1877.] Scientific News. 509 
— From the report of a recent lecture by Prof. A. E. Verrill on the 
construction and arrangement of the new Peabody Museum at Yale Col- 
lege, with especial reference to the zodlogical department, we learn that 
the collections are nearly arranged. The first story is devoted to 
geology and mineralogy, the second to paleontology, and the third to 
zodlogy. Prof. Verrill’s laboratory is 42 by 22 feet, and Prof. Smith’s 
36 by 26 feet. They are on the same floor with the collections. The 
cases in the exhibition rooms are probably superior to those in any 
museum in this country. Their special merits are, first, tightness, to 
prevent access of dust and moths; second, transparency, to give the best 
possible view of the contents, which has been accomplished by the use 
of the best plate glass both in the sides and ends, and by reducing the 
woodwork to the smallest size compatible with requisite strength. To 
make the cases as tight as possible the doors are provided with tongue 
and groove, with patent locks that bolt the doors at top and bottom. In 
the zodlogical department the cases have also been decidedly improved 
in this respect by the use of sheet-zine for backs. Another peculiar feat- 
ure, quite novel, so far as known, is the use of large panes of ground- 
glass, ground on both sides, and set in movable sash, for the central 
divisions in the alcove cases. This gives an admirable background for 
the specimens, and also gives increased’ light in the room. Moreover, 
such backs are not liable to the unsightly shrinkage cracks so frequently 
seen in wooden backs. 
— Mr. Edwin Bicknell, well known for his skill in practical micros- 
copy, died at Lynn, Mass., March 19th, aged forty-seven years. Mr. 
Bicknell became interested in work with the microscope about twenty 
_ years ago, and his first specimens were prepared at the Portland Society 
of Natural History, in Maine, his native State. He soon acquired great 
reputation as a preparer of injected specimens and rock sections; and 
his examples of these objects have never been surpassed. He succeeded 
Mr. Glen as microscopist to the Museum of Comparative Zoélogy, under 
the late Professor Agassiz, and went to the Penikese School as dem- 
onstrator of the microscope. He also took a prominent part in the 
meetings of the Microscopical Sections of the Boston Society of Natural 
History, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 
His connection with Cambridge ceased at the death of Agassiz, and for 
a while he resided in Salem, Mass., where he had before held a place in 
the Essex Institute Microscopical Works. His last work was in the 
illustration by microscopic projections of various scientific lectures. Mr. 
Bicknell was a laborious student of the theory and history of the micro- 
Scope, and leaves a very fine library of books, old and new, on his favor- 
ite subject. — E. C. BOLLES. 1G 
ogus Polyglottus Historie Naturalis a Carolo * Gilberto 
Wheeler, Professore in Universitati Chicagensi, is the title of a folio 
giving the names in English, Latin, Italian, French, and German of a 
