84 NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 



instances as true as he has sketched them, and the lines quite as 

 sharp ; in others they are not so regular, as a smaller one sometimes 

 intervenes. In time the interstices between the rays get filled up 

 with calcareous matter, and the rays, except their extremities, become 

 almost obliterated, and the shell shows only a homogeneous mass. 

 These rays, he presumes, are deposited more for strengthening the 

 membranes than for anytlaing else, as, for instance, in the carapace of 

 the shrimp, and in the large claw of Pagurus Bernhardus, they are 

 scattered over the membranes irregularly, and do not appear to be 

 confined to the papillae processes so strictly as in the genera Cancer 

 and Carcinas. The author's plates illustrate these views fully, and 

 lend an additional interest to the work. 



NOTES AND MEMOKANDA. 



Blood Stains. — We have to thank our contemporary, the American 

 ' Medical Investigator,' for quoting some remarks which appeared 

 in our pages on the above subject both from the American investi- 

 gator Dr. Richardson, and from our English savan Professor Gullive*. 

 We merely mention it because the note is signed J., and we are as 

 yet unconscious from this to whom we are indebted. 



The American Journal of Microscopy. — From the advertisement 

 of this journal, which is published in so large and flourishing a town 

 as Chicago, we expected much. We have, however, received a copy 

 of the magazine, and we cannot say very much in its favour. It is a 

 somewhat badly-printed journal of inconvenient 4to size, and is full 

 of a series of articles of a far lower type than is to be found in our 

 most familiar natural history journal, ' Science Gossip,' while its illus- 

 trations cannot compare for a moment with those of our English con- 

 temporaries. We hope that it is only the first nmnber which will have 

 this appearance, and that as it goes on it will get better. As it is, it 

 is really worthless to English microscopists. 



Browning's Microscope Lamp. — As illustrated on the opposite 

 page, we have been fui-nished by Mr. Browning with a new micro- 

 scopic lamp, which from our examination seems not only to be the 

 best thing of the kind made, but appears as though improvement 

 upon it were impossible. As shown in the engravings, it packs 

 into a marvellously small case, 6 inches by 3 inches, and is, 

 therefore, most convenient for carriage, which will be a great 

 benefit for those of our Fellows who are in the habit of taking their 

 microscopes with them to their friends. It was originally designed by 

 Mr. Fiddian, and bears his name upon it. The following description 

 will make it clearer to the reader : — The metallic chimney being 

 telescopic occupies a very small compass ; the condenser fits into the 

 cell in front, which is also provided with plain and tinted glass for 

 correcting the coloiu- of the flame. The reservoir is of brass, and will 

 contain sufficient petroline for six hours' consumption. The entire 

 lamp fitting into the case from the top, escape of the oil is prevented. 



