276 THE AMERICAN MONTULY [Oct., 



heat, it is tlu-n carefully stirrt'il up witli sullicient (•()l(l-i)ro()f 

 spirit; the mixture should measure about 40 (h^jxrees helow 

 proof. We have now two procetjises — one a splendid color pre- 

 server of very limited use, the other an excellent preservative 

 for very delicate objects, hut not a preserver of any bright color, 

 although for dark tint^s it does very well. 



(.7b be concluded in November.) 



ON MICROSCOPICAL DRAWING AND PAINTING.— 1. 

 By ARTHUR C. COLE, 



L»»MMiN, KNGLAND. 



[From Methods of Microscopical Research.] 

 A great teaeher has said " Drawing should be considered not 

 an accomj)lishment, but a necessity. Learning to draw is learn- 

 ing the grammar ofa language. Anybody can learn the gram- 

 mar, but whether you have any thing to say is another matter." 

 There is no royal road but that traversed by enthusiasm and 

 earnestness. Sketches from the hands of a dexterous micros- 

 C(»j)ist, marking first impressions, are often more valuable and 

 superior than the formal work of the mere draughtsman, who 

 may not even know the significance of the subject, especially 

 when the result is a replication of drawings made b}' the actual 

 observer. He necessarily falls into one or other of two errors ; 

 he mends and improves, or obscures material points by drifting 

 into formal monotony ; a microscopical draughtsman must es- 

 sentially be a microscopist, and work direct from actual observa- 

 tion, completely understanding the matter before him. 



There are three well defined characteristics of microscopical 

 representations, drawings of tissues, or minute organisms, re- 

 quiring for elucidation high powers, delicate conditions oflight, 

 conducted under careful observation and technical skill, satis- 

 fying the highest biological research, in its progress demanding 

 rigorous precision; then, rapid sketching, catching features, 

 graphic memoranda ; without hesitation, or the assistance of 

 the camera-lucida jotting down, and washing in, with tints, un- 

 expected appearances. This readiness should be cultivated by 

 those desirous of adding record to observation; many most im- 

 portant phases in the sequence of activities have been seen and 

 passed over, when a few rough lines would have induced and 

 helped further research, but beyond this tentative work, and 



