FORCEPS. 137 



venient is represented in Fig. 84 of something less than the actual 

 size. As the forceps, in marine researches, have continually to be 

 plunged into sea -water, it is better that they should be made of 

 brass or of German silver, than of steel, since the latter rusts far 

 more readily ; and as they are not intended (like Dissecting-forceps) 

 to take a firm grasp of the object, but merely to hold it, they 

 may be made very light, and their spring-portion slender. As it is 

 essential, however, to their utility, that their points should meet 

 accurately, it is well that one of the blades should be furnished 

 with a guide-pin passing through a hole in the other. 



The foregoing constitute, it is believed, all the most important 

 pieces of Apparatus which can be considered in the light of Acces- 

 sories to the Microscope. Those which have been contrived to 

 afford facilities for the preparation and mounting of Objects, will 

 be described in a future chapter (Chap. v.). It may be thought 

 that some notice ought to be taken of the Frog-Plate and Fish- 

 Pan, with the former of which many Microscopes are supplied, 

 whilst the latter has scarcely yet gone altogether out of use. But 

 the Author, having been accustomed to gain all the advantages of 

 these by methods far more simple, whilst at least equally effica- 

 cious, does not consider them as presenting any advantages which 

 render it desirable to expend time or space in giving a detailed 

 account of them ; and he will explain the methods alluded to 

 under the appropriate head (Chap, xvin., Circulation of the 

 Blood). 



