144 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Notice of a Binocular Alicrrscopc. 



B\' J. L. KIDDELL/ 



I devised last j'ear, aud have lately coustructed and used, a f onibi- 

 iijtiou of glass prisms, tu render both eyes simultaneously serviceable 

 iu microscopic observatiou. 



Behind the objective, and as near thereto as practicable, the light is 

 equally divided, aud bout at right angles, aud made to travel iu oppo- 

 site directions, by means of two rectangular prisms, which are in con- 

 tact by their edges somewhat gouud awa}-. The reflected raj-s are 

 received at a proper distance for binocular vision upon two other 

 rectangular prisnis, and again bent at right angles ; beiug thus either 

 completely inverted, for an inverted microscope ; or restored to their 

 first direction for the direct microscope. These outer prisms may 

 be cemeuted to the inner by Canada balsam, or left free to admit 

 of adjustment to suit different observei's. Prisms of other form, with 

 due arrangement, may be substituted. 



I find the method is applicable with equal advantage to every grade 

 of good lens, from Spencer's best sixteenth to a common three inch 

 magnifier, with or without oculars or erecting eye-pieces, and with a 

 great enhancement of penetrating and defiuiug power. It gives the 

 observer perfectly correct views in length, breadth, aud depth, whatever 

 power he may employ. Objects are seen holding their true relative 

 positions and wearing their real shapes. A curious exception must be 

 made. In viewing opake solid bodies, with one piece to each eye, de- 

 pression appears as elevation, and elevation as depression, forming a 

 singular illusion. For instance, a metal spherule appears as a glass ball 

 Slivered on the under side ; and a crystal of galena, like an empty box. 

 By the additional use of erecting eye-pieces, the images all become 

 normal and uatural. Match drawings of any solid object, made from 

 each eye-piece, by the aid of the camera lucida, when properly placed 

 iu the common stereoscope, appear to stand out in natural reliet These, 

 if engraved aud printed iu the proper positiou with respect to each 

 other, might find an appropriate place in books on the arts and 

 sciences. 



In constructiug binocular eye-glasses, I use for lightness and economy 

 four pieces of common looking glass instead of prisms. 



With these instruments the microscopic dissecting-knife can be 

 exactly guided. The watchmaker and artist can work under the 

 binocular eye-glass with certainty and satisfaction. Iu looking at 

 microscopic animal tissues, the single eye may perhaps behold a con- 

 fused amorphous or nebulous mass, which the pair of eyes instantly 

 shapes into delicate superimposed membranes, with intervening spaces, 

 the thickness of which cau be correctly estimated. Blood corpuscles, 

 usually seen as flat disks, loom out as oblate spheroids. In brief, the 

 whole microscopic world, as thus displaj'ed, acquires a tenfold greater 

 interest, in every phase exhibiting, iu a new light, beauty and sym- 

 metry indescribable. 



MISCELLANJiOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Ontario, Slmcae, and Huron Union Railroad. 



The Directors of the Ontario, Siracoe, and Huron Railroad, accom- 

 panied by the Chief Engineer, made an excursion over the road on the 

 5th instant So much has been said disadvantageous to the charai,ter 

 of this road, that we have much satisfaction iu being enabled to state 

 thai the road is iu excellent order, and that the distance of thirty miles 

 now completed, going northward, was run iu one hour ; and that on a 

 portion of the road a speed of forty-five miles per hour was attained. 



In the vicinity of Newmarket the Directors inspected some heavy 

 works now in progress, and which have been undertaken with a view 

 to the reduction of some objectionable curves made in the original loca- 

 tion. When these works are completed, — as they will be early in 

 April,— the grading aud bridging will be completed to Barrie ; and as 

 the timber for the superstructure is distributed over the line, the laving 

 of the track will then be rapidly proceeded with ; aud it is expected 

 the road will be opened as far as Barrie early in June. 



OBITUARY. 



Died, November 11th, at the age of about, 63 or 64 Gideon Algernon 

 Mantcll, L.L.D., F.R.S. The renowned geologist, Dr. Mantcll, imbibed 

 at an early period of his life a taste for natural history pursuits, and 

 * University of La., New Orleans, Oct. 1, ie.5J.— SiM. Jour. 



[1863. 



having fixed his residence, as a medical practitioner, at Lewes, was 

 led to devote himself with great natural enthusiasm to the investigatioa 

 of the fossils of the Chalk aud of the Wealden of Sussex. In 1812-15 

 Dr. Mantell commeuccd forming at Lewes, the magnificent collection 

 of 1300 specimens of fossil bones, which is now in the British museum ; 

 and in 1822 appeared his "Fossils of the South Downs," a large quarto 

 Work, with forty plates, engraved by Mrs. Mantell, fi'om drawings by 

 the author. Another work was published by him about the samo 

 time, entitled '• The Fossils of Tilgate Forest," and compared with the 

 geological literature of the period in which they were written, they 

 are meritorious productions. 



In 1825, Dr. Mantell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and 

 he has contributed some important papere to its " Philosophical Trans- 

 actions." For his memoir " On the Iguanodon," he had the honour 

 in 1849 to receive the Royal Medal. He was also an active member 

 of the Geological Society, aiid in 1835 was presented with the WoUas- 

 ton Medal aud Fund, iu consideration of his discoveries in fossil 

 comparative anatomy generally. From Lewes, Dr. Mantell removed 

 about this time to Brighton, and his coUeetion being materially added 

 to, was purchased by the Trustees of the British Museum for £5000- 

 Upon this he removed to the neighbourhood of London. Dr. Mantell 

 took great delight iu imparting to others a knowledge of his favourite 

 science ; he was fluent and eloquent in speech, full of poetry, and ex- 

 tremely agreeable in manners to all who manifested an admiration of 

 his genius. He now turned his attention to the more popular and 

 attractive works for which his name will be chiefly remembered. 

 " Wonders of Geology," " Medals of Creation," " Geological Excursions 

 round the Isle of Wight," and an enlarged edition of his " Thoughts 

 on a Pebble," all of which are profusely illustrated, and have passed 

 through several editions. His latest work was a hand-book to the 

 organic remains iu the British Museum, entitled, " Petrifactions and 

 their Teachings." To these may be added, " Thoughts on Animalcu- 

 les," and a " Pictorial Atlas of Fossil Remains," selected from Par- 

 kinson's and ArUs's pal^ontological illustrations ; and among his early 

 prodi-ctions a handsome quarto narrative, with portraits of the "Visit 

 of William the 1st and tjueeu Adelaide to the Ancient Borough of 

 Lewes." which included some original poetry. Dr. Mantell was a 

 most attractive lecturer, tilliug the listening ears of his audience with 

 seductive imagery, aud leaving them in amazement with his exhaust- 

 less catalogue of wonders. 



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