EXTRACTS FROM HIS LETTERS. 



xxi 



Mirzapore : April 26th, 1841. 



" Request to refrain from abusing compound microscopes. 



Why should not compound and simple microscopes each have their 

 merits ? Valentine, who is a great authority, and an unrivalled dis- 

 sector, says, the simple lens must be suspended. I only wish I could 

 dissect with a compound microscope : what things might not one get 

 access to. The simple lens is quite useless with opaque objects ; it 

 only does for transmitted light. Now dissections of opaque objects 

 have been too much neglected. How odd it is that all improvements 

 are ridiculed at first. 



" I enclose a bit of Sphagnam, a curious moss, with curious in- 

 complete spiral cells in the leaves. I dare say it will bear preserva- 

 tion in Canada balsam. I have received a new microscope, a queer- 

 looking thing, very portable ; one object glass of a quarter inch focus, 

 by Ross ; two eye-pieces magnifying linearly 200 to 300 times. I 

 have put it up, but I am not well enough to decide on its merits. 

 Now that I have arranged all my things, I am literally frightened at 

 the work I have to do. 



" I am quite annoyed at the idea that German artists make better 

 microscopes than English. I was aware that the lenses were better, 

 but otherwise I imagined that any comparison would be vastly in our 

 favour. I am curious to know the price, and where to apply for one, 

 as your account makes me quite ashamed of mine. Who knows what 

 a fine penetrating power of 1100 may not disclose. I am very much 

 pleased with your idea of anointing cuts with nitrate of silver ; this 

 hint I will bear in mind. 



" I enclose the first list of fish, No. 2, not that it is of much use. — 

 What nonsense it is to collect without knowledge. 



No. 



Native Name. 



Family. 



Remarks. 





Kuggur, 



Siluridae. 





2* 



Soonnee, 



Cyprinidae, 



Back greenish, otherwise pearly- 

 white. 



3. 



Dhurra, .. 



Cyprinidae, 



Fins reddish, red spot on opercule, 

 back greenish-brown. 



4. 



Moogullee, 



„ Perilampoid, 



Diaphanous, silvery, head reddish. 



5. 



Peedur, 



>> >» • • 



Like the preceding. 



6. 



M oorr, . . 

 Bhanghun, .. 



>i j> 



Ditto ditto. 



7. 





Ditto ditto. 



8. 



Kundura, 



„ Perilampus, 



Back greenish, otherwise quite 





Pullee, 





silvery. 



9. 



>> >> 



Same as 4, 5, 6, 7. 



