Aug. 1, 1865,] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



189 



MICROSCOPY. 



Diaphragm for Miceoscope. — I find the dia- 

 IDliragm of which I have sent a model of the working 

 part, a very good one, as it is very easily and cheaply 

 made, and the aperture can be increased or decreased 

 to any degree, still keeping the same shape ; and by 

 moving one slide lower than the other, the light can 

 be directed to either side of the field of view, which 

 is sometimes useful ; though I don't think a much 

 better one can be used than the common kind, only 

 made to slide up and down. 



Fiij. 2. 



Fig. 1- 



rig. 1 represents tlie diaphragm with the notched 

 plates working freely one over the other. 



Fig. 3, the two plates a and h removed. In pro- 

 portion as the inner angles of these plates approxi- 

 mate or recede from each other, the orifice is 

 diminished or increased, having the quadrilateral 

 form indicated in fig. 1. — .S". T, Scott. 



Fish Moulds.— At the Dublin Microscopical 

 Club, Mr. Archer recently showed specimens of 

 Aphanomyces steUatiis, one of the curious moulds 

 allied to that described and figured at page 134, 

 and at the same time pronounced his own opinion in 

 favour of regarding them as Fungi, and not Algae, as 

 some have supposed. 



Facets in the Eye.— Hooke counted 7,000 in 

 the eye of the honse-fly ; Leeuwenhoek more than 

 12,000 in that of a dragon-fly ; and Geoffry cites a 

 calculation, according to which there are 34,650 of 

 such facets in the eye of a butterfly. 



Impkoved Clip. — In the 3Iicroscopical Journal, 

 Dr. Maddox describes and figures a new spring clip 

 for holding the thin glass cover in place during 

 the drying of the cement, &c. (fig. a). It appears 



to me to have one drawback, viz., it cannot be 

 moved longitudinally along the slide; so that if 

 3'our object is not exactly in the centre of the length 

 of the slide, the pressure cannot be properly applied. 

 To overcome this diflieulty I would suggest a slight 

 modification in the shape of the lower portion, which 

 forms the spring (fig. b). This trifling alteration in 

 the form will give the clip above a quarter of au 

 inch of longitudinal motion. — C. A. 



The Quekett Mickoscopical Club. — At a 

 General meeting called for the organization of this 

 Club, held at St. Martin's Schools, Charing Cross, 

 on the 7th of July, the following resolutions were 

 adopted : — 



That this association be called "Tlie Quekett 

 Microscopical Club."' 



That its ordinary meetings be held on the first 

 Friday in each month, at eight o'clock in the 

 evening. 



That the terms of subscription be ten shillings 

 per annum, payable in advance, on the 1st of July 

 in each year. 



That the business of the Club be conducted by 

 the following officers, to be elected from the 

 members :— A President, two Vice-Presidents, a 

 Committee of twelve (four of whom shall form a 

 quorum), a Treasurer, and a Secretary. 



That the Provisional Committee continue to 

 conduct the business of the Club until the above 

 officers are elected. 



That the next meeting be held on the fii'st Friday 

 in August, at the same place and hour, for the 

 election of members, ofiicers, and other business. 



Several gentlemen joined the Club, and others 

 willing to do so previous to the next meeting may 

 pay their subscription to Mr. Hardwicko (Treasurer 

 pro tern), 192, Piccadilly. 



