OBJECTS FOR THE MICROSCOPE. 33^- 



PARTS OF ANIMALS. 



Po}-es of the Skin may be examined by cutting off a thin slice from 

 any soft part of the body that is not hairy, such as from between the 

 fingers, with a razor or sharp penknife — this is a transparent object. 



Hair. — The hairs of different animals vary widely in their appear- 

 ance, as also tlie hairs from the various parts of the human body, and 

 will furnish a pleasing series of oljjects. 



Ca/cined Iknies. — Bones should bo heated red hot in a clear fire, by 

 which means all the animal juices will be destroyed, and little will !>€ 

 left hut pure lime of a most delicate whiteness, and highly interesting 

 from the beauty of the cells : — this is an opaque object. Some useful 

 hints on this subject will be found in the 9tli volume of tlie Medico- 

 C/iirurgical Sucieti/ Transactions, in a paper by ^Nlr. Howship, which is 

 illustrated by plates with the specimens magnified. 



Fcathtrs of Birds. — These afford an almost endless variety of ob- 

 jects, both opake and transparent. 



Scales of Lizai-ds, Stiakes, and Fish. — These should be carefully 

 cleansed from any dirt or filth; they may always be cleaned by soak- 

 ing in water and brushing with a camel's hair pencil. 



Blood. — The circulation of the blood may be easiest seen in the tails 

 or fins of small fish, which should be placed in a very thin glass tube. 



Crustacea. — Many animals of this Class require the aid of the mi- 

 croscope ; to the lovers of the rnicroscope they are highly interesting, 

 and well deserving their attention, i'rom the little that is known con- 

 cerning them : a few of the species are enumerated in the first sijjb- 

 class of the Cmstacea, p. 78 to 82. 



Arachmiida. — Several species of this Class arc very minute ; they are 

 found beneath the bark of trees, attached to the legs of insect*, ^c. As 

 an example of the care we should take in preparing objects for the mi- 

 croscope, as well as forming an idea of them, it is worth notice to men- 

 tion, that the figure of the " Lobster insect," (a species of Obhium) given 

 in Adams's Essai/s on the Microscope, 4to. has a dentation on the outer 

 part of the inner claw, which is in fact a fracture produced by com- 

 pression; this was pointed out to me by my much respected friend 

 T. Carpenter, Esq. of Tottenham, who has the identical specimen in 

 his extensive collection. jNIany parts of the Spiders form most beau- 

 tifid objects, especially the eyes. The webs of spiders in hedges, gar- 

 den gates, and gates in woods, may frequently be examined with ad- 

 vantage, as these are nets in which many minute and rare insects may 

 be found. 



Acuri. — This Class of animals have long been celebrated as objects 

 for the microscope; yet it is to be regretted tliat very little is yet known, 

 of tliem, most collectors being satisfied by possessing a specimen of the 

 « cheese mite,'' lo cx^iibit one of the wondci-s of the little world. 



