8 THE MICROSCOPE. Jan., 



now be used. This will show the colors of the hairs and 

 the iridescence of the wings. 



It is not always possible to lay the object on the stage 

 in just the desired position, but w.ith a pair of stage for- 

 ceps it can be held in any way. These can be bought, 

 but Fig. 1 represents a pair made of whalebone which 

 answer for a small instrument. Cut two pieces of whale- 

 bone as for the other forceps having two notches in the 

 end instead of one. Wind with strong thread in both 

 notches leaving a space between them, in this space in- 

 sert between the strips of bone a large darning needle. 

 By separating the bones a very little and bending the 

 pointed ends toward each other you will have a pair of 

 forceps which will hold an object. Having placed the 

 object in the forceps with the part desired up, turn aside 

 the stage of your instrument and stick the needle in the 

 board in such a position that the object comes under the 

 lens. Then by raising or lowering the forceps you can 

 get the focus. These are very useful for looking at the 

 small parts of flowers and in examining whole insects. 



Buying a Microscope. 



By H. M. WHELPLEY, 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 



The expense of ignorance is ever apparent to the ob- 

 serving person. In fact, every one realizes the cost of 

 the bitter lesson taught by experience. We were made 

 to realize this recently when called to examine a micro- 

 scope which a druggist had purchased at an expense of 

 forty-five dollars. The owner of the instrument was 

 obliged to depend on the judgment and integrity of the 

 firm from which he ordered it, as his knowledge of the 

 instrument was limited to its name. As a result the 

 druggist exchanged forty-five dollars for a microscope 

 that we would not pay ten for, unless it was to have a 

 cabinet specime of different styles of manufacture. 



