i Ss Pee se 
_GLEANINGS. 213 
Gleanings. 
Mipnanp Union.—The Bedfordshire Natural History Society and 
Field Club has joined the Midland Union of Natural History Societies. 
Tur Boox Cirounar of Natural History and Scientific books, just 
issued by Mr. Wesley, 28, Essex Street, Strand, London, is devoted to 
Ethnology, Botany, Conchology, Entomology, Ornithology, &. 
New OrnirHotoctoan Socrety.—An association, to be called the 
*“Willughby Society,” has been founded for the purpose of reprinting 
searce ornithological works, commencing with Tunstall’s “‘Ornithologia 
Britannica.” The annual subscription is £1, and Mr. F. D. Godman, 
10, Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, London, is the secretary. 
Microscorr ror Petrrotoay.—Mr. Swift, the well-known optician, has 
lately supplied to the Science and Art Department anumber of microscopes 
constructed after designs furnished by Professor Judd, specially for the 
purpose of examining rocks. The instrument is of strong and simple 
construction ; it has a 14inch objective and a coarse adjustment only, but 
the latter works with the greatest smoothness. ‘The stage is of black 
glass, rotating, with a divided circle. The polariser is fixed below the 
stage by an attachment which enables it to be thrown in or out of position 
by atouch of the finger; the analyser is placed in the body tube, 
immediately above the objective, andis manipulated with equal facility. 
We can testify to the excellence of the workmanship and to the convenience 
of the instrument for the purpose for which it has been designed. Its 
price is, we believe, £8. With the addition of a micrometer eye-piece, a 
quarter-inch objective, and a double noge-piece, it would form perhaps 
the best cheap working instrument for general scientific purposes with 
which we are acquainted. 
Frersuwatrr Lirr.—Mr. Bolton, 17, Ann Street, Birmingham, 
informs us in continuation of his report, (pp. 97, 127, and 162,) that he has 
sent the following additional objects to his subscribers :—Brachionus pala 
and B. urceolaris; Uroglena volvox; the “Glass” Larva of Corethra 
plumicornis; a very rich gathering of rotifers, including Asplanchna 
Brightwellii, Triarthra longiseta, Synchata mordax, Polyarthra platyptera, 
Rhynops vitrea, and Anurga aculeata; some leaves of Myriophyllum 
spicatum, literally covered with Floscularia cornuta, and other rotifers, 
infusoria, desmids, and diatoms; Goniwm pectorale, and Nostoc commune. 
All these were sent out with admirable drawings and short descriptions. 
Mr. Bolton joined (by invitation) the marine excursion of the Birmingham 
Natural History and Microscopical Society in charge of the microscopes 
and apparatus, and took advantage of his visit to Falmouth to send out 
to his subscribers specimens of the beautiful Discophora, Lucernaria 
auricula, with a drawing from life by W.P. Marshall, C.E., and deserip- 
tion by Professor Huxley. Mr. Bolton has now issued a portfolio of 
drawings and descriptions of Pond-life Organisms, (1s. post free,) which 
will be very useful to students. Mr. T. J. Slatter (on seeing Mr. Bolton’s 
report, p. 162) writes, on June 2nd, that he had also found a new habitat 
for Melicerta tubicolaria, and that he had a flourishing colony on 
Nitella in the aquarium in his drawing-room. 
Symons’ Britisn Rarnraun ror 1878.—This volume furnishes another 
proof of the untiring industry and minute accuracy of its editor. Probably 
in no other country would it be possible for such an organisation to be 
established and controlled by a single private individual. Here we have 
