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Microscopical Essays. 



properly for the microfcope j and many muft be prepared before 

 the obferver decides upon the fituation and fhape of the parts ; 

 he will often alfo be able to unfold in one fpecimen fome parts 

 that he can fcarce difcover in another. It is well known that the 

 collector of the bee forms a moft beautiful object ; a 

 figure of it is given in Plate XIII. Fig. 3. In it is difplayed 

 a moft wonderful mechanifm, admirably adapted to collect 

 and extract the various fweets from flowers, &c. To prepare 

 this, it fhould firft be carefully wafhed with fpirit of tur- 

 pentine, by which means it will be freed from the unctuous 

 and melliferous particles which ufually adhere to it ; when dry, 

 it muft be again waftied with a camel's hair pencil, to difengage 

 and bring forward the fmall hairs which form one part of it s 

 microfcopic beauty. 



The cafe which enclofes the sting of the bee, the wafp, 

 and the, hornet, are fo hard, that it is very difficult to extract 

 them without breaking or ©therwife injuring them. It will be 

 found, perhaps, the beft way to foak the cafe and the reft of the 

 apparatus for fome time in fpirit of wine or turpentine, then lay 

 it on a piece of clean paper, and with a blunt knife draw out the 

 fling, holding the ftieath by the nail of the finger, or by any 

 blunt inftrument ; great care is requifite to preferve the feelers, 

 which when cleaned add much to the beauty of the objecl:. 



The eyes of the libellula and different flies, of the 

 lobfter, &c. are firft to be cleaned from the blood and other ex- 

 traneous matter, they fhould then be foaked in water for fome 

 days, after Which you may feparate one or two (kins from the 

 eye, which, if they remain, render it too opake and confufed ; 

 g fome 



