26 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
year 1849, but which at that time was known as a variety of 
commutatum. f 
Mr. William Foster exhibited a remarkable variety of the Poly- 
podium phegopteris, which he had found in August last at Patterdale. 
The pinne of the fronds were cut up into long narrow lobes, like 
the variety of Polypodium vulgare, known as Cornudbiense. If the 
variety proves to be constant it will make a very good addition to 
the varieties of cultivated ferns. 
MANCHESTER MicroscopicaL Society.—At the last meeting of 
this Society, held on December 7th, after the usual business, Mr. 
George E. Davis, F.R.M.S., read the second part of his paper on 
‘“‘Elements of Microscopy : Some of the properties of plates, prisms 
and lenses.” The paper was well illustrated by lantern slides ably 
manipulated by Mr. Bathe. [This paper will subsequently appear 
in full. 
eee of the Mounting Class was held on Wednesday 
evening, the 13th December. Mr. Aylward’s new dissecting table 
was shown, and from a hint thrown out by Mr. Lofthouse at the 
previous meeting, the Secretary exhibited a table showing the utility 
of the common metal pencil case provided with a spiral; it makes 
an excellent coarse adjustment for carrying the pocket lens, and is 
easily attached to any table. 
In the junior division Mr. Miles then proceeded with white zinc 
cement ringing, explaining during the process what ought to be 
avoided, and showing that the method is not to build up, as is 
generally supposed, but to apply the brush to the edge of the cover 
glass and allow the cement to gradually fall by its own weight ; he 
also showed the ornamentation of several slides by means of colored 
rings. 
In the senior division Mr. A. J. Doherty, whose slides we have 
often had occasion to admire, went carefully through the various 
processes of decolorization, washing, preparing, staining in carmine, 
then in aniline green and mounting in balsam, and was very suc- 
cessful with several slides of the sugar cane. He also explained 
the various tissues acted upon by the different colouring media, 
and supplied those present with the formularies he has found from 
experience to give the best results. 
Exceedingly instructive and interesting are double-stained sec- 
tions, and when we consider that they offer no very great difficulties 
to the microscopist, it is a matter of surprise that individual mounts 
are not more general. 
For those who care to follow out this beautiful process, an ex- 
haustive paper by Mr. Doherty will be found in the Northern 
Microscopist, vol. 1., page 128. 
Mr. Cote’s Stupies.—According to promise, No. 29 of this 
