10 THE MICROSCOPE. Jan. © 
Stop worshiping the instrament and this and that ob- 
jective. Stop getting elated over ‘‘resolving amphipleura 
pellucida.”” Go to studying books on the classification, 
life history, generation, growth and place in nature of a 
few denizens of this world of ours, unknown to natural 
vision. Then and not until then will you find the true 
field of a microscopist. ‘ 
The idea of being able to handle a microscope well 
means to be able to use it to the best advantage, to 
make it reveal what in nature you are studying and can- 
not see without it. Books and study are the chief ob- 
jects operative if one would improve in the “Art” of 
Microscopy. First, love nature; then desire to know 
more about nature, and as you get on and plod on and 
struggle on this most delightful road of blind attempts 
to fathom mysteries, the Microscope will help, merely 
hely you; will be your best of friends; will be sueh a 
friend that you will never part with it, and then you will 
be able to realize what the Microscope is for and that 
it is for nothing else. 
ED ETO 8 LAs. 
A Winter Observation.— During the warm weather of 
Jan 1, the ice on a sunken barrel had melted sufficiently to 
admit of being turned. From the under side were col- 
lected some straws covered witha green slime as well as 
some which were brownand covered with asediment. The 
ereen proved to be beautiful fresh water alge in different 
stages of growth. From the brown, by scraping it onto a 
slide were obtained many forms of living diatoms, known 
by their stately movements. Some desmids also were pre- 
sent and easily distinguished by their quick jerky move- 
ments and their green color. Besides these were numer- 
ous colorless bodies in motion. Several fresh water alge 
were attached to bits of solid matter which had come off 
in the scraping. 
