1895 THE MICROSCOPE. 93 



keei3 each kind of diatom and scale in a separate asphalt ring. 

 The best means of placing the objects in these rings and remov- 

 ing them therefrom is a mechanical finger ; but it may be done 

 with a bristle, cat's whisker or a fine spun piece of glass mounted 

 in a crochet needle holder. The latter work will be facilitated 

 with a dissecting microscope, but with time, patience and. per- 

 severance, it may be accomplished with a hand lens. Before 

 attempting to pick up, spread the objects on a glass slip and let 

 them dry before attempting any manipulation. 



iEcidiacei or Cluster Cups. — This is the season for seeing 

 these beautilul objects. No amateur microscopist who has not 

 beheld them sliould fail to exhibit a few specimens under his 

 microscope. They burst forth in the spring always on living 

 leaves. The host plants where they may be found are legion. 

 Among other hosts may be mentioned pear leaves, Juniper leaves 

 Scotch Fir, Silver Fir, the wood Anemone, violet leaves, leaves 

 of Goat's beard, Berberry, honeysuckle leaves, nettles, mints, 

 garlic, &G. No more beautiful objects for the microsooi)ecan be 

 ol)tained. 



Striated Muscular Fibres. — These can be nicely seen with 

 an inch lens in the muscle of almost any insect. Dissect the 

 insect under water and remove some of the tissue to a slide and 

 examine. The striations will resolve beautifully. For perma. 

 nent mounting, place the fibres in glycerine. In Klein's standard 

 work on histology the striped muscular fibres of the water beetle 

 (Hydrophilus) are employed as a typical specimen to illustrate 

 human histology. A small particle of meat picked from the 

 teeth, after dinner and placed upon a slide will often beautifully 

 exhibit striped muscular fibre. 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP 



Structure and Animal Origin of marble. — Sections of 

 marble and other minerals may be prepared by grinding one 

 side of a slide, to which the object, which has been ground and 

 pohshed on one side, may then be cemented with hardened bal- 

 sam. The grinding is done on a plate of glass by the use of 

 emery of different degrees of fineness. The specimen is then 



