1879.] Microscopy. 57 
excellent monthly summaries of geographical news in this most 
important of geographical journals. Besides others, the number 
for November contains an article on the use of elephants in African 
exploration, written by Dr. Petermann shortly before his 
and one concerning D’Alberti’s New Guinea Exploration, with a 
map of the Fly River. The Geographical Magazine for No- 
vember contains the best map of the seat of war in Afghanistan 
which has yet appeared, both as regards accuracy, fullness of in- 
formation and excellence in the mechanical execution. With the- 
December number this periodical ceased to be published, but is 
replaced by the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and 
Monthly Geographical Record, under the charge of the Secretary o 
the Society, Mr. Clements R. Markham, who so ably conducted the 
magazine. Several new geographical monthly periodicals have 
recently appeared in Europe. The Deutsche Rundschau fiir Geo- 
graphie und Statistik is edited by Prof. Arendts, of Munich, and 
published by Hartleben, Vienna. Aus fernen Zonen, published 
by Mutze, Leipzig, is especially intended for the reception of 
sions in the less known portions of the globe; whilst from 
Paris the Annales de l’Extréme Orient, edited by Count Mey- 
ners d’Estrey, of the Indian press, expects to keep the scientific 
world informed of literary and geographical progress in South- 
ern Asia, and especially in the Dutch Indies and in Dutch 
Oriental literature. Dr. Nachtigal, the pasran African 
traveler, has been elected President of the Berlin Geographical 
Socie ty.——The Atheneum states that Mr. Johnson, the present 
Governor of Ladakh, when connected with the Indian Survey of 
1865, ascended Peak E. 61 of the Kuen Lun range, whose 
height it now appears is no less than 23,890 feet! This is be- 
lieved to be the greatest height above the level of the sea attained 
by any traveler on foot. The plains at the base of the Peak have 
probably an altitude of nearly 18,000 feet. 
MICROSCOPY.' 
REMOVAL OF AIR FROM Microscopic SpecIMENS.—Much diffi- 
culty has been experienced by the working microscopist in 
removing air from his specimens. If ork wishes to mount wood- 
sections the difficulty is increased. Some may suppose that such 
an undertaking is physically impossible ; "tee hitherto, in spite of 
all the pains and labor taken, unless by some lucky stroke, as it 
were, bubbles of air will still be left in the objects, and the slide 
becomes entirely worthless as a perfect specimen. 
Various methods have been adopted to remove these bubbles 
for some length of time. The favorite fluids have been me 
1 This department is edited by Dr. R. H. Ward, Troy, N. Y. 
