ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC, 421 



of 26 histological, 18 botanical, and 8 petrological sections issued 

 alternately, and from time to time special subjects will be illustrated 

 by a complete series of preparations with their accompanying draw- 

 ings and descriptions. 



" Announcements will be made for the benefit of special students 

 and practical instruction by this means afforded to those desirous of 

 studying such works as — 



Elementary Biology . , Huxley and Martin, ParJcer, (&c. 



Practical Histology .. Klein, Banvier, Rutherford, Schdfer, &c. 



Practical Botany .. De Bary, Prantl, Sachs, Thome, Vines, &c. 



Practical Zoology .. Claus, Gegenbaur, Huxley, Parker, &c. 



Practical Geology .. Geikie, Bosenbusch, Butley, Zirkel, &c. 

 " It is intended that each series when complete shall form a most 

 thoroughly practical work upon the subjects illustrated. 



" The letterpress accompanying each series of preparations will 

 afford demonstrations in the special department illustrated, and will 

 thus assist students very materially in their work for university 

 honours, degrees, &c. The drawings and letterpress will be unifoi*m 

 in size, a preface and index will be added, and a suitable case sup- 

 plied at the end of each year in which the separate numbers can be 

 bound. Small cabinets to contain the preparations, numbered and 

 arranged in such a manner that any object may be readily found on 

 referring to the letterpress (and vice versa) will also be supplied." 



The first number, which is before us, deals with yellow fibro- 

 cartilage. After a full description of the specimen, which is a 

 longitudinal vertical section of the pinna of the ear of the cow 

 stained with logwood and eosin, the action of reagents is described. 

 The various methods of preparation which can be adopted for stain- 

 ing and mounting are detailed very fully and completely, and will 

 be found of great practical value. A Bibliography is added in 

 which 37 books and articles are noted. An excellent coloured plate 

 shows the appearance of a section x 333. The second part deals in 

 a similar way with a section of copper beech, stained carmine and 

 iodine green. The plate shows the section x 25. 



Mr. Cole's idea appears to us to be an excellent one in every 

 respect, and there is no doubt as to his capability of carrying it 

 out as announced, especially as regards the practical branches of the 

 subject, in which he has acquired a very wide reputation. It only 

 remains for those (and they ought not to be few) who are interested 

 in the success of the scheme to support it. 



Journal of the Postal Microscopical Society. — The first number 

 of this quarterly journal has just been issued (56 pp. 9 figs, and 

 5 plates), containing a considerable amount of useful matter, as will 

 be seen from the following list of contents : — History of the Society ; 

 Numerical Aperture ; Microscopical examination of Chlorophyll, 

 Inulin, and Protein-crystals ; Tuhifex rivulorum ; Diatoms ; How to 

 prepare Foraminifera ; Lichens. There are notes by Mr. Tuffen 

 West on the slides that have passed through his hands whilst Presi- 

 dent, and a selection of notes from the Society's note-books, with 

 short notes on preparation and mounting, reviews, apparatus, reports 

 of the Bath Microscopical Society, and Correspondence. If the future 



