234 Sheppard : Early Microscopes. 



of our figure {M in Kanmacher), and the fish-plate P of our 

 figure (C in Kanmacher), precisely as in Mr. Sherborn's gift, 

 but the microscope itself has apparently two draw tubes and 

 not one as in Mr. Sherborn's specimen. We can therefore 

 safely date our new acquisition as about 1780. It is in a 

 curious pyramidal oak case with a drop handle, and, as in the 

 previous instance, is remarkably complete in the way of acces- 

 sories. The microscope is on a mahogany stand, in which is 

 a drawer containing four magnifying powers, in addition to that 

 inserted in the instrument ; a large number of bone slides of 

 all sizes, some of which contain four and others six objects 

 such as fish scales, pieces of feathers, corallines, portions of 

 insects, etc., and a small ivory box contains talc covers for the 

 object glasses. With the specimens is the following ' list of 

 objects,' written in handwriting of a century ago : — No. i^ 

 Butterfly wing, leg of beetle, seed, piece of diamond beetle, 

 poppy seed, quills of hedgehog ; No. 2, Ore, wing of insect, 

 insect, shell, sea-weed, skin of sole ; No. 3 — Cutting of wood, 

 ditto, ditto, scale of perch, scale of sole, scale of haddock. 

 No. 4 — Dust of butterfly wing, piece of ditto, farina, human hair, 

 feather, eye of fly ; No. 5 — -Wing of libella, cutting of hedge- 

 hog's quills, leg of gnat, wing of gnat, head of gnat, flea ; No. 

 6 — Sea-weed, ditto, bloom of grass, dust of poppy seed, hair 

 off mouse, moss. 



This microscope belonged to Charles Sherborn (1796-1858) 

 to the late Charles William Sherborn (1831-1912), and more 

 recently to Messrs. C. Davies Sherborn and Sidney Newton 

 Sherborn. 



As a connecting link between these early forms of micros- 

 cope and the modern appliances, we have an instrument that 

 belonged to the late George Norman, of Hull, the well-known 

 microscopist and author of many papers on diatoms, etc. 

 It was made by Cook over half a century ago, and, up to its 

 time, was one of the best instruments available. 



Tw;o other forms, including the early binoculars by Messrs. 

 Smith, Beck, and Beck, and others in the collection, well illus- 

 trate the growth and evolution of these complex instruments. 



Should any of our readers possess early forms of microscopes 

 likely to be of service in completing this series, we should be 

 glad to hear from them on the iiiatter. 



Salmon in the Upper Nidd. — On April 20th, a Salmon 

 smolt, in the silvery dress usually assumed by the young Sal- 

 mon before their migration to the sea, was caught in the Nidd, 

 just below Killinghall Bridge. This locality is very much 

 higher than Salmon usually ascend the Nidd, and is worthy 

 of record.— R. Fortune. 



Naturalist, 



