104 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [May, 



hammer ; this must be repeated until the plane of cleavage is discovered, 

 when the flint will break oft' in flakes. These may be placed in glyce- 

 rine and examined ; those containing any organic remains of interest may 

 be stored away in spirit till they are mounted in balsam. Unless the 

 student can gain access to a lapidary's wheel and slice his flints, it is 

 better to buy them ready mounted. Failing this, to examine such thin 

 flakes as he can obtain by the above method. 



English Societies, — As an ounce of help is worth more than a 

 pound of pity, so the student is likely to gain an insight into the use 

 of the microscope and the making of preparations more from that 

 friendly gossip which always takes place when kindred spirits and con- 

 genial minds meet to talk over those subjects in which they take a com- 

 mon interest than by his own blunders. Many little difficulties mav 

 arise in his work which all the books ever written will be useless in 

 enabling him to surmount, when half an hour's chat with one who has 

 met and overcome the same trials will put him quickly on the right 

 path. 



First and foremost in the encouragement of microscopical research 

 stands the Royal Microscopical Society. Meeting in its own rooms at 

 King's College, London, this society offers its fellows, amongst many 

 advantages, a bi-monthly journal, containing a full report of all the 

 latest advances in microscopical research, both British and foreign, 

 with notes and illustrations of all the most modern improvements and 

 additions to their favorite instrument and its accessory apparatus ; also 

 a copious bibliography of all recent writings bearing on microscopical 

 science. Nine meetings are held during the winter and spring months, 

 at eight o'clock on the second Wednesday of each month, at which 

 papers are read and objects and apparatus of interest exhibited. 



It has a very complete and extensive library of books bearing upon 

 every branch of microscopical work, freely accessible to the inquiring 

 student for reference on the evenings of meeting under the assistance 

 of an energetic and amiable librarian, who is both able and willing to 

 point out and procure whatever works the student wishes to consult. 

 There are two meetings in the session especially devoted to the exhibi- 

 tion of the latest objects of interest. These advantages, with the privi- 

 lege of appending F. R. M. S. after your name, are acquired by the 

 payment of two guineas as an annual subscription, with an entrance fee 

 of two guineas the first year. This society alone is sufficient to meet 

 all the wants of the young beginner in microscopical investigation ; 

 but there is another, the Qiiekett Microscopical Club. This meets at 

 University College, in Gower street, on the second and fourth Fridays 

 in every month throughout the year. The meeting on the second Fri- 

 day has been called the "gossip" night; members take their micro- 

 scopes and some objects of interest, which are exhibited, and their 

 mode of preparation explained. These evenings are most instructive 

 to the tyro, for, however backward he may be in his efforts to go for- 

 ward, he will meet with kind and ready help. All will evince a 

 friendly desire to put him on the right road. The fourth Friday is de- 

 voted to the reading of papers by the members, and discussion thereon. 

 The club possesses a very complete library, the books from which the 

 members are at liberty to take home to study. It also has a cabinet of 

 objects, a certain number of which the members may borrow for ex- 



