NRW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 209 



MISCELLANEA. 



Microscope, Microscopic, Microscopical. — The practice 

 of even the most scholarly microscopists is not quite uniform in 

 the employment of the words microscope (used adjectively), 

 microscopic, and microscopical. Is it not desirable to make an 

 effort to bring about uniformity ? The usage which best com- 

 mends itself to us is in accord with the following directions : — 



1. Apply "microscope " (the adjective) to the component or 

 essential parts of the microscope. -E.g.: microscope stand, mi- 

 croscope stage, microscope objective. 



2. Restrict " microscopic " to objects or features too minute 

 to be seen or appreciated by the naked eye. 



3. Reserve " microscopical " for uses to which the term " micro- 

 scopic," as above restricted, would be inappropriate. £. g..: 

 Microscopical Society ; microscopical accessories ; microscopical 

 science, works, observations, researches, themes, purposes, uses ; 

 microscopical examination. 



As an epithet to the word " examination," microscopical is 

 certainly preferable to microscopic, since the idea intended to 

 be conveyed is of an action performed with the aid of the micro- 

 scope, rather than of one too minute to be visible to the naked 

 eye. 



Among professional men an organized society of microscop- 

 ists is now generally, if not universally, denominated a Micro- 

 scopical Society. " Microscopic Society" is sometimes heard, 

 and, unfortunately, it sometimes gets into print. Its use ought to 

 be actively discountenanced. 



Mechanical Self-Division of Stentor. — A Stentor was re- 

 cently observed by the writer to divide itself into two nearly 

 equal parts by what appeared to be a mechanical process. By 

 a vibrating gyratory movement^ frequently repeated for two 

 hours, the anterior part was, as it were, twisted off the posterior. 

 The oral segment migrated to the border of the cage, and re- 

 tained its vitality eight hours. The other segment developed a 

 new oral spiral at its torn extremity, and became at the end of 

 about ten hours a complete individual. 



'Like the motion of the balance-wheel of a watch. 



