26 MICROSCOPY FOR BEGINNERS. 



objects. A few properly mounted slides, however, usu- 

 ally accompany the stand as specimens, or the dealer 

 will supply them if asked. It is better to do than to 

 buy, and so much has been written on the subject of 

 microscopic mounting, and indeed all advanced workers 

 with the microscope are such " good fellows," they are 

 always so generous in giving away for the asking infor- 

 mation that has cost much time and labor to obtain, that 

 the young student need never despair, nor be at a loss 

 as to where to go for help, if he possesses the name and 

 address of some microscopist and a postage-stamp or 

 two. Cheap little hand-books on the subject are acces- 

 sible, microscopists are numerous and willing, so why 

 should the beginner ever be discouraged ? and why should 

 he buy what he can make ? It always adds a zest to 

 this work if the worker can make his own tools, and es- 

 pecially if he can prepare his own objects. Almost ev- 

 ery tool needed at the beginning can be made at home. 

 Slides must be made at home if one desires to examine 

 any of the endless variety of the invisible animal and 

 vegetable life with which the great world teems. All 

 the objects referred to in this book can be studied when 

 only temporarily mounted ; indeed, no method of pre-. 

 serving some of them has yet been discovered or invent- 

 ed. They must, therefore, be studied alive or not at 

 all. And for the beginner this is not only the easiest, 

 but it is the most inspiring way. 



Some things can be examined when dry. Such an 

 object is simply laid on a slip, placed under the spring 



