760 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES. 
Tlie author lias made use of tlie apparatus for observations of dif- 
ferent marine larvas and small worms, of Rotatoria and Infusoria, and 
also of the eggs of Crenilabrus pavo. 
C6) Miscellaneous. 
Collection of Microscopic Preparations.* — Dr. Beneke pleads for 
the institution of more systematic collections of microscopic preparations, 
not only in the seats of learning, but in central stations or museums. 
He points out, as a little consideration makes quite evident, that the 
lack of system, centralization, and availability involves a serious waste 
of energy. He pleads, in other words, for the institution of libraries 
for the real documents of histology. 
Mr. A. Sedgwick, F.R.S., informs us that there are at Cambridge — 
(1) Fairly complete series of sections of embryos of Cape Peripatus. 
A few series of Peripatus embryos of West Indian and New Zealand 
species. 
(2) Sections of Elasmobranch embryos; fairly complete series of 
Pristiurus, less complete of Scyllium and Acantliias ; a few series of 
Eaja — in the possession of Mr. A. Sedgwick. 
(3) Series of sections of embryos and larv<B of many Polyzoa, and 
of adult Cephalodiscus in the possession of Mr. E. F. Harmer. 
(4) Series of Petromyzon embryos and larvae in the possession of 
Mr. A. E. Shipley. 
Fixing-board for Experiments on Animals.f — M. A. Latapie de- 
scribes an apparatus for fixing animals securely during experiments in 
the laboratory, a feature of which is that the animal can be turned over 
from front to back without untying the hind legs. It consists of a board 
0*3 m. long and 0*14 m. broad; at each end there is an arrangement, 
one for fixing the head, the other the neck or head. The hind piece 
is a metal plate, which slips along a fixing screw and has in front 
a slightly curved metal rod. This can turn round a vertical axis. 
At each end of the rod is a sort of loop which can be turned right or 
left. When the hind legs have been stretched by the cross-piece the 
rings are made to embrace the projecting angle formed by the leg on 
the thigh. A spring keeps them in position, and thus the hind legs are 
held tight. 
The head is fixed by stretching the head or throat over the block 
and fastening it down with a rod. A muzzle serves to complete the 
fixation of the head. For pigeons or fowls a couple of hooks like those 
used by Malassez are supplied. When both head and hind-legs have 
been fixed, the proper extension is given by drawing apart the head and 
tail pieces. The front legs are secured by a couple of rings and a 
chain. 
The board carries two hind leg pieces, the second one being for small 
animals. 
* Biol. Centralbl., xiv. (1894) pp. 718-20. 
t Ann. Inst. Pasteur, viii. (1894) pp. 668-7S (1 fig.). 
