ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 379 



and xylol and of xylol and paraffin. In the first series are 4 gradations 

 up to pure xylol; in the second series G gradations up to pure paraffin. 



The ovaries are placed in the first series for 8 hours a stage. In the 

 second series the melting point of the paraffin ranges from 35°— 150°. 



Staining was performed in three ways : (1) by staining in paraffin ; 

 for this methyl -green, methyl-blue or orange G., were mixed with lique- 

 fied paraffin ; (2) staining eti masse with some preparation of hematoxylin 

 or of safranin ; (3) staining of sections ; for this safranin, gentian- 

 violet and orange Gr., or Delafield's hsematoxylin with safranin, were 

 chiefly used. 



Demonstrating Phagocytosis and Excretion in Branchiopods.* — 

 L. Bruntz used in his researches Chirocephalus diaphanus. He injected 

 filtered solutions of carminate of ammonia, anilin dyes and Indian ink, 

 by means of a glass tube, one end of which was drawn out to a fine 

 point. The tube was filled by capillarity, and then the point plunged 

 into the pericardial sinus, care being taken not to damage the dorsal 

 tube or the nerve chain. The fluid is then blown in, and as the circu- 

 lation is very active the animals stain uniformly. The different dyes 

 are eliminated at intervals varying from 10 minutes (indigo-carmin) to 

 several hours (carminate of ammonia). 



Demonstrating Reproduction in Gregarines.f — L. Brasil, for his 

 researches on the reproduction of Gregarines, fixed the vesiculse semi- 

 nalis of Lumbricus herculeus in the following fluid : picric acid 1 grm., 

 glacial acetic acid 15 c.cm., formalin 60 c.cin., alcohol (80 p.c.) 150 c.cm. 

 The vesiculse, cut up into small pieces, were immersed in the fixative for 

 24 hours, and on removal were washed, dehydrated in alcohol, and 

 imbedded in paraffin. The sections were stained with iron-aluni-hsenia- 

 toxylin ; 24 hours in a 5 p.c. solution of iron-alum, and then for 36-48 

 hours in 0*5 p.c. solution of hsematoxylin. The sections were after 

 stained with an alcoholic solution of eosin and orange Gr., or of light-green 

 and picric acid. 



(3) Cutting - , including: Imbedding- and Microtomes. 



Studying the Development of the Ascocarp of Humaria granu- 

 lata.J — V. H. Blackman and Helen C. Fraser, in their research on the 

 sexuality and development of the Ascocarp of Humaria gramdata Quel. 

 ( = Peziza granulata Bull.), fixed the material chiefly in Flemming's 

 weak fluid, which was allowed to act for 24 hours, or for 1 hour, fixa- 

 tion being completed in the latter case with Merkel's fluid. Either 

 safranin, gentian-violet and orange, or Benda's iron-hsematoxylin, were 

 used for staining. Sections of the very youngest stages of the apothecia 

 were secured by removing and fixing the superficial layers of the sub- 

 stratum on which apothecia were just visible. The behaviour of the 

 closely packed nuclei of the ascogonium was best followed in sections 

 4 /x thick. 



* Arch. Zool. Exper. et Gen., xxxiv. (1905) pp. 183-98 (1 pi.). 



t Tom. cit., pp. 69-99 (2 pis.). 



t Proc. Roy. Soc, lxxvii. (1906) pp. 354-68 (3 pis.). 



