MICROSCOPY—CORRESPONDENCE. 127 
Fresuwater Lire.—Mr. Bolton’s little “tubes” only need to be 
known to be more generally subscribed for. The other evening we had 
the contents of four different tubes under observation, and we could not 
“help wishing that all our readers who own microscopes would put them- 
~ selves in communication with Mr. Bolton, (17, Ann Street, Birmingham,) 
and get a supply of the good things he is continually distributing over 
the country. One tube contained a colony of Plwnatella repens, most of 
them emerged, others just in the act of emerging from the statoblasts. Who 
that has seen the lovely lophophore of this beautiful polyzoon needs any 
description to recall it, and what words would give an adequate idea of it 
to those who have not? In another tube there was a supply of Nitella 
translucens, (in which the circulation of the sap was visible,) to which 
were attached innumerable bunches of Carchesitum polypinum, so 
well described in our last number by Mr. Forrest. A third tube 
contained another kind of Carchesium, much like an Hpistylis, 
which, so far as we know, has not yet been described. There were also 
specimens of Puludicella Ehrenbergi, Limnias ceratophylli, Hydatina 
senta, Buglena viridis, and numerous other interesting objects. We 
warmly advise all microscopists to subscribe to Mr. Bolton for a regular 
supply of living freshwater objects, which he distributes in a manner 
rendering their examination as easy as it is possible to be, for he usually 
forwards with each tube illustrations and descriptions of the objects, 
- which are invaluable to those who are unacquainted with the objects sent. 
Correspondence. 
$$$ —___— 
Snow Fraxes.—Whilst walking home on the 26th of March, about 
one in the morning, snow began to fall very gently, but instead of the 
usual powdery or feathery appearance, each flake consisted of a distinct 
plate, in some cases perfect six-pointed crystals. I measured some of the 
plates, and the largest were as much as Zin. across. On taking up a handful 
the appearance was most peculiar. Instead of the white opaque body 
one usually sees, the mass was pearly, and although very familiar with 
Boracic acid, I should have found some difficulty in deciding between a 
handful of that body and the snow. The effect near the lamps was 
very beautiful, more especially as the road became covered, the ground 
appearing covered with luminous points, which scintillated like stars as 
one walked along, whilst the falling crystals reflected iridescent hues. 
The effect in the country, on igniting some magnesium wire, was very 
brilliant. It was a cold dull night, barometer falling.—F’. KE. L., Burton- 
upon-Trent. 
Buack Banp In THE Drirt.—lI have recently noticed a curious bed 
in the drift, near Birmingham, of which a short account may be interest- 
ing. It occurs in a new railway cutting at Washwood Heath, on the 
Birmingham and Coleshill Road, and consists of a black band of about 
four to six inches in thickness. It appears to resemble peat, for it dries 
brown, and contains sufficient vegetable matter to make it burn in the 
fire. Traces of vegetable structure can be seen with a lens, but it is not 
very distinct. Above this bed lie about twelve feet of sand, and it rests 
upon a thin bed of white, tenacious clay. Below this is a thick bed of 
sand and pebbles, of which the thickness cannot be seen, but which 
evidently reposes on the red marl of the Triassic system. The black 
band terminates rather abruptly towards the north, but the excavation 
has not been carried far enough, as yet, to show how far it extends in 
other directions. I have never met with a similar formation in the drift, 
but should like to know if itis a common occurrence.—A. H. Arkins, 
Birmingham. , 
