editions and pages of the works quoted must be given. The essays must not bear the name of the author, but a motto, to be repeated on a sealed envelope containing the name and address. The essays become the property of the Academy, but permission will be given to take copies. They are to be sent, post-paid, to M. Ad. Quetelet, Perpetual Secretary, before June 1st, 1871.

The Histology of the Petiole in Cryptogamia forms the subject of a recent lecture by M. Trécul to the French Academy of Sciences.

The Development of the Flower in Pinguicula.-A very able memoir on this subject has been written by Professor Dickson. This was very favourably noticed by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, F.R.S., in a late number of 'The Gardener's Chronicle.'

A New Edition of Mrs. Somerville's Work on Molecular and Microscopic Sciences. In a note written from Naples, Professor Allman states that a short time since he paid a visit to Mrs. Somerville. Writing to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, he says:-"I paid a visit the other day to Mrs. Somerville, on her ninetieth birthday. She is a charming old lady; her senses, with the exception of slight failure in her hearing, are still perfect; she can thread her needle without spectacles, and is in full intellectual vigour. engaged with a second edition of her work 'On Molecular Science.'

She is

The American Microscopical Society. At the last annual meeting of the American Microscopical Society the following officers were elected: President, Dr. J. H. Hinton; 1st vice-president, Mr. Robert Dinwiddie; 2nd vice-president, Mr. T. F. Harrison; corresponding secretary, Dr. S. G. Perry; recording secretary, Dr. J. S. Latimer; treasurer, Mr. E. C. Bogert; librarian, Dr. John Frey; curator, Mr. S. Jackson. Committee on nominations:-Dr. D. H. Goodwillie ; Mr. R. A. Witthaus, Mr. J. W. S. Arnold.

M. Mouchet's Wood-section-making Machine.-M. Mouchet desires us to state that the "grande médaille d'honneur," awarded to him by His Majesty the Emperor of the French, was received at the Regional Exhibition of 1866," and not, as stated in our February number, the late Paris Exhibition.

An Histological Entomological Prize.-The Council of the Entomological Society offer two prizes, of the value of five guincas each, for essays of sufficient merit, drawn up from personal observation, on the anatomy or economy of any insect or insects. The essays to be sent in before the end of November next.

The Microscope in Silk-Worm Culture. M. Pasteur, who has done so much in this direction, proposes this year to carry out an elaborate scries of experiments on the subject of silk-worm growth, health, and nourishment. These experiments will be carried out on an estate of the Prince Imperial, situate between the Gulf of Trieste and Carnero.

The Development of the Brachiopoda.-A very capital subject for some enterprising microscopist is being investigated by Mr. E. Morse, who is engaged in writing a monograph on the subject.

The Transmission of the Journal Abroad.-The communications of Professors Vanlair, Van Beneden, and Masius have reached us, and have been laid before the publisher, who has complied with the orders expressed therein.

The Microscope in the Welsh Fasting Girl's Case. — A curious instance of the practical value of the microscope in many inquiries in which its use would not be suspected by those not versed in its employment, was shown in the recent prosecution. Mr. John Phillips, surgeon, in giving his evidence, mentioned that he also examined with a microscope the contents of the stomach. He recognized starch globules in abundance, and several small pieces of bone-either of small fish or small birds. The starch was most probably taken from arrowroot.

A New (?) Binocular Microscope.-A recent number of the 'British and Foreign Mechanic' contains a description, with figures, of what is called an improvement in binocular microscopes, by Mr. Samuel Holmes. The following is part of the inventor's specification, for we may mention that the instrument is patented :

