Microscopical Society of Victoria. 9-3 
to a roomy stageplate, with a mirror below and revolving plate 
above, or detached on some stand, but capable of being brought 
over a mounting table with mirror and rotating plate as above. 
My own is home-made, extremely simple, costing nothing but the 
trouble, and such as any one with a little ingenuity could make 
for himself. It consists of a piece of pine 9 in. long, 5 in. wide, 
and 1 in. thick, on three legs, with a hole in the centre into which 
a wooden matchbox (with the bottom cut out) fits tightly, project¬ 
ing a little above ; over this fits a piece of slate just tight enough 
to rotate easily ; beneath, a peg receives the mirror of the micro¬ 
scope. This forms the detached mounting table. For the simple 
microscope, I take the foot and tube pillar of the condenser, fit a 
piece of cane in this tube, drive a pickle-bottle cork stiffly on it, 
and fasten on this a horizontal wooden bar with a hole in the 
middle to fit on the cane, and another at each end in which to fit 
the lenses, which are just the 1 Jin. and I in. objectives, which give 
far better definition than common pocket lenses. (3) A steady 
hand. (4) Patience and perseverance. 
Dry Mounts .—All diatoms and scales should be mounted on the 
cover, not the slide. Lay a clean cover on a slide and keep it in 
place by a drop of water between. As scales are larger than 
diatoms, it is well to begin with them. Put several on a slide in 
the ordinary way, pick out the ones wanted with the bristle under 
the simple microscope, one at a time ; keep the cover flooded with 
moisture from the breath, and deposit the scales picked up 
wherever wanted in lines or patterns. They will readily leave 
the bristle for the wet glass, and can be pushed about quite easily. 
When the moisture dries off no stain is left, and the objects will 
adhere with sufficient firmness to resist anything short of a sharp 
jar. When the line or pattern is finished, mount in a shallow 
cement cell. 
Balsam Mounts .—The cover must have a film of a gelatinous 
nature which is insoluble in balsam and its solvents. A thin 
aqueous solution of isinglass carefully filtered serves well. A 
single drop is placed on a clean cover, and spread out as thin as 
possible with a clean needle. It dries almost instantly in warm 
weather, and in a few seconds in winter. A diatom placed on 
this film and gently breathed on is securely sealed, and cannot be 
dislodged without moisture. Care must be taken to place the 
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