414 
Notes. 
of the study Of Nature lies in the circumstance that no new ad- 
vance, however small, is ever final. There are no blind alleys 
in scientific investigation. Every new fadt is the opening of a 
new path. 
Mr. Toseph Beck has recently added to the capabilities of the 
large model stand produced by his firm. The stage is capable of 
being inclined to any extent, the amount of rotation being re- 
corded on a divided plate ; or it can be turned completely over, 
incase it is desired to view objeas without the interference with 
oblique illumination caused by the thickness of the stage. The 
swinging sub-stage bar moves independently of the mirror or 
the mirror can at pleasure be attached to it and then partakes 
of its motion. After adjustment of the angular direction of the 
light a lever permits of its focal adjustment in the optical axis 
of the instrument. The whole of the illuminating apparatus, 
including the mirror, can be brought above the stage if desired. 
All the movements are registered on divided circles or scales. 
Provision is made for attaching a lamp to the stand of the micro- 
scope, and giving a power of motion which can be 
good account in the examination of opaque objedts. Although 
the arrangements of the microscope are necessarily somewhat 
complex, it offers unusual facilities for using illuminators o 
various kinds, and in a way not easily attainable with any other 
instrument. 
Messrs. R. and J. Beck have published a description of the 
strudures to be seen in a slide issued by them, of a seaion of 
the stem of a lime tree (Tilia Europcea). The seaion is i trans- 
verse, but slightly oblique, at the junaion of a branch, and 
double-stained, the period of growth being two and a half years 
The preparation is of great beauty, and is so carefully made 
that almost the whole struaure of the stem is capable of demon- 
stration The page of explanation will prove of great value to 
anyone who will carefully go through it, and endeavour to make 
out the struaures described with the microscope. It is to be 
hoped that Messrs. Beck will continue to publish such descrip- 
tions whenever they obtain an objea of educational value such 
a course will do much to instrua those who would otherwise be 
contented merely to look at an objea for its prettiness, and allow 
the microscope to become only a toy in their hands. 