"My invention consists in the use of two object-glasses or portions of two object-glasses, or of one object-glass divided into two parts, to supply through two eye-pieces a binocular and stereoscopic view of opaque or transparent microscopic objects while illuminated by reflected or transmitted light, and also in the use of certain mechanical means herein described, or their equivalents, for securing the motion in required directions, or rest in necessary positions of the optical parts of such combinations for obtaining monocular or binocular vision. The objective-I take an ordinary object-piece, and by a circular saw divide it along its line of collimation, and afterwards rejoin the halves by screws and steady pins, until as an objective it is in as perfect a state of adjustment as before division? It is then capable of acting as an objective for one or two eyes, according to the position assumed by the two halves under the control of the mechanical part of the instrument when the direct light is stopped out. According to another method, I work the lenses of an achromatic object-piece out of divided and rejoined discs of glass, which when finished and fixed in a divided mounting temporarily held together for that purpose may be afterwards separated by dissolving out the cement by which the halves of the discs were originally conjoined. Or lastly, I make two whole object-glasses, and fix one into each half of a divided mount, cutting away only such portion as will allow of proper approximation. This method is available for high powers and for binocular use only. In all cases I cut the usual screwthread on the objectives to affix them to the body, and more surely secure their halves in their respective places in the divided body tube of the instrument by two small milled-headed screws."

A Revolving Stage and a Tank Microscope. - Mr. Frederick Blankley read the following note at the last meeting of the Royal Microscopical Society:-"I have much pleasure, at the request of our esteemed President, in bringing before this Society two small con

VOL. III.

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Journal,

trivances which I hope will assist us in our pleasant microscopic studies. The universal revolving stage consists of two plates of brass, in the centre of which is a revolving disk, so constructed that different appliances may be placed in it.

"The one before you has a live-box, which can be placed in the centre, and by turning the milled edge will rotate, so that the object viewed may be seen at every

angle of light; also a cork disk upon which may be fixed any object wished to be seen in various positions; and an object-holder which does equally well for transparent or opaque-mounted objects. This piece of apparatus is the result of the desire to see objects in different positions and under every aspect. It is made by Mr. J. Swift, 128, City Road.

"The Tank Microscope is constructed in a simple and inexpensive way, which may induce many to study 'Life as it is' in the aquarium, without having to expend a large sum of money for the purpose. It will be observed that the ordinary condenser is used as the stand or pillar for the microscope, which consists of a sliding arm, into which the body of the instrument is placed; and by having a revolving joint it can be moved in every direction. On the pillar will be seen a small sliding, fitting into which can be placed the stage forceps, leaf-holder, cork disk, &c., so that it will be not only serviceable for tank work, but also for geological and botanical purposes; and by placing it in a vertical position, and using a mounting table of block of wood, can be converted into a dissecting microscope: this also is made by Mr. Swift."

Mr. Blankley's Tank Microscope.

A Diatom Committee.-Captain Lang, the President of the Reading Microscopical Society, sends us a note, in which he makes the suggestion that the Royal Microscopical Society should appoint a Committee of Reference for those who are engaged in diatom inquiries. "In last month's number of 'Science Gossip,' in an entire article by L. G. Miles "On Guano Diatoms," there is a proposal worth consideration. After giving examples of abnormal forms, and remarking on the tendency towards extensive multiplication of supposed new species on insufficient grounds, this writer suggests that as the Royal Microscopical Society, as a national institution, is now looked up to as a guide to British microscopists generally, it would be well that a Committee

Journal, April 1, 1870.

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211

of veteran Diatomists of that Society should be formed, to whom all new or doubtful forms might be sent for examination or identification. The recommendation appears to me to be a good one, and such a committee might easily guard themselves from the trouble of naming common valves for tyros, by making a rule only to receive specimens forwarded to them through some member of the Royal Microscopical Society."

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.*

ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.

KING'S COLLEGE, March, 1870.

Rev. J. B. Reade, M.A., F.R.S., in the chair.

The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

A donation from the Royal Society was announced by the Secretary, consisting of certain parts of the Philosophical Transactions,' which would render complete the volumes of that work presented to the Royal Microscopical Society by the President, and to which reference was made in the current number of the Journal.

Mr. Slack moved, and it was unanimously carried, "That the thanks of the Society be given to the Royal Society for the parts of the Transactions' which had been so generously presented."

