Digest of Current Literature. 73 



5. This, and the following are inserted, knowing from experience that 

 the aspirations of microscopists are, too often, beyond their exchequer. 

 A very good substitute for the expensive glass slides may be made by 

 any one at a cost of ten cents or less per hundred, as follows : A steel 

 glass-cutter may be bought for twenty-five cents, and strips of thin, 

 clear glass may be obtained at any drug store for almost nothing. The 

 slides can be cut with the steel cutter, and the best ones ground on any 

 ordinary grind-stone, or the sharp edges may be removed with a fine 

 file or coarse whet-stone. 



6. A very cheap and excellent section-lifter may be made by ham- 

 mering out fiat the end of a copper wire, 3 mm. {\ in.) in diameter, 

 10 cm. (4 in.) long. The hammering should be done on a smooth iron, 

 like an anvil, and when it is as thin and wide as desired (about i cm. 

 wide and long will do for nearly everything) it should be trimmed 

 evenly with scissors, and smoothed on a fine whet-stone. The thin 

 part should then be bent to an angle of about 85 degrees with the un- 

 hammered part, which serves as a handle. 



Query. — What are the highest magnifying powers now used in prac- 

 tical work, and how are they obtained "^ 



DIGEST OF CURRENT LITERATURE. 



It is intended to make this a valuable record of the work going on throughout the world. As 

 may be readily understood, it is impossible to make the record complete in our first one or two 

 numbers. 



This department is considered a very important one, and for the accuracy of these abstracts, 

 which, too often, are carelessly prepared for journals, the Editor holds himself personally re- 

 sponsible. 



Only such articles as are communicated to the journals by the authors will be abstracted here. 

 Reprints will be noticed only by title as a rule. 



THE JOURNAL OF THE QUEKETT CLUB. 



July, 1878. 



On Glyciphagus palmifer. — A. D. Michan, F. R. M. S. — A speci- 

 men of this mite, not previously noticed in England, was found by the 

 author in Warwickshire. It was not unlikely carried there with casks 

 of wine, and can not be said to be indigenous. A description and 

 drawing of the insect is given. 



The most exhaustive account of this species is given by Robin and 

 Furmose in Robin's Journal pour /' Atiatomie et Physiologie, 1868. 



A Few Remarks on Insect Dissection. — T. Charters White 

 M. R. C. S., F. R. M. S., etc. — The instruments used are very simple, 

 and a few good suggestions are made ; but as a rule every one will work 

 in his own way in such matters as this. 



On some Microscopic Tracings of Lissajous' Curves. — Rob- 

 ert G. West. — In this paper is found a brief review of the subject of 



