1878.] Microscopy. : 409 
GEOGRAPHICAL Notes.—The Geographical Magazine for April 
contains a colored map, giving the proposed changes in the ter- 
ritorial boundary of European Turkey, as stated in Articles I, III 
and VI of the preliminary treaty of peace. Mr. J. Boyer has 
lately ascended Mount Ararat, which is 17,000 feet high. Large 
beds of snow extend down toa height of 11,000 or 12,000 feet. 
. The last part of the ascent was upon a slope of rotten rock, which 
crumbled under foot, making the ascent very fatiguing. He 
found not a fragment of Noah’s Ark. 
MICROSCOPY. ! 
A Nover Sranp.—A microscope stand, recently made for Dr. 
Blackham, of Dunkirk, by Mr. Tolles, of Boston, combines with 
the usual excellencies of that maker’s work, some peculiarities 
designed to fit it especially for optical experiments. The stand is 
made on the Jackson model, and the slide behind the body, 
which focal adjustment is made, is furnished with a scale and 
vernier by which the werking focal distance of the objectives 
used can be measured with facility. Dr. Blackham claims this — 
device as his own, though the claim has brought to light repre- 
Sentations that the device has been previously used or suggested 
by Mr. Geo. E. Fell, of Buffalo. The most conspicuous peculi- 
arity of the instrument is the method of mounting the mirror 
and sub-stage. Back of the stage and between it and the curved 
arm that supports the body, is a brass disc three-tenths of an 
inch thick and nearly five inches in diameter. This disc is arranged 
vertically between the body and the curved arm, with its center 
in the horizontal plane of the object. On the face of this plate, 
and near to its circumference, is a deep circular groove in which 
slides a radial arm which bears the sub-stage, mirror, etc. This 
gives, with great smoothness, the rotation of all the sub-stage 
apparatus around the object on the stage as a center. Though 
made last year, Mr. Tolles claims that this expedient was de- 
signed by him in 1871, thus anticipating the introduction of simi- 
lar devices by other inventors during the last few years. 
Mr. E. W. Blatchford, at Chicago, on the 8th of March. This 
conversazione was one of the most notable scientific events that 
have ever occurred in the city. Though given in the name of the _ 
1 This department is edited by Dr. R. H. Warp, Troy, N. Y. 
