THE MICROSCOPE. 83 



perience. After a slight account of a process of staining with ani- 

 line green and carmine, which he had lately hit upon, he suggested 

 that practical work was better than words, and that the club might 

 experiment under his direction when the other paper for the even- 

 ing had been read. 



Miss Andros followed with a paper on the "Microscopical 

 Forms Existing in the Waters of Danville," saying that it was not 

 intended as a scientific account, but was of a sketchy nature, mere- 

 ly bringing forward the most conspicuous forms already observed. 

 An enumeration of these forms was made, showing a large variety 

 already found. Cyclops, quadrlcormes and vorticella nebulifera 

 were especially noticed as among the most pleasing, and some ac- 

 count of their appearance and habits was given. Later, in some 

 specimens exhibited, the club was so fortunate as to be able to 

 watch the binary subdivision of an individual vorticella, the whole 

 process being completed in less than an hour, and the activity of 

 the creature being greatly increased after the division had taken 

 place. The paper was followed by some additional notes from the 

 President on various infusoria and rhizopods observed by him, 

 especially on difflugia pyriformis, with drawings, showing several 

 views. 



The club then proceeded to work under the guidance of the 

 President, and succeeded in staining and mounting some fine sec- 

 tions. 



The formula; for the staining fluids used are those published 

 by ( jCO. E. Davis, in his recently published work, "Practical Micros- 

 copy," and in the most successful work the woody parts took a rich 

 carmine, while the cellular tissue took a clear, light yellow green. 

 After working and observing until a late hour, the club adjourned 

 to the third Fridav in June. 



AT a recent meeting of the Illinois State Microscopical Society 

 some remarks were made by Mr. W. H. Bullock, on a method 

 of measuring the magnifying power of oculars. He stated that 

 Piggott suggested as the easiest and most accurate way of 

 measuring the amplifying power of oculars the plan of placing 

 the eyepiece in the substage and throwing an image of a rule, 

 divided in i-io, supported at a distance of 10 inches from the 



