[fOUA TINQ U 3Bi 301 



superfluous balsam is cleaned <>ll\ and the slide finished in 

 anj desired manner." (Science Record, ii.. L883, L7. 



To Render Small Insects or Larva? Transparent. — While 

 Borne dipterous and hymen opteroue larvae are naturally 

 transparent^ the nervous system can be more clearly brought 

 out by the use of acetic arid, which can be dropped on the 

 object while in the animalcule or live box or on the glass 

 slide. 



Glycerine or glycerine jelly is an excellent article for 

 rendering the body transparent, and can be used in observ- 

 ing living Aphides and similar insects, as ii renders the 

 chitinous integument more transparent. 



Dr. Looss has found that a solution of sodic hypochlorite 

 [eau de I ibarruque) of the druggists, or of potassic hypo- 

 chlorite (ecru de Javi ). is a fine solvent (m- chitin in 

 making microscopical preparations. "The liquid, a< 

 bought, ci mpletelj dissolves, when heated, even the solidest 

 and hardesl chitinous parts of insects in a short time, first 

 making them glass-like, transparent, and entirely colorless. 

 If the liquid is diluted with six or seven times its volume 

 of water, and the chitinous parts, either fresh or after they 

 have been hardened, are put in it for twenty-four houi 

 even longer according to size, the chitin will be altered, 

 although n"i noticeably externally; it loses much of its 

 original brittleness, and above all things is more permeable 

 to staining solutions. The objects require for complete 

 staining greater or less time according to size, but the 

 coloration is beautiful and distinct with either alcoholic or 

 .ous staining reagents. In our institute Pediculidae 

 and Mallophaga have been prepared by this method which 

 slue. i i ides their transparency, complete and dear colora- 

 tion." i/'\ '" . iv. 286.) This fluid may also • d to 

 make the eggs of insects more transparent. 



Mounting Transparent Aquatic Insects. — Mr. ( >. Lugger 

 describes a new method of preserving and mounting trans- 

 parent aquatic insects t\>r t lie microscope. For observing 

 them while alive a common life cell is all that is required, 



