, whilst the grey 

 matter (^d) is disposed in the interior. The principal fissures 

 penetrate the substance in the middle lines (in addition to four 

 lateral ones less marked), the anterior median fissure (/»), and the 

 posterior median fissure (a). The grey matter, separated by the 

 shaded portions, presents two crescent-shaped masses (d d), joined 

 across the middle by a transverse portion. Each of these crescents 

 has an anterior,/^ and a posterior, e e, cornu or horn. A minute 

 canal, represented by a very small circle, runs down the centre of 

 the cord, and is lined with ciliated epithelium. A. Hammond. 



Volvox globator, To Mount— The gathering should be first 

 strained through fine muslin and the residue placed on a glass slip 

 while quite wet. Surround this with a ring of glycerine jelly, very 

 slightly warmed, and finish off when cold with cement in the usual 

 way. The secret of the bright green colour being preserved is to 

 collect and mount at once, or as soon after collecting as possible. 



J. H. Day. 



Plates of Synapta, to mount.- Some years ago I discovered 

 that by soaking small pieces of the skin in Licj. Pot. for several 



