BURGESS : — MICROSCOPIC GOSSIP. 333 



bodies undulating in " graceful mien " with their rapid and ever varying 

 movements. Eventually, and it may be believing that " enough is as good 

 as a feast," they betake themselves to a sandy nook " 'neath an o'erhangino" 

 tree," and carefully smooth down each others usually sleek but now 

 dishevelled fur, each performing the kindly office for the other.— This 

 done they noiselessly descend again into the water, and phantom like 

 glide up to an adjoining stream when we hear a loud splash and presently 

 through the murky gloom of the now fast receding twilight, we see them 

 at last ascend a grassy knoll each in the possession of a fine trout which 

 seems only to whet their appetites and to form the first course of their 

 evening meal ; but ere they have yet finished this levy on their finny 

 victims we expose ourselves to their view, and they rush impetuously from 

 the bank and "head" rapidly up the river, whither they will travel it 

 may be for many miles, perchance repeating their gambols and making 

 fresh captures on the way, until the fii-st grey dawn of approaching day 

 appears in the eastern sky, and sol lifts his head above the horizon to 

 illumine the surrounding scene with his golden rays, when they return 

 to their lairs on the banks of the river, there to remain couchant till the 

 shades of the succeeding evening again call them abroad. 



The otter, though not by any means numerous, is generally dispersed 

 throughout the rivers and streams of Northumberland, being met \\ith in 

 the North and South Tyne, the Eeed, Wansbeck, Coquet, Aln, the Tweed 

 and its numerous tributaries, and in other rivulets of less note. 



Alnwick, January, 1865. 



MICROSCOPIC GOSSIP.— No. I. 



By N. Burgess. 



Introduction. 

 In all scientific observations and study, first-class instruments are, 

 generally, all in all. This remark applies as much (and perhaps more) to 

 microscopic investigations, as to any other source of close research, and 

 minute enquiry. A good microscope, therefore, is most important. Now 

 to those who are not acquainted with the microscope I will offer a few 

 words by way of explanation at the outset. " The stand," which is the 

 mechanical part, is only so far important as the means of permitting 



