6 4 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



in response to a demand for them. Pri- 

 vate letters from widely separated lo- 

 calities also report an increase of inter- 

 est in the microscope. Perhaps, as a 

 correspondent suggests, the pure food 

 laws and their requirements for inspec- 

 tors may have in part prompted the re- 

 newed interest in the revelations of "the 

 magical tube." If, however, it is only 

 a fad may it be a permanent fad ! Never 

 was there a more intelligent fad, nor one 

 whose possessors disturbed their neigh- 

 bors less. Microscopy merely as a re- 

 creation is a great mental resource ; it 

 furnishes unfailing food for thought and 

 widens one's mental horizon immensely. 

 Moreover it is an inexpensive hobby as 

 compared with most other hobbies. 

 Tnere is the first cost of the microscope 

 which can be governed by the length of 

 one's purse, but the after cost is merely 

 nominal for the great wide world of na- 

 ture is free and one doesn't have to tra- 

 verse a continent or cross an ocean to 

 find it — lo, it is at our very doors ! 

 But in its serious fields of work what 

 has not the microscope accomplished in 

 conquering disease and saving life ! Not 

 to know how to use the microscope, not 

 to be familiar with the microscopical 

 appearance of common things, is not to 

 be in consonance with the spirit of this 

 progressive age. 



EXPERIENCES IN COLLECTING. 



Collecting Volvox. Noting the desire 

 for localities for collecting, I give a few 

 experiences. I have been greatly inter- 

 ested in the vagaries of Volvox as to its 

 occurrence and disappearance. The first 

 Volvox I ever found in any quantity I 

 found in great quantity, so great that the 

 water was green and thick with its abun- 

 dance, and I collected it in a two-quart 

 water dipper. The locality was a deep 

 ditch in the woods in Longmeadow, 

 Mass., where the bright sunshine pene- 

 trated and where Drosera grew and 

 blossomed abundantly. Both soon dis- 

 appeared, suddenly and unaccountably, 

 and without the agency of the "axe of 

 improvement." Next I found Volvox 

 in a partially shaded pond in Forest Park, 

 Springfield, Mass. With the bright sun- 

 shine and perhaps liberation of gasses 

 in the water it came to the surface and 



as the coldness of night came on it de- 

 scended to the bottom of the pond, so 

 that the time for collecting was at mid- 

 day. It was very interesting to watch 

 the different states of the cell as the sea- 

 son advanced. The specimens photo- 

 graphed were collected in autumn, some 

 of them ruptured for the exit of the 

 young Volvox. In this pond, too, and 

 with no apparent change of conditions, 

 the Volvox suddenly and completely dis- 

 appeared. Fortunately I had collected 

 a good supply which I mounted in the 

 mounting medium given by Dr. Stokes 

 in "Aquatic Microscopy for Beginners," 

 and instead of the Volvox cells present- 

 ing a mummified appearance as they 

 often do, after ten years, some of them 

 are fit for photographing, which speaks 

 well for the preservative qualities of the 

 mounting medium, inasmuch as a spec- 

 imen cannot be too perfect for photo- 

 graphic purposes. 



OUR CLUB. 



In response to requests "Our Club" 

 will again send out unmounted objects 

 for the microscope, not indiscriminately, 

 but to those who send descriptions of 

 the methods and appliances which they 

 have originated or adopted to accomplish 

 desired results in microscopical work and 

 research," and who at the time of send- 

 ing the same enclose a stamped, self-ad- 

 dressed envelope to the editor of this de- 

 partment at 60 Dartmouth Street, 

 Springfield, Massachusetts. 



For May the club offering w T ill be 

 Spicules of Red Gorgonia. 



ASKED AND ANSWERED. 



Hozv to Clean Gorgonia Spicules: — i 

 have inherited large collections of curios, 

 among them Gorgonias in considerable 

 variety, which ought to yield me fine spi- 

 cules. How shall I proceed in order to 

 obtain the spicules in proper condition 

 for the microscope? — F. H. 



Books for the Amateur Microscopist: 

 Will readers of Practical Microscopy 

 please suggest a list of the most practi- 

 cal books they know for the amateur mi- 

 croscopist, treating of laboratory meth- 

 ods for invertebrate dissections and pre- 

 paration of same for permanent mounts 

 for the microscope.— G. H. M. 



