Summary: A hydraulically operated microscope stage is described and constructional details are given. The stage is foot-operated, which leaves both hands free for continuous focusing of the microscope and the operation of a mechanical counting device. A further advantage of the hydraulic stage is that unmounted grains (or small fossils) can be moved smoothly and without relative movement between individual grains. The rate at which grains (or small fossils) can be counted is thus greatly increased.