1889.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 2Y3 



The long range of the fine adjustment is of great value, and the same 

 is claimed for the locking device. The mechanism is so simple that it 

 cannot well get out of order, and should any accident happen, any jew^- 

 eller could easily repair it. 



Staining and Mounting Zoosperms.* 



By R. N. REYNOLDS, 



DETROIT, MICH. 



In mounting this material it is necessary first to cause the containing 

 fluid to mix with water. A weak aqueous solution of bichromate of 

 potash is the only drug which, without destroying the objects, will 

 cause the fresh specimens to do this ; but when the fresh material is 

 subjected to the action of potash solution, the objects die with their 

 tails coiled. To preve'.it this coiling let the specimen die at the ordi- 

 nary temperature of the atmosphere, which will usuallv take about 

 thirty-five hours, though the weaker ones die in five or six hours. 

 When dead the specimens will be found swarming with bacteria, to 

 avoid which keep them at a temperature something below that of the 

 human body. Cold water preserves them while moderately hot water 

 kills the greater part of them. 



When mixed with water they may be stained any desirable color; 

 or by using red first, followed by green, the bodies appear red and the 

 tails green. When the stains have taken effect a plug of absorbent 

 cotton may be placed in the neck of a funnel, and the specimens fil- 

 tered through it. If the plug be tight enough, so that the water will 

 not stream but only drop, thousands of the objects will pass through, 

 but tens of thousands remain in the cotton. This plug is then taken 

 out and the water squeezed from it. Place a slide on the turn-table, 

 dip an artist's small brush into the fluid squeezed from the plug, and 

 while the turn-table is in motion bring the point of the brush to the 

 centre of the slide. A small round deposit will be left, which should 

 be dried. Next with white zinc cement, make a ring about half an 

 inch in diameter on the slide, allow this to dry for a couple of days 

 and then slightly moisten the ring with the same cement, lay on a 

 cover-glass, and you have a permanent mount. 



Ventilating and Albino Bees.— Detection of Adnlterated Honey. 



By JOHN ASPINWALL. 



BARRYTOWN-ON-HUDSON, N. Y. 



Ventilating Bees. — Referring to the April number of this periodi- 

 cal, page 89, under heading. •• Biological Notes," it may be stated 

 positivelv that bees do ventilate in every hive in America on a hot day. 

 This is an old-established fact, and this is the proof: They stand near 

 and in the entrance of the hive fanning, violently, and always headed 

 one w'av, viz., inwards. The hotter it is, the more bees participate in 

 this work. They never head outward. This fanning causes quite a 

 perceptible current. 



* Abstracted from The Microscope, 1886, pp. 196-7, by request. 



