THE AMERICAN 



MONTHLY 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



Vol. XL NOVEMBER, 1890. No. 11. 



All communications for this Journal, whether relating to business or to editorial 

 matters, and all books, pamphlets, excha7iges, etc., should be addressed to Ameri- 

 can Monthly Microscopical Journal, Washiitgton, D. C. 



European subscriptions may be sent directly to the above address accompanied 

 by Interjtational Postal Order for $1.1^ per annum, or they may be se?it to Messrs. 

 Triibner &^ Co., 57 Ludgate Hill, Loftdon, or to Mr. W. P. Colli?ts, 757 Great 

 Portland street, London, accoinpanied by the yearly price of five shillings. 



Microscopy for Amateurs. 



By T. charters WHITE, 



QUEKETT CLUB. 



\^Cojitinued from page 22j.'\ 



Forceps. — The cover-glasses after cleaning are best kept free from 

 stains by being handled with forceps ; this plan also enables the opera- 

 tor to lay the cover-glass over the object without disturbing its surface 

 so much as if clumsily laid dovs^n by the fingers. Forceps are of two 

 kinds, curved and straight, both being found very useful in the prepa- 

 ration and mounting of microscopical objects. 



Scissors. — Two pairs of these will l^e found of great service in the 

 preparation of microscopical objects. They should be small and deli- 

 cately made, and kept beautifully bright and fi'ee from rust. One pair 

 should be straight, while the other should be curved sideways, but both 

 coming to fine points. Another pair maybe added to these, but much 

 smaller and more pointed, with a spring between the handles to keep 

 the blades apart when not in use. This will be an indispensable ad- 

 vantage in the dissection of insects. 



Needles. — These are useful in laying out membranous or other thin 

 subjects, so that they may be as free from creases as possible, or for re- 

 moving stray particles of foreign matter which, if allowed to remain, 

 would detract from the cleanness and beai^y of the mounted prepara- 

 tion. They may be made very easily by drilling holes in wooden pen- 

 holders, and inserting ordinary needles, some may have a stout bristle 

 instead of a needle— needles may be either straight or curved — where it is 

 necessary to use acids, needles of glass may be made by melting a thin 

 rod of glass over a spirit lamp and pulling out a fibre of it to the size 

 required, this glass needle will be found very useful where chloride of 

 gold is employed as a staining fluid, as metal needles cause a deposit 

 of the gold and a dirty stain wherever the specimen is touched. If steel 



Copyright, 1890, by C. W, Smiley, 



