OBJECTS ron tjie microscope. 333 



PARTS OF ANIMALS, 



Pores of the Skin may be examined by cutting off a tbin slice from 

 any soft part of tbe Ixxly tbat is not bairy, sucb as from between the 

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



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

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

 will furnish a pleasing series of objects. 



Calcined Bones. — Bones should be heated red hot in a clear fire, by 

 which means all tlie animal juices will be destroyed, and little will be 

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

 from the l)eauty of the cells : — this is an opaque object. Some useful 

 hints on this subject will be found in tbe 9th volume of the Medico- 

 C/ii)-urgicnl Societj/ Transactions, in a paper by Mr. Howship, which is 

 illustrated by plates with the specimens magnified. 



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

 jects, both opake and transparent. 



Scales of Lizards, Snakes, 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 microscope they are highly interesting, 

 and well deservdng tlieir attention, from the little that is known con- 

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

 class of the Crustacea, p. 78 to 82. 



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

 found licneath the bark of trees, attached to the legs of insects, &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 Obisinm) given 

 in xldams'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 iu 

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

 tiful 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. 



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

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

 of them, most collectors being satisfied by possessing a specimen of thr 

 " cheese milt," to exhibit one of the wonders of the little world. 



