320 American Quarterly Microscopical Journal. 



NOTES. 



— Dr. J. Pelletan, Editor of the Journal de Micrograp/u'e, announct?, 

 that he has undertaken to publish the catalogue of Diatoms arranged by 

 Mr. Frederick Harbirshaw of New York City. This catalogue will con- 

 tain a complete list of the diatoms known and described, up to the date of 

 completing the manuscript, giving the synonyms, and full references to 

 the entire literature of each species. 



The labor of compiling the matter must have been very great ; and was 

 only rendered possible by a complete library of works and papers on 

 diatoms such as Mr. Habirshaw owns. 



It was originally written by the author with the electric pen ; but only 

 fifty copies were made, which were distributed gratuitously. The entire 

 work has been re-written for publication, bringing it up to date. The 

 proofs are to be revised by Mr. F. Kitton. 



We are glad to know that this valuable work is to be made available to 

 all diatomists, and, while we can scarcely hope that it is sufficiently appre- 

 ciated to repay the expense of its publication at once, we trust that many 

 subscriptions will be sent from this country, where in truth, the book 

 should be published. We commend the spirit of enterprise of Dr. Pelletan 

 in undertaking it. 



The volume will be an 8", printed with care, and is to appear in three 

 parts, at intervals as short as possible. The subscription price is lo 

 francs, for the present. When the publication is complete it will probably 

 be raised to 15 francs. To American subscribers it will be about $2.50 or 

 a little less (12 fr. 50), including postage. 



Subscriptions should be addressed to Dr. J. Pelletan, 34 Boulevard des 

 Batignolles, Paris, France. 



— Mr. M. A. Certes has described, in the Comptes Rendus, a method 

 of preserving Infusoria, which has already attracted considerable attention. 

 The process is very simple, and may be briefly described as follows : A 

 drop of a 2 per cent, solution of osmic acid is placed upon a cover glass 

 and inverted upon the fluid in which the Infusoria are swimming upon a 

 slide. In other cases, it suffices to expose the organisms, previously dis- 

 posed upon the slide, to the vapors of osmic acid for the space of ten or 

 more minutes. This acid fixes the animals instantaneously, and the minu- 

 test details, the cilia, flagella, buccal armature, etc., can be examined. It 

 is not claimed, however, that this process will preserve all forms, but 

 most of them can be secured by its use in a more or less perfect condition. 



The best coloring agents for use in this connection are Ranvier's picro- 



carmine, and eosin. The staining solution most highly recommended is 



composed of 



Glycerin J part. 



Water, i " 



Picro-carmine, i " 



in order to avoid the contraction of the tissues, caused by the sudden 



