NOCTILUCA MILIARIS. 7 



one can become a good microscopical observer unless he is 

 possessed of considerable manual dexterity, to be acquired only 

 by long practice," and no work can be higher or more useful than 

 that of assisting men to become original workers in any depart- 

 ment of science. 



Even the wide range of subjects over which our slides are 

 spread tends to prevent the specialist from becoming too narrow, 

 and to show him that there is an interest in pursuits other than 

 his own. It is not at all desirable that we should imitate the 

 coleopterist of Oliver Wendell Holmes, In our society he may 

 learn much that has been previously done ; the mission, though 

 humble, should not be despised, for even as the known is the 

 foundation of the unknown, so no original observer may or can 

 safely disregard the studies of his predecessors. 



I would now appeal to the members of the society to do all 

 they can in the coming session to advance its interests by contri- 

 buting interesting slides, adding to the slides notes, giving freely all 

 their knowledge, either original or acquired. By so doing we 

 shall attain in the future an even greater degree of prosperity than 

 in the present. 



IRoctiluca niMlians. 



By Alfred W. Griffin. 

 Plate I. 



THERE is, perhaps, no one of the phosphorescent animals 

 yet known to science which possesses such highly luminous 

 properties as the Noctiluca. To its presence in countless myriads 

 upon the upper stratum of the water on calm summer nights is 

 especially due that diffused form of phosphorescence, which is 

 so essentially characteristic of temperate latitudes. Under the 

 most favourable of these conditions the waves falling upon the 

 shore leave, as they retreat, a glittering carpet of scintillating 

 points, the oars of the passing boats seem to dip, as it were, in 

 molten silver, while on the high seas the waste of waters churned 



