1893.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 231 



three chosen instruments, with brief accounts of the apparatus 

 affected by the author, and descriptions of pretty or pleasing 

 objects. Tlie former part of this book is much more than this; 

 it gives the results of a practical knowledge of how to employ 

 the instrument in such a way as to attain the finest results; al- 

 ways remembering that it is beginners that are receiving the 

 instructions. 



There are some thoroughly sensible things said on the micro- 

 scope stand. We may differ slightly from some of these, but 

 they are written with a knowledge of the subject and those who 

 follow them will not greatly err. 



We can commend, also the chapter on "Optical Constructions." 

 It is brief, but puts to the beginner exactly what he requires to 

 know. The pages on " Illuminating Apparatus" are specially 

 commendable because thoroughtly experimental. In fact, the 

 fifty-five pages devoted to modern microscopy will be a boon to 

 every one of the many who are every year "beginning" with 

 the use of the microscoj^e. 



But the practical character of the book is seen even more 

 clearly in the second part of it, by Mr. Martin Cole. He at 

 once introduces the tyro to the art of preparing and mounting 

 his own objects. Here again it is not a mere repetition of what 

 has been obtained from other sources that is presented, but 

 Mr. Cole's long experience as a mounter is given to the reader 

 unostentatiously and with pleasant and useful brevity. 



There are some who, glancing at this little treatise, will at once 

 conclude that the thirty-six pages devoted to the subject must 

 leave it inefficiently treated even for beginners. We advise 

 such to read the pages; and after some years of practice in most 

 of the departments of mounting referred to and explained, we can 

 only say that they present in a brief but a very efficient manner 

 the facts required to enable the earliest efforts of an earnest 

 amateur to become so successful as almost certainly to secure his 

 interest in the subject, and cause him to intelligently pursue 

 his pleasure and instruction, if not to aim at scientific work 

 directed by more exhaustive treatises. 



Fragile objects. — Soak them in a solution of gum arable and 

 glycerine (seven parts to one part) so as to toughen them. 

 They can then be handled without breaking. 



