MEMORANDA. 89 



kept them suspended for an appreciable length of time, before 

 it raised the pads. I placed a blow-flj for examination, after 

 having removed, under the influence of chloroform, the flap 

 and two hooks of one foot, and about half the hooks of 

 another : it could not attach the foot with one flap efficiently ; 

 but the one in which the hooks were so far shortened, that 

 they extended only to the middle of the flaps, it used very 

 well. Query, Would not the flap have been torn through, 

 and half left on the glass, in this case, if the above theory 

 were correct ? 



When the foot of the Midge (one of the Tipulidce) is in 

 action, it has the appearance of a horse's foot in miniature. 

 I believe the Walrus, although it sometimes exceeds a ton in 

 weight, has a similar apparatus to the Midge, by which it 

 can support itself on the almost perpendicular sides of the 

 immense icebergs it has to traverse. 



The Midge s foot terminates in a single sucker, and has no 

 hooks wherewith to detach itself. — J. Hepworth, Croft's 

 Bank, 



microscopic Preparations. — From a notice in the Botanische, 

 Zeitung for November 10, 1854, we perceive that Dr. J. 

 Speerschneider, of Blankenburg, near Rudolstadt, inThuringia, 

 proposes, apparently with the co-operation of Professor V. 

 Schlechtendal, to issue a collection of microscopical prepara- 

 tions, intended to exhibit the most important points with 

 respect to the structure and development of plants. The 

 entire collection will contain ten to twelve dozen preparations, 

 and will be issued in five to six parts, each of which will cost 

 only three Prussian thalers ; and subscribers' names may be 

 sent either to Dr. Speerschneider, as above, or to Professor 

 Schlechtendal, at Halle. 



