186 



The Microscope. 



The concave surface of this cavity 

 is smooth except at the outside margin, 

 where there are from seventy-eight to 

 ninety projecting hairs, which under the 

 microscope remind one of the villi of the 

 small intestines of mammals. These teeth, 

 like hairs, projecting as a fringe, form 

 a most delicate brush. The tibial spur 

 is so modified as to resemble a very 

 short-handled razor, the blade of which 

 is for a wide space facing the tarsus, a 

 most delicate membrane, and this blade 

 forms a sort of lid to the cavity just 

 described. When the leg is straightened this lid rarely reaches the 

 cavity ; but when the first tarsus is flexed upon the tibia it serves as 

 a cover to the cavity and really closes it. As the antennse are not 

 only the sensile tactile organs but also the organs of smell, it is of 

 the highest importance that they be kept from the dust. But the 

 very habits of most hymenopterous insects, visiting as they do, 

 flowers laden with pollen, or digging in the mud and dust, tend to 

 soil the antennae. If a captive bee or wasp on the window-pane of 

 our room have its antennae quietly dusted with lime or flour, we will 

 see it pass au anterior leg forward, draw an antennae through the 

 cleaner, and then pass the fore-legs, now foul with dust, between 

 the brushes formed by the soft hairy inner faces of the basal tarsi 

 of the inner legs. This will be repeated several times, when upon 

 examination the antennae will be found entirely freed from the 

 troublesome dust. 



MiCKo-OEGANiSMs. — In his work, " Die Mikro-organismen," Prof. 

 M. C. Fluegge adopts the classification of De Bary and Fi-ank, and 

 passes in review all the pathogenic species of Hypodermii, Peron- 

 osporeae, Pyrenamycetes and Mucorini, as well as those of Schizo- 

 mycetes. In the case of Aspergillus fumigatus and glaucus, he 

 states that the spores, if injected in sufficient quantities into the 

 veins of a rabbit or guinea-pig, rapidly cause death. If rabbits, 

 pigeons or other small birds are placed in an atmosphere holding 

 Aspergillus spores in suspension, the bronchials and kidneys become 

 rapidly filled with the mycelial filaments, and the same is the case 

 with Erysiphe and Oidium. With Grawitz the author identifies 

 Oidium lactis, Achorion Schoenleinii, Trichophyton tonsurans and 

 Microsporon furfur as forms of the same species. 



