162 MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 



of the atmosphere will force the water with the insect 

 up the tube, when the thumb is again to close the upper 

 aperture, and the tube with the object is to be removed. 

 These tubes may be of different diameters to suit the 

 various objects. 



(11.) Net Spoon. — Some of the larvse of insects are 

 very delicate, and require very gentle means for removing 

 them into aquatic sliders or boxes for examination. This 

 may be very carefuUy done with the net- spoon here 

 figured. It consists of a wire bent in the form shown 

 and covered by a piece of muslin or net. 



(12.) Aquatic Sliders for Live Objects. — ^These are 

 made in various ways. The best for large objects is 

 the water-trough represented in the next figure ; it is 

 composed of two plates of glass, having a plate of metal 

 or a lump .of sealing-wax between them, leaving a space 

 in the middle for the object and water. They may be 

 executed of various lengths and thicknesses, and have 

 then* sides parallel or angular; 'the latter is sometimes 

 useful, as they confine the insects at the bottom, and are 

 thus prevented fi-om going out of the field of view. For 

 the solar microscope this method of displaying them is 

 preferable to the aquatic five-boxes, and when of suffi- 

 cient size, under low powers a branch of moss may be 

 inserted, which wiU produce an interesting spectacle, 

 among a group of different insects, who will exhibit a 



