76 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



L, 1904. 



The Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



I am informed by Messrs. .\. E. Staler and Co. that the 

 -American Journal of Applied Microscopy will be discontinued 

 after the appearance of the November and December numbers 

 of last year. This is a matter for sincere regret, as the journal, 

 though distinctly technical, was a really valuable one. and it is 

 unfortunate that it should not have met with sufficient support 

 to justify its continuation. We are none too well supplied 

 with microscopical literature, and it is strange that endeavours 

 to provide for our deficiencies in this respect do not meet with 

 more support. I fear that in the case of the journal referred 

 to. the unfortunate and recurring arrears of publication, due. I 

 believe, to the regrettable illness of the Editor, was respon- 

 sible for the loss of no little support. Those of our readers 

 who may wish to complete their sets may be glad to know 

 that Messrs. Staley have a large number of back numbers in 

 stock, and will be pleased to send them-to any subscribers for 

 the sum of 2d. each. 



New Pond Life Tanks. 



Messrs. Flatters and Gamett. of Deansgate, Manchester, 

 have sent me for inspection a new tank for the study of pond 

 hfe. It is made of one solid piece of glass, and is not unlike an 

 ordinan,- large goblet with flattened sides and square corners, 

 standing on the usual round stem and foot. The sides are 

 polished on the outside to prevent the usual distortion due to 

 the une\ enness of glass, and the depth from front to back is 

 such that an ordinary pocket lens can be conveniently used. ' 

 The size of the tank sent to me was 4J inches high, 4 inches 

 wide, and i, inch deep, and it was very steady. Leakage was 



of course impossible, the tank was easy to clean, and the price 

 very moderate — namely. 3s. gd. I understand these tanks are 

 made f inch high. liinch wide, and f inch deep at about half 

 the price of the stand mentioned above, and also in a larger 

 and more elaborate form, lined with opal glass and mahogany 

 frame at the ends and bottom. 



Preserving Orthoptera. 



Mr. J. \V. Williams, M.R.C.S., F.L.S., writes to me. in con- 

 nection with the note last month on preserving orthoptera, 

 that he has found dipping the specimens into a weak solution 

 of albO'Carbon in benzole is a better preservative against 

 inould than the carbolic acid plan therein suggested, and a 

 better curative also for mouldy specimens. Mr. Williams 

 says he has tried this plan consistently with satisfactory 

 results. 



"^i ><^ >^> >^> -^^ 



Chess Colviran. 



With reference to our note last month requesting 

 opinions on this subject, we have to state that, having 

 only received nine replies, of which seven were in favour 

 of the retention of the Chess Column, we feel that the 

 subject is not one of sufficiently widespread interest to 

 warrant our devoting the space to it, and, therefore, we 

 must, for the present at all events, discontinue the 

 Notes and Problems. 



LAST YEAR'S WEATHER— APRIL, 1903. 



DISTRIBUTION OF MEAN TE.MPERATURE. 



RAINFALL. 



7 



3 0? 



^ p^ — -^ 

 ' 57 . y 



■JOk' 2 2S '2 °' 



^4^ 



The greneral distribution over Scotland differed from the 

 normal, the isotherms ha\ing a north and south direction 

 instead of west and eaj»t. Elsewhere the differences were less 

 marked. T he actual \alues were, witliout exception, below 

 the average the deficienc> as a rule being from 2- to 3;^=. 



Rainfall was ver>' irregular both as regards the quantit>' 

 and the frequency, there being localities of excess and of 

 defect in each district, iome stations having twice as many 

 days with rain as others in the same neighbourhood. 