The President said, the presentation of those parts now made the volumes in the possession of the Society complete from 1751 to the present time. They were therefore greatly indebted to the Royal Society for their contribution. He would just mention that the Council had come to the conclusion to have the parts bound into volumes; and that the volumes might be borrowed for the space of one month, on condition that the Fellows submitted to a fine of 18. per day for default in returning them. It was necessary that regularity should be observed on this head, and probably the penalty of incurring the fine would ensure such regularity. He thought that such volumes could only be studied satisfactorily by the Fellows at their own homes, and that with this privilege of taking the volumes from the library before them, many gentlemen would be glad to join the Society for the sake of having free access to such a work.

Mr. Ladd, F.R.A.S., of Beak Street, Regent Street, exhibited that evening a simple form of spectroscope and micro-spectroscope combined. The maker described it as a form of spectroscope contrived by him in 1868. Its size, when closed, is 2 inches long and inch diameter. It can be applied to the microscope very effectively in the following way:-The tube containing the direct-vision prisms is

*Secretaries of Societies will greatly oblige us by writing their reports legibly -especially by printing the technical terms thus: Hydra-and by "underlining" words, such as specific names, which must be printed in italics. They will thus secure accuracy and enhance the value of their proceedngs.-ED. M. M. J.

Journal, April

mounted above the ordinary eye-piece of the microscope by means of a tube adapted (taking the place of the eye-piece cap), in which the prism tube will slide. An adjustable slit is made to take the place of the micrometer in the eye-piece. When a second or comparative spectrum is required, it is only necessary to place below the object-glass either a "Reade's" or a right-angled prism, or a simple reflector, and the two spectra will appear side by side. By this arrangement all the advantages of the more expensive forms of instruments are obtained at a small cost. It was as well a spectroscope for non-microscopic work.

A new form of rotating stage of portable character was exhibited by Mr. Blankley, and also a very convenient pocket travelling microscope by Mr. Browning. This very portable form of instrument was made for a gentleman connected with the Excise, who, being much engaged in the examination of suspected articles, is obliged to carry a microscope about with him in his daily duty.

Mr. Moginie also exhibited his monocular and binocular travelling microscopes; and Mr. Richards his arrangement for working more accurately with Darker's selenite films.

Dr. Carpenter compared "The Steadiness of the Ross and Lister Models of Microscopes under trying circumstances.' He also entered into some interesting details "On the Shell-Structure of Fusulina,” "The Micropyle of the Fish's Ovum," and "The Reparation of the Spines of Echini.”

Mr. Beck thought the real credit of carrying out the principle so ably commented upon by Dr. Carpenter belonged to Mr. Jackson. He did not think that in Mr. Lister's improvements would be found the full development of the principle. He had in his possession the first microscope that had been made on Mr. Lister's model, as brought out by Tulley; and whilst the principle is firmly maintained of moving the body, there is no approach to the beautiful movement for which they were indebted to the mechanical skill, and thorough knowledge and distribution of vibration, of Mr. Jackson. George Jackson was the man who introduced the planing out that arm; and he thought that he was correct in saying that it was planed out by Mr. Jackson in an amateur planing machine of his own.

The President said Tulley's microscope was the Lister model. The supporting rods gave great firmness, but the form exhibited by Dr. Carpenter was unquestionably the Jackson form. Still the question is, which form is the most valuable for diminishing the tremor?

Mr. Breese said, it seemed to him that the question of vibration must be mainly dependent upon the steadiness of the object-glass and object taken relatively, and consequently on the rigidity between these parts, and had but little to do with the eye-piece, as spoken of by Dr. Carpenter. He would contend that the Ross model is the steadier of the two. The point of support for the object-glass is much nearer the object, and there is no danger of motion in the tube interfering at all. Without calling in question the experiments made by Dr. Carpenter, he thought that a Ross model, which he had had in his own hands, bore as severe a test, and exhibited no defect such as has been