230 H. CROUCH ON MICROSCOPY IN THE UNITED STATES. 



staining of vegetable tissues, a subject to wbich considerable atten- 

 tion has been devoted in the United States. I have the pleasure of 

 submitting to your notice some very beautiful preparations of this 

 description, mounted, and kindly presented to me by Dr. Hunt, of 

 Philadelphia, which will be found to illustrate vegetable structure in 

 a remarkable manner. As examples of mounting they are unsur- 

 passed. 



In a country possessing such enormous deposits of Diatomaceous 

 earth, it is only natural that considerable attention should be 

 devoted to the collection and preparation of these — to many — fascin- 

 ating structures. Pond life, however, is a subject with which, to 

 my surprise, I found very few microscopists whom I met in America 

 at all acquainted, Volvox globator being an unfamiliar object to the 

 majority. I cannot help thinking this is due, not to a deficiency of 

 material, but to want of training in collecting, such as that afforded 

 by the excursions of our Club. 



Micro-photography, no doubt owing to the influence exerted by 

 the example of Dr. Woodward, is much more extensively employed 

 than at home, and there can be but little doubt has had considerable 

 influence upon the construction of American objectives, especially in 

 the increase of the angle of aperture of the higher powers. 

 Whether this is an unalloyed advantage is, I think, legitimately 

 open to discussion. With the opportunities I have had during the 

 past six months, I Avill only say, for myself, that I think there are 

 other and important directions in which the energies of those 

 engaged in the manufacture of objectives can be more profitably 

 employed. 



In conclusion, I think we scarcely realise how closely and with 

 what interest everything relating to the advancement of microscopic 

 science occurring here is followed by our American cousins having 

 similar tastes with our own. From the fact of my visit taking place 

 in the summer and autumn seasons, during the greater part of which 

 time the societies generally are not in session, I had but few oppor- 

 tunities of attending meetings, but I had the pleasure of meeting 

 in course of my stay a large number of the working microscopists 

 from all parts of the Union, and I must say I was surprised to find 

 so thorough an acquaintance with all that is passing amongst us. I 

 also wish to take this opportunity of tendering my hearty thanks for 

 the boundless hospitality displayed, and tbe anxiety shown to render 

 everything as agreeable as possible, in whatever direction one might 



