242 American Quarterly Microscopical Journal. 



is located. The fire occurred during the night of March 28th, and was 

 quite destructive to the upper floors; but Mr. Woolman's business will 

 not be interfered with. 



— It is proposed to form a Cryptogamic Society in New York City, 

 and measures have already been taken to interest gentlemen well known 

 in this branch of study. Such a society could do much to advance the 

 knowledge of the cryptogamic flora of the country. We wish the 

 undertaking great success. 



LABORATORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 



1. Dr. A. Lang makes use of the following new staining mixture in 

 cases where a general coloration is desired along with some selective 

 staining : Fifty parts one per cent, picro-carmine, with fifty parts two 

 per cent, rosein (in aqueous solution). In four days, or less, the stain- 

 ing is completed, and the picrin is removed by seventy per cent. 

 alcohol, which must be often changed, after which ninety per cent, and 

 absolute alcohol are used. 



2. Dr. C. Wedl gives the following process for staining animal tis- 

 sues : French orseille extract, from which the excess of ammonia has 

 been removed by heating on a sand bath, is added to a mixture of 

 20 cc. absolute alcohol, 5 cc. acetic acid (Sp. gr. 1.070), and 40 cc. dis- 

 tilled water, until a dark-red, saturated solution is obtained, which is 

 filtered. The sections, hardened in Miiller's fluid, alcohol, or chromic 

 acid, are washed with distilled water, and this removed with filter paper 

 A few drops of the above fluid will now stain the protoplasm instantly, 

 while nucleous and nucleolus remain uncolored. 



3. Dr. Paul Mayer, of Naples, has found an alcoholic solution 

 of cochineal valuable for staining tissues. 



Mr. E. B. Stuart writes us that he finds the ordinary dropping 

 bottles with capillary points, used by pharmacists, very convenient for 

 holding Canada balsam for mounting, especially for those who mount 

 but little. By tying a piece of sheet rubber over the tube, where the 

 finger is applied, the flow of balsam can be well controlled. 



DIGEST OF CURRENT LITERATURE. 

 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 



February, 1879. 

 On CEcistes Umbella and Other Rotifers. — C. T. Hudson. — 

 This new species is described with the aid of a plate. Conochihis Volvox 

 is also figured, and some remarks are made on Notonmata aurita and 

 Melicerta rinirens. 



