224 
MICROSCOPICAL SECTION. 
December 21, 1863. 
Joseph Sidebotham, Esq., President of the Section in the 
Chair. 
Yarious valuable donations were announced, among others 
a paper by Walter Crum, Esq., F.R.S, on Cotton Fibre, 
accompanied with mounted specimens, in illustration of it. 
Mr. Heys repeated his observations on the the cotton fibre, 
and said that there was little difference observable in cotton 
freshly gathered, from that as usually received in this country. 
His observations lead him to the conclusion that the structure 
of cotton fibre is as follows : — First, there is an external 
envelope, or tube, generally moniliform; inside, a spiral vessel 
which seems to prevent the collapse of the tube : inside the 
spiral, there is generally present another substance like a pith 
or core. Mr. Heys then described at length his observations 
on the cotton when under the influence of the solvent 
recommended by Mr. O’Neil, and the conclusions lie drew 
from them. Mr. Heys’s paper was illustrated by diagrams 
and mounted specimens. 
Mr. Heys then read a Paper on “ Mounting Objects in 
Canada Balsam,” and minutely explained the various details 
of the process : lie strongly advocates the use of the Canada 
Balsam, dissolved in Chloroform, by which the trouble is 
lessened, and the beauty of the preparations increased. 
The Secretary then exhibited a Drawing of the Apparatus 
used by Captain Baker, of the Niphon, for obtaining Sound- 
ings, free from Grease.— Description : A tube 18 inches 
long, 1 1 diameter, with a wooden cap, and a leather, fitted 
as a pump-box ; this, lashed to the lead, sinks into the earth, • 
and brings up a cylinder of mud or sand, free from grease ; 
the surplus water being forced out through the valve at the 
top. ~ • 
