46 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 
8 (Mr. J. Glaisher, F.R.S., in the chair) Mr. Wallis exhibited a new 
rotating substage ; Mr. J. Mayall, Jun., his form of spiral diaphragm, 
and Tolles’ mechanical stage of extra thinness ; Mr. Crisp, Crouch’s 
histological microscope, Parkes’s demonstrating microscope, Holmes’s 
compressorium, and Attwood’s rubber-cell. A paper by Dr. Hud- 
son was read on a new Gcistes (Janus), and a new foscularia 
( Trifolium) found by Mr. Hood, of Dundee, in Loch Lundie. 
The trochal disc of the former formed a link between that of 
Melicerta and CEcistes. The latter was remarkable as having only 
three lobes, and being much larger than any /Voscularia hitherto 
known. Mr. Stewart explained some peculiar structural features of 
the Echinometride, illustrated by specimens and drawings. 
BritisH Funct.—“Grevillea” for December, 1880, contains an 
index of British Fungi described or noticed in the first eight vols. 
of that serial. It has been compiled by Mr. Greenwood Pim, M.A., 
F.L.S., and will be of much service to mycologists. 
MyxomycetTes.—“Science Gossip” for December, 1880, has an 
excellent article by Mr. G. Massee, of Scarborough, on this order 
of Fungi. This order is now of especial interest, as it has been in- 
cluded amongst the Infusoria in Mr. Saville Kent’s new Manual, 
now publishing. Earnest observers of this class of fungi are now 
required, to work out the various life histories and discover fresh 
facts. 
BACTERIACEZ.—A general review of the state of our knowledge 
regarding these protophytes has been given by Dr. Luerssen in the 
Revue Internationale des Sciences Biologiques iii., 1880, p. 242, 
which should be read by all interested in these minute organisms. 
FLUID FOR HOMOGENEOUS IMMERSION OBJECTIVES.—Dissolve 
crystals of sulphocarbolate of zinc in an equal weight of Price’s 
glycerine with the application of sufficient heat to boil the glycerine. 
The mixture must be boiled for some time after the crystals have 
all dissolved, otherwise the zinc salt is apt to crystallize by long 
standing. ‘This solution is very viscid, and the front lens of the 
objective should be covered with a film of moisture by being 
breathed upon before racking down into the fluid. Mr. Bragdon, 
who devised this mixture, seems to be searching for a more mobile 
fluid ; but when we remember that the viscidity of the above solu- 
tion allows the inclination of the body of the microscope to a greater 
extent than a mobile one, it will always recommend itself to many 
workers. 
MouUNTING OBJECTS IN FLUID.—Probably one of the best fluids 
for the preservatioh and mounting of certain objects, such as 
starches, is dilute carbolic acid solution. Keep a stock solution of 
