THE’ GEELONG NATURALIST. IT 
dust, which may be invisible to the naked eye, will assume un- 
leasant proportions under the microscope and not only mar the 
ena but interrupt the clear view of a splendid and delicate object. 
A good light by which to work is also important. | ; 
For mounting minute objects, carbolic acid is a very useful 
medium; itis more simple, cleanly, and rapid than turpentine for 
insects, etc. The purest crystals of carbolic acid with just sufficient 
water added to render them fluid (a saturated solution) produces 
the best results. No more should be dissolved than can be used up, 
as after solution the light colours and spoils it. 
Vegetable tissues, foraminifera and palates, after boiling in 
liquid potash, and washing in water to remove all traces of the 
potash, may be put into carbolic acid. ^ If it be wished to mount 
them at once, then place the specimen after washing on glass slip, 
and put one or two drops of acid on it. Should it appear thick or 
cloudy, ‘warm the slip over a spirit lamp, and set it aside to cool and 
drain away the acid. If not perfectly clear, add another drop or two 
of fresh carbolic acid and again warm it; place the cover glass, 
remove as much of the acid as possible, and then let a drop of 
Canada balsam run under the cover to take the place of the acid. 
A number of specimens may be put into a test tube with the 
carbolic acid solution and boiled for a few minutes, corked up and 
put aside for mounting at leisure, either in balsam or dammar. 
When the balsam gets too thick it can be made thinner by adding 
turpentine or benzoline. 
Now, just a word about preparing specimens. Sections of 
wood and vegetable tissues are susceptible of very fine double and 
even triple staining. When the section is first cut, if in any way 
hard, place it in a solution of 2 oz. of chloride of lime dissolved 
in a pint of water, well shaken and stood by to settle down. To the 
solution add by degrees a solution of common washing soda, when a 
precipitate of carbonale of lime will be thrown down. Keep the 
solution in a well-stoppered bottle in the dark. 
Sections bleached in chlorinated soda, must, when white enough, 
be washed in distilled water and kept there for twenty-four hours, 
changing the water frequently, and adding a few drops of nitric 
acid, say eight or ten. For the last wash put them into alcohol for 
four hours. First take the solution from the spirits, leaving in a 
solution of magenta dye (say) for about twenty-four hours: then 
, put back into the alcohol till the colour is removed from the par- 
enchyma; then for a few minutes in the blue dye, and then back 
again into the alcohol till ready to mount. But I find that by 
