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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



the moisture was expelled from it. On 

 using this oil, without any drier, it was 

 found to dry in one-half the usual time. 

 He then mixed with it some siccohast, 

 using only half the usual quantity employed 

 to dry oil not boiled, and obtained similar 

 results. " The introduction," says he, " of 

 steam into the linseed before grinding aids 

 in the expulsion of the oil ; but it must 

 stand a long time to precipitate the water 

 completely. Boilmg oil by steam does not 

 change its complexion, save that it renders 

 it clearer, and less liable to turn yellow with 

 white pigments." 



Results of the Polaris Voyage.— The fol- 

 lowing is from Dr. Bessel's memoranda of 

 the discoveries of the expedition : 



1. The Polaris reached 82° 16' north, a 

 higher latitude than has been attained by 

 any other ship. Captain Buddington's tes- 

 timony is very definite as to the impracti- 

 cability of pushing a vessel farther north 

 than the point which they reached. 



2. The navigability of Kennedy Channel 

 has been proved beyond a doubt. 



3. Upward of 700 miles of coast-line 

 have been discovered and surveyed. 



4. The insularity of Greenland has been 

 proved. 



5. Numerous observations have been 

 made relating to astronomy, magnetism, 

 force of gravity, ocean physics, meteorology, 

 zoology, ethnology, botany, and geology, the 

 records of which were kept in accordance 

 with the instructions supplied by the Nation- 

 al Academy. A ninety-fathom sounding 

 along the coast of GrinnelU-and brought up 

 a highly-interesting organism of lower type 

 than the JBathyhius discovered by the English 

 Dredging Expedition. It was named Proto- 

 hathyhius Robesonii. The natural-history 

 collections were nearly all lost. They con- 

 sisted of mammals, nine species of fur-bear- 

 ing seals ; birds, twenty-one species ; in- 

 sects, about fifteen species, viz., one beetle, 

 four butterflies, six diptera, one bumble-bee, 

 and several ichneumon-flies; also two spe- 

 cies of spiders, and several mites. 



It was found that the land was rising. 

 Garnets of unusual size were found in lati- 

 tude 80° 30', having marked mineralogical 

 characteristics by which the identity of some 

 garnets from Fiskenaes was established. 



From such observations it became evident 

 tha^ the drift, which abounded on the land, 

 runs from south to north. 



instralian Compliment to American Mi- 

 croscopes. — But a short time ago, a small 

 number of microscopists met in Melbourne, 

 and decided to form an organization under 

 the name "Microscopical Society of Vic- 

 toria, New South Wales." The first gen- 

 eral meeting of the Society was held in the 

 Royal Society's Hall, October 10, 1873. 

 About forty gentlemen were present, and a 

 good exhibition of instruments and work 

 was made. The president, Mr. W. H. Archer, 

 read an address, from which we extract the 

 following significant passage. Geologically, 

 it is the oldest continent speaking to one 

 the next in age ; although politically it is 

 the most recent of the peoples, speaking of 

 science among one but a little older than 

 themselves : 



" One of the most interesting and prac- 

 tically useful objects for occasional investi- 

 gation and discussion at our meetings will 

 be the accurate determination of the real 

 value to working microscopists of the vari- 

 ous stands, objectives, and accessory appa- 

 ratus so prodigally developed by makers in 

 the mother-country. But, indeed, we should 

 not confine ourselves to the results of Eng- 

 lish industry. Hartnack, of Paris, appears 

 to be leading the way on the Continent to 

 greatly-improved optical work ; and ToUes, 

 Spencer, and Wales, are said to be doing 

 marvels in America. I hope to see the day 

 when we shall have choice proofs of what 

 the whole microscopical worid can produce 

 collected around us, and carefully tested by 

 our own eyes and hands, in our own hall in 

 Melbourne. One other thing, gentlemen, 

 you as well as I should be rejoiced to see, 

 and that is a really useful microscope of 

 Victorian manufacture. At present, the 

 idea is naturally provocative of a smile, but 

 I cling to the belief that not only among 

 the adult immigrant population, but even 

 among our native-born youth, we shall some 

 day find thorough mechanicians, who will 

 emulate the marvelous skill and persistent 

 energy of their forefathers. Look at the 

 triumphs of the American microscope-mak- 

 ers. Their conquests are literally but of 

 yesterday and of to-day. A generation ago 



