54 The Microscope and its Misinterpretations. By J. Michels. 
the true markings, and illustrated it with drawings which repre- 
sented them to be distinctly of a beaded character ; in fact, as 
dissimilar from the old accepted idea of their form as contrast could 
depict them. 
Every microscopist was now hunting Podurae, and cellars damp 
and dismal were ransacked for the little scale-bearers, doubtless to 
the astonishment of numerous colonies of spiders, who must have 
been much provoked by this invasion, and thus commenced a con- 
troversy which is not yet concluded. Men equally eminent have 
taken opposite sides, and expressed the most contrary opinions ; and 
I now propose to give a brief resume of what has been said and 
done in regard to this subject, because the matter is full of instruc- 
tion to those interested in microscopical research. Not that the 
markings of the Podura are of the slightest importance, or have any 
scientific significance, hut the gravity of the conclusions which are 
sought hinges upon the fact that, if the views of Dr. Pigott are 
correct, our most eminent microscopists have been promulgating 
false and erroneous statements respecting the form of a well-known 
and common object ; and in whatever light the controversy is 
viewed, the humiliating confession must be made that they are still 
unable to determine the correct focus or the proper method of illu- 
minating it. 
Dr. Pigott commences by calling resolving the Podura scale 
“ a difficult enterprise,” and then describes the beaded appearance 
in the following manner : “ Under a low power, as 80 or 100, the 
Podura scale is remarkable for its wavy markings, compared to 
watered silk ; raising the power to 200 or 250, and using a side 
light, the waviness disappears, and in its place longitudinal ribbing 
appears ; with 1200 they divide themselves into a string of longi- 
tudinal beads ; but with 2300 they appear to lie in the same plane 
and terminate abruptly on the basic membrane ; in focussing for the 
beads attached to the lower side, the headings appear in the inter- 
costal spaces.” 
Piespecting the old received views of the Podura scale, Dr. Pigott 
says : “ With 300 to 500, the celebrated 1 spines ’ appear, according 
to the size of the scale, as very dark tapering marks (like ‘ notes of 
admiration ’ without the dots 1 ' >). To see these clearly with 2500 
has been considered the ne plus ultra of microscopical triumphs, 
and it is consequently with no small diffidence that the writer 
ventures to traverse the belief of twenty-five years.” 
Dr. Pigott further states that he reckons these beads to be 
' 5 ‘tro'ir o'fh to TsoWoth of an inch in diameter, and that the “ spines,” 
which he calls spurious, really embrace in general three or four 
beads, while the intervening space abounds with beads seen through 
the basic membrane, and very difficult of observation without special 
management ; and concludes with the remark that he expects in a 
