ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, JIICROSCOPY, ETC. 233 



extensive experiments in a small space and in a very inexpensive way. 

 Most of them, also, are very quick and prolific breeders, and many 

 generations could be obtained in the course of a year. Then, with 

 regard to the simultaneous study of the germ-cells and body characters, 

 it would probably be found that they would provide much better 

 material than larger animals and plants. Lastly, it would be of the 

 highest theoretical importance to trace the course of heredity of par- 

 ticular characters in cases where parthenogenesis occurs, and such cases 

 can, of course, most easily be found among microscopic animals. The 

 author mentions certain species of Entomostraca, Aphides, and Rotifers, 

 as likely to be suitable subjects. He adds a bibliography of Mendelism. 



Quekett Microscopical Club. — The 436th Ordinary Meeting of the 

 Club was held on January IS, the Eight Hon. Sir Ford North, F.R.S., 

 Vice-President, in the chair. Mr. T. B. Rosseter, F.R.M.S., contributed 

 a highly technical paper on two Avian tapeworms, Hyynenolepis nitida 

 and H. /litiduJaiix. Mr. A. E. Hilton read a paper " On the Nature of 

 Living Organisms," which gave rise to some interesting discussion. 



The iiJTth Ordinary Meeting, which was also the 41st Annual 

 rieneral Meeting, was held on February 15. The President, Dr. E. J. 

 Spitta, F.R.A.S., F.R.M.S., etc., delivered an address, illustrated by a 

 number of very fine lantern photographs, on " A Review of Photo- 

 micrography." This dealt with early attempts and early difficulties, the 

 great advances consequent on the introduction by Abbe of the 

 apochromat and semi-apochromat, and the recent important improve- 

 ments effected in the manufacture of plates and contrast-screens. 



B. Technique.* 

 (1) Collecting' Objects, including- Culture Processes. 



Cultivation of Root Bacteria.f — A. Rodella adopts the following 

 method for cultivating anaerobic root bacteria : — A root tubercle is 

 washed in distilled water, in 1 p.c. perchloride, and again in sterilised 

 distilled water. It is then transferred to a Burri tube, or ordinary 

 test tube containing glucose-agar ; this is exposed to 80° C. for 5 minutes, 

 and after being cooled is incubated at 37° C. for 2-6 days (the tul)ercle 

 being at the bottom of the tube). Much gas is developed, so that " the 

 whole column of agar will be driven towards the mouth of the test tube." 

 The process is repeated several times in order to ol)tain a pure culture. 



Fresh milk serum is poured into a sterilised wine flask, with a neck 

 about 50 cm. long, until the flask is half full ; it is then raised to 60° C, 

 and the entire agar culture, as obtained above, is introduced ; more 

 sterilised serum, heated to 60° C, is now added until the flask is filled 

 to within 10 cm. of the mouth ; 5 c.cm. of sterilised oil is now poured 

 on to the surface of the liquid, and the whole is placed in a thermostat. 



* Tliis subdivision contaius (1) Collecting Objects, including Culture Pro- 

 cesses ; (2) Preparing Objects ; (3) Cutting, including Imbedding and Microtomes ; 

 (4) Staining and Injecting ; (5) Mounting, including slides, preservative fluids, etc. ; 

 (6) Miscellaneous. 



t Original Paper by A. Rodella, Padua, 1906. 



