From my knowledge of Iioav greatly this character varies in the 

 Diatomaceae, I, from an early period in my studies, considered 

 these two supposed species to be but forms of one, and this 

 discovery proves that my surmises were correct ; at some futiii e 

 time I may have something to say with regard to the genus 

 Gomphonema, and what, in my judgment, constitutes a species 

 in it. I am now engaged, and have been for some years, 

 working up several genera, with the express purpose of deter- 

 mining the true lines of specific distinction in them. And I 

 must be permitted to here enter my earnest protest against the 

 custom which has become so Avofully common, in England 

 more esjjecially, of manufacturing species where they do not 

 exist. 



The labours of such self-supposed students of nature are more 

 than thrown away. Our books become crowded with worth- 

 less synonjnns, and this branch of biology has, in consequence, 

 fallen into disrepute among scientific observers generally. If 

 those who have the opportunity of securing and examining 

 specimens of Diatomaceae, Avould only study them a little more 

 carefully, and if they must publish, do so only after properly 

 maturing their knowledge, we might hope to learn something 

 of the life history of these strange atomies. Better that really 

 new species should for ever remain unnamed, than that such 

 contributions to the literature of the Diatomacete, as aj)pear 

 from time to time in foreign journals, should ever see the 

 light. It is a curious fact that almost every one who becomes 

 possessed of a microscope of sufficiently high magnifying 

 power, at once imagines that he is abundantly armed and 

 equipped, as well as qualified, to attack and overcome the most 

 difficult problems in biology. Hence Ave find the most startling 

 discoveries put forth by very immature observers of nature 

 who suppose themselves to be students, but who have really 

 given little time or thought to study. No branch of biology, 

 perhaps, has been more cursed with supposed discoverers of 

 this class than the Diatoniacea?, until a man comes to be 

 apj)reciated by the number of species he can manufacture. By 

 far the largest number of observers who are attracted to these 

 beautiful and wonderful atomies forget that we have in them 

 presented to us for investigation one of the most puzzling 

 problems in the whole group of phenomena, illustrating that 

 which we call life, but on the contrary appear to consider them 

 as '• simple organisms," whose morphology and life history, as 

 well as classification, are therefore proportionally easy of com- 

 prehension. I have devoted many years to the earnest study, 

 under varying conditions, of these examples of complex 

 simplicity, and pity it is that others mIio have not spent so 



