206 THE AMERICA]^ MONTHLY [Nov 



in 2,300 fathoms, polycistina from Spring-field estate, Bar- 

 bados, etc. Mr. A. Earland had cleaned the forameni- 

 feral sand for distribution and would supply those de- 

 siring- some. Thanks were voted to Messrs. Scott and 

 Earland. On November 18, Mr. Harris will read a paper 

 on organisms invading calcareous and other Organic 

 Remains. 



Washington Society. — At the regular monthl}^ meeting 

 held on November 8th at the rooms of Dr. Reyburn an 

 abstract was presented of Foster's lecture on the Physi 

 cal Basis of Psychical Events. 



SCiENCE-GOSSIP. 



Imbedding Lichens. — For many lichens a harder grade 

 of paraffin must be used than for most vegetable struc- 

 tures. A mixture of hard and soft paraffin, which melts 

 at about 60 degrees C, is recommended. Clear the 

 specimens in pure xylol, and to this add small pieces of 

 paraffin, keeping the dish warm at the same time both to 

 increase the solvent power of the xylol and also gradually 

 and finally to evaporate it all. By this means the material 

 is slowly warmed and penetrated with paraffin. After re- 

 maining- in melted paraffin absolutely free from xylol for 

 three hours the subject may be imbedded. The sections 

 should be very thin, and before cutting the block should 

 be chilled to somewhat below 20 degrees C. The microtome 

 knife must be very hard, sharp and rigid. Stain by any of 

 the usual methods. — Science Gossip. 



Photo-Micrography of Opaque Objects. — At a recent 

 meeting of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, Mr. R. 

 A. Robertson, M. A., B. Sc, read a paper on "A New 

 Method for the Photo-micrography of Opaque Stem Sec- 

 tions." One difficulty in making photo-micrographs from 

 recent or fossil stem sections is the trouble of g-etting- a 

 sufficiently large section to bring out diagnostic features. 

 Another is, that it is a difficult process to cut and grind 

 and polish large sections of fossils for photography by 

 transmitted light. Neither can one always get permission 



