192 THE MICROSCOPE. 



either of the glass-tubes, having one end previously closed 

 by the thumb or fore-finger, wetted for the purpose, is 

 introduced into the phial in the manner represented by 

 the figure : this prevents the water from entering the 

 tube ; and when the end is near to the object which it is 

 wished to obtain, the finger is to be quickly removed and 

 as quickly replaced. The moment the finger is taken off, 

 the atmospheric pressure will force the water, and with it, 

 in all probability, the desired objects, up the tube. "When 

 the finger has been replaced, the tube containing the fluid 

 should be withdrawn from the phial ; and as the tube is 

 almost certain to contain much more fluid than is requisite, 

 the entire quantity must be dropped into a watch-glass, 

 and the particular insect can be caught by putting the 

 tube over it, when a small quantity of fluid is sure to run 

 up by capillary attraction. This small quantity is to be 

 placed upon a glass-slide for examination. It is necessary 

 to add a small quantity of vegetable matter to animalcules, 

 if we wish to keep them alive for many days ; and as 

 many species are found on conferva? and duck-weed, some 

 instrument is required to take small portions of such plants 



Fig. 116. 



out of the jar in which they are growing. For this pur- 

 pose it will be necessary to make use of the forceps, 

 fig. 116, made of brass; the points are a little curved, to 

 keep them accurately together, and the blades are provided 

 with a hole and a steadying-pin. This instrument is also 

 useful for picking up any minute object. 



Fig. 117, at B, is represented a convenient, cheap, and 

 portable "Collecting-bottle and Stick;" simply an ordinary 

 walking-cane divided by a screw, or socket-joint, into two 

 parts for the convenience of packing, and terminated by a 

 brass ring, which is either a fixture or made to screw on 

 and off. This ring is adapted to receive the male-screw of 

 the well-known wide-mouthed bottle, used by perfumers 



