342 



SCIENCE- G OSSIF. 



and we are largely indebted to the researches of 

 himself and Dr. Goring for the improvement in 

 our present object-glasses. The microscope to 

 which I have directed attention fully maintains 

 this maker's reputation for excellent workiBanship. 

 In spite of its age, it is still in working order, and 

 its lenses, especially those of the eye-pieces, will 

 bear favourable comparison with those of more 

 recent date. One of the eye-pieces differs from 

 any I have previously seen, having three lenses, 

 and objects viewed with it are presented to the eye 

 with almost stereoscopic effect. One of the most 

 interesting features in the instrument consists in 

 its adaptability for use as an ordinary dissecting 

 microscope. This is effected by simply removing 

 the body from its iitting and substituting a simple 

 lens in its stead. There is a:n ingenious con- 

 trivance at the nose-piece for preventing injury to 

 the front lens of an objective through its being- 

 racked down upon the cover-glass of the slide 

 under examination. When looking at this fine old 

 instruinent one cannot help feeling admiration for 

 the clever old mechanic and optician who made it 

 at a time when machhie tools were almost un- 

 known, and who yet produced work which will 

 stand comparison with that of the present day. 

 I may add that I am informed that Mr. Pritchard 

 died in London on November 24th, 1882, aged 

 78 years.—/. C. Webb, F.E.8., 218 Upland Road, 

 Dnlwicli, S.E. 



Beck's "Imperial" Microscope. — We give 

 herewith an illustration of this microscope in its 

 most complete form (model 1,101), as described 



The " Imperial " Microscope. 



by us in detail last month {ante, pp. 309, 310). 

 The block did not reach us until after we had gone 

 to press. 



" Magnesia " Lime Cylinders. — Those of our 

 readers who use the oxy-hydrogen light for photo- 

 micrography or projection purposes will be aware 

 of the tendency of even the best "limes" to crack, 

 whilst the rapidity with which they slake makes it 



seldom practicable to use a lime on more than one 

 evening. This is, of course, a special drawback to 

 the photo-micrographer, who may only require an 

 exposure or two. We have recently tried some 

 " magnesia " lime cylinders, which do not slake, 

 and therefore require no sealing up, and have had 

 one of these in use without deterioration for some 

 weeks. The intensity of the light is little less than 

 that of the ordinary limes. We obtained these 

 limes from Messrs. Townson & Mercer, of 89 Bishops- 

 gate Street Within, E.G., price 2s. 6d. per dozen, 

 but they can doubtless be got elsewhere as well. 



MEETINGS OF MICKOSCOPICAL SOCIETIES. 



Royal Microscopical Society.— 20 Hanover 

 Square, W., May 21st, 8 p.m. 



QuEKETT Microscopical Club. — 20 Hanover 

 Square, W., May 2nd, 7 p.m. ; May I6th, 8 p.m. 

 Excursions : May 10th, Hadley Wood ; May 24th, 

 Chingford. 



Manchester Microscopical Society. — Grand 

 Hotel, Manchester, May 1st, 7 p.m. ; mounting 

 section. May loth, 7 p.m. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



S. W. B. (Sleaford). — The authoritative and best 

 microscopical publication in the world is the' 

 " Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society," 

 issued to Fellows every two months, and sold to 

 others at 6s. per number. Its important features, 

 apart from the transactions and proceedings of the 

 Society and the papers on microscopical matters 

 read before the meetings, are its excellent sum- 

 maries of current researches relating to Zoology, 

 Botany (principally Invertebrata and Crypto- 

 gamia). Metallurgy, Microscopical Methods and 

 Technique, New Microscopes, Apparatus, etc. It 

 is, of course, in no sense "popular," but is indis- 

 pensable to serious workers. The " Journal of the 

 Quekett Club " is published twice a year, at 3s. 6d. 

 per number, and contains interesting articles on 

 microscopical matters, reviews of new books, as. 

 well as reports of the meetings of the Club. It is 

 supported mainly by enthusiastic amatem-s, whom 

 the Club endeavours specially to help. The 

 " Quai'terly Journal of Microscopical Science" is 

 published by J. & A. Churchill at 10s. per number. 

 It appears quarterly, and contains advanced papers 

 on subjects concerned with microscopical research, 

 contributed by those who have been engaged 

 in definite specific investigations. SciENGE- 

 GossiP lias always been looked upon as the 

 microscopical journal for amateurs, and it welcomes 

 original contributions and communications on this 

 and all kindred subjects. Latterly special atten- 

 tion has been paid in its pages to new instruments 

 and apparatus, as well as methods of technique. 

 ■' Knowledge," published at 6d. monthly, holds a 

 similar position amongst astronomical readers, 

 and has recently added a mici-oscopical column. 

 The American " Journal of Applied Microscopy " 

 is devoted mainly to technique and microscoijical 

 methods, suitable for laboratory as well as other 

 workers. It contains also selected summaries or 

 reviews of microscopical literature. It is sold in 

 London by Dawbarn & Ward, at 4d. monthly. The 

 "American Monthly Microscopical Journal" is 

 also issued monthly at the same price. If you can 

 read German, the" Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftliche 

 Mikroskopie," published in Leipzig, is issued 

 quarterly for a yearly subscription of 20 marks, or 



