154 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



rienced Artists" make a sketch, however rough, of a microscope in 

 the traveller's possession, and all doubt vanishes. Such illustrations 

 might be furnished without end, conclusively showing that, although 

 we do not value the savage's drawings for one purpose, for others they 

 are invaluable. 



I think your readers will see that the quotation from Schleiden is 

 anything but " apposite " ; both authors are perfectly right, they are 

 treating of different subjects, and their apparent divergence is j)urely 

 imaginary. 



Yours, &c., 



Lex. 



PEOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Brighton and Sussex Natural History Society. 



July 24th. — Microscopical Meeting. Mr. J. J. Sewell, Vice- 

 President, in the chair. 



The subject for the evening, " Cements," was introduced by Dr. 

 Hallifax. 



All, he said, who had mounted objects had found some objection 

 to the different cements and varnishes recommended in the manuals 

 on the microscope. Against some the objection was that, after a time, 

 they cracked and peeled off; while others gave off exhalations which 

 not only clouded the covering glass, but often ruined the object ; 

 this latter fault belonged esj)ecially to all cements containing oily 

 substances. Dr. Carjjenter, no mean authority on such a subject, 

 advised that all valuable slides should be varnished annually for the 

 purpose of preserving them, thus showing, as the result of his expe- 

 rience, the untrustworthiness of the cements in general use. There 

 was one cement recommended in books against which, as far as his ex- 

 perience went, such objections as those he had mentioned could not be 

 raised ; this was sealing-wax varnish or cement. This arose, he believed, 

 from the nature of the composition ; the best sealing-wax, according to 

 Ure, being composed of 20 per cent, of Canada balsam, 50 per cent, of 

 shellac, a small quantity of balsam of tolu, and the rest colouring 

 matter. He had for years emj)loyed a cement and varnish made by 

 dissolving the best sealing-wax (powdered) in alcohol, and had expe- 

 rienced neither leakage, chipping, flaking, nor exhalations ; in fact, it 

 was the most trustworthy cement he had employed for years. 



Some little time since Mr. Wonfor showed him some slides, 

 which had been sent him by Mr. Curties, the cells of which consisted 

 of concentric rings of different colours, presenting to some a fancy 

 appearance. At the same time it struck him they were composed of 

 a new cement. After various experiments he came to the conclusion 

 that Canada balsam formed a considerable item in the composition. It 

 would be seen by the slides, which Mr. Wonfor and he would exhibit, 

 that if he had not produced an ideiitical cement, he had made one 



