MEMORANDA. 
239 
the time^ for it remained motionless at the bottom of the 
tank several days^ before it again made any attempt to fix 
itself. The wounded parts have since healed, the repair 
completed_, and the animal is as lively as before. It is re- 
markable that I have had no increase of A. dianthus by any 
other mode ; and in other specimens, after ejecting the 
young through the mouth, they have very soon after died. — 
Jabez Hogg, London. 
Microscopic Slide-dryer. — Several friends, who kindly mount 
for me microscopic slides, having stated that they had a diffi- 
culty in hardening the balsam, though they had tried the 
various means suggested, (1) such as hanging them over a 
gas-lamp, (2) placing them on a hot-water apparatus and 
(3) in the fender before the fire, it occurred to me that a 
modification of the common cheese-toaster or Dutch oven 
would facilitate the object. 
I have had two made, and have been informed by the 
friends who have used them that the apparatus completely 
answers the purpose, and is a great convenience to them, as 
afibrding the means of stowing the slides away during the 
time they are in hand. 
In hopes that it may be of use to others, I have sent a de- 
scription of the apparatus for insertion in the Microscopical 
Journal.^ 
Those I have had made are one foot square and three 
inches deep, with a sloping top ; the cavity being furnished 
with six movable shelves, resting on ledges rivetted to the 
sides at equidistant spaces. The shelves are cut out on the 
centre, so that both sides of the glass slides are exposed, and 
furnished all round with a narrow, turned-up ledge. These 
shelves will hold one dozen slides each, so that the bottom of 
the case and the slides will hold seven dozens of slides. 
A classical friend has proposed the name of Retino-klibanon 
for this apparatus, which I have called a slide-dryer. J. E. 
Gray, British Museum, March, 1857. 
