IW THE MICROSCOPE. 



what he terms a "collecting-stick." In fig. 56, a repre- 

 sents a piece of whalebone, about 18 inches long, bent 

 round the end of the stick or 

 umbrella, &, and made fast in 

 that position by one or two rings, 

 c, of gutta-percha, india-rubber, 

 or of brass, d. A small wide- 

 mouthed bottle, having a rim 

 which will prevent its falling 

 through, is now inserted in the 

 loop thus formed, and is held 

 tightly there by the ends of the 

 whalebone being drawn further 

 through the ring, and thus di- 

 minishing the size of the loop. 

 The bottle thus fixed may be 

 used for dipping out the animal- 

 cules. Whalebone can be moulded 

 to any form by placing it for a 

 short time near the fire. 



Animalcule Cage. Mr. Varley, 

 in the year 1831, greatly im- 

 proved the form of this instru- 

 ment by making a channel all 

 round the object-plate, so that 

 the fluid and the animalcules in 

 it were retained at the top of the object-plate by capillary 

 attraction ; and they then bear turning about in all 

 directions without leaving the top, provided the cage 

 be not suddenly shaken. The cover is made to slide down 

 upon the object-plate. The plate of brass to which the 

 tube supporting the tablet and cover is attached, is of a 

 circular form, slightly flattened on two opposite sides fot 

 convenience of package. One of these instruments is seen 

 in elevation and in section in fig. 57. A B, in both figures, 

 is the flat plate of brass to which the short tube carrying 

 the object-plate or tablet is fixed ; d, the piece of brass 

 into which the tablet c is fastened ; 6, the tubular part of 

 the cover, into the rim of which the thin plate of glass a 

 is cemented. 



Many microscopists make use of a compressorium, an 



Fig. 56. 



