ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
251 
consists of a light wire frame on which is stretched some light black 
material. The latter extends a little below the lower edge of the rect- 
angular plate which supports the shade, so that no interval is left on 
raising the body-tube. The shade serves to protect the eyes from the 
light, while it is so large that no heating of the head or deposition of 
moisture by the breath is likely to occur. It is very light and does 
not in any way encroach upon the working space. Finally, it can be 
very easily attached and taken off again. 
Cheap Form of Box for Microscope Slides. — Mr. G. P. Merrill * 
describes the following arrangement : — “ Presumably no one ever started 
out with making a collection of slides for the Microscope but has wrestled 
long with the problem as to how they may best be taken care of. In 
the administrative work of this department the problem early became a 
serious one. For its satisfactory solution I am indebted to my brother, 
L. H. Merrill, then assisting me. 
As it happened, we had in stock a number of pasteboard boxes some 
93 mm. wide, 143 mm. long, and 48 mm. deep, all inside measurements. 
The dimensions of our standard slide are 48 by 28 mm. By means of 
two wooden partitions, some 3 mm. 
thick, running lengthwise, each box Fig. 28. 
was divided into three equal com- 
partments, the partitions being held 
in place by glue reinforced by two 
small tacks at each end. Heavy 
manilla wrapping paper, such as we 
also had in stock, was then cut into 
strips 25 mm. wide and as long as 
the sheet of paper would allow, in 
this case about 7 ft. These strips 
were then bent into a series of folds, 
as shown in the accompanying illus- 
tration, the apices being rounded, 
not pinched flat. If carefully done, 
the folds when crowded gently to- 
gether act as a spring. Two of 
these folded strips were then placed 
lengthwise in each compartment, and the slides introduced, standing 
on end, between the folds at the top. A box as thus prepared readily 
holds three rows of 50 slides in a row, or 150 altogether. 
Each slide is separated from its neighbour in the same row by a 
double thickness of manilla paper, which, owing to its manner of folding, 
acts as a spring, and avoids all possible danger of breakage. When all 
the compartments are filled, the space between the tops of the slides in 
any row is but about 2 mm. ; but there is, nevertheless, no difficulty in 
removing a slide or in getting at it to read the label without removal, 
since, owing to the yielding nature of the paper, the tops may be readily 
drawn apart. In this respect the box offers a great advantage over those 
with rigid wooden compartments, such as are commonly in use. The 
first box was made merely as an experiment. It proved so satisfactorv 
* Dept, of Geology, TJ.S. Nat. Mus. Washington D.C. See Science, xx. (1892) 
pp. 298-9. 
