256 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Sep 



to allow very low power objectives to be used. There is 

 a drawtube permitting a total extension of tube-length 

 to 1 inches. The stage is larger than usual, and carries 

 a sub-stage ring fitted with Abbe condenser and iris dia- 

 phragm. The back leg is divided so as to pass over the 

 fine adjustment screw when folded, whilst the stage is 

 hinged and lies fiat against the body of the microscope. 

 The microscope packs thus into a leather case about 9 x 

 3x3 inches, and there is room for two objectives, live- 

 box, small bottle, and also sundry minor apparatus. The 

 whole microscope is beautifully finished in bright brass, 

 and is, we think, one of the best of traveling microscopes 

 in the market. The price of the stand, with one eye-piece 

 and the necessary case, but without objectives or other 

 apparatus, is $24.50. 



Royal Microscopical Society. — At the meeting on 

 June 20th, the President, Mr. Carruthers, F.R.S., in the 

 chair, Mr. C. H. J. Rogers exhibited a modification of the 

 Rousselet compressor, in which two thin india-rubber 

 bands, sunk into grooves, were employed to keep the cov- 

 er-glass in position. The advantage of this modification 

 is the facility with which a broken cover-glass can be re- 

 placed. Mr. Chas. Baker exhibited an acromatic substage 

 condenser which was a modification of Zeiss's model of the 

 Abbe condenser, the N.A. being 1-0, aplanatic cone 90°, 

 lenses 7-10 inch diameter, working distance 4-10 inch. 

 With the front lens removed the condenser is suitable for 

 use with low-power objectives. A short paper by Mr. E. 

 B. Stringer on a new projection eyepiece and an improv- 

 ed polarizing eyepiece was taken as read. Miss Loraine 

 Smith contributed a paper on some new microscopic fun- 

 gi, and Mr. Bennett in commenting thereon referred to the 

 proposed cultivation of fungus parasites on certain in- 

 sects, especially on the Continent and in Australia and 

 America, with a view to getting rid of insect pests, lo- 

 custs, and others. The President then read a paper, and 



