136 
Notices of Books . 
[January, 
a microtone are thus stated: — “ (i.) That the cutting-plate of 
the instrument should be made of glass, or, in default of this, of 
very hard metal of the most perfect smoothness. (2.) That the 
diameter of the tube be neither too large nor too small ; it ought 
not to be less than five-eighths of an inch or greater than 1 inch. 
(3.) That the screw, which should be fine and well cut, be pro- 
vided with a graduated head. (4.) That there be some kind of 
index by which fractional portions of a revolution of the screw 
may be measured. And (5.) That the plug fit the tube of the 
microtome so accurately that when melted parafiin, gum, or any 
other imbedding agent, be poured into it, it may not find its way 
between the plug and the side of the tube.” Attention is called 
to a very common fault— negleCt of any means of preventing 
the rotation of the cylinder of imbedding substance, and keeping 
it from separating from the plug, a defeCt which entirely destroys 
the power of cutting sections of uniform thickness. The 
description of the process of cutting, and also the use of the 
freezing microtome, is given in so plain a manner that a mistake 
in carrying out the process is hardly possible. The author gives 
his experience of knives — a very important matter, an unsuitable 
tool being the cause of very many failures. The description of 
staining processes and the best mode of mounting the finished 
sedtions have not been uegleCted. A valuable hint is given 
respecting the exclusion of air-bubbles in “ balsam mounting ” 
during the application of the cover. It is recommended to dip 
the cover in turpentine before it is applied, when it will be found 
that “you can’t get air-bubbles, even if you try.” 
Part II. is devoted to special methods, and in the paragraphs 
headed Bone, brain, cartilage, coffee-berry, fat, hair, horn, intes- 
tine, liver, lung, muscles, orange-peel, ovary, porcupine-quill, 
potato, rush, skin, spinal cord, sponge, stomach, tongue, vege- 
table-ivory, and wood, the student will find a collection of useful 
directions hardly to be obtained elsewhere. 
A few blank pages for notes complete this valuable little book, 
which will prove as indispensable to the working microscopist as 
the very practical treatises of Carpenter, Beale, and Davies. 
Victoria ; Reports of the Mining Surveyors and Registrars. 
Quarter ending December 31st, 1877.- Melbourne: J. Ferres, 
Government Printer. 
The total amount of gold obtained in the quarter, both from 
alluvial washings and quartz-reefs, is calculated at 218,159 ozs., 
and the exportation at 163,846 ozs. The grand total of mines 
employed in the gold-fields of the colony during the quarter is 
38,055, so that the average quarterly yield of gold per man falls 
