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PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 
Dr. Hudson's Paper on the Botifera. — Dr. Hudson’s paper at the 
British Association gave an elaborate account of the structure and 
affinity of these animals. There was considerable discussion upon the 
author's views, some opposition being exhibited to his tendency to 
group them with the Entomostraca. However, Dr. Hudson’s views 
are the result of a considerable study of the group, he himself being 
the discoverer of some very extraordinary novel forms. 
An Animal-like Diatom. — The following letter has been addressed 
to ‘ Nature’ (Oct. 14), by a gentleman who writes from Manila. The 
cut has been kindly lent to us by the editor. The writer, Mr. W. W. 
Wood, observes : — I have reason to think that I have made a dis- 
covery which may change the ideas of naturalists as to the nature of 
some diatoms. In collecting Diatomacete I have found a species of 
Navicula (?) which is invested with a gelatinous envelope, and from 
the edges of the frustule project a number of long processes or arms 
of the same soft nature. These 
vary much in number, in some 
specimens being eight or ten, and 
in others as many as twenty-five 
or even more. They are longer 
than the frustule, and radiate 
from it with much regularity. 
The diatoms when detected (upon 
a floating fucus common in the 
sea hereabout) were dead, and I 
was unable to detect any move- 
ments. I have examined so many 
individuals of this diatom that I 
think it hardly likely that I have 
been deceived, as they are by no 
means very minute. Dr. Car- 
penter, in the fifth edition of his 
admirable work on the Micro- 
scope, speaks of some observa- 
tions by Mr. Stephenson on the 
genus Coscinodiscus, which hint 
at the possibility of some diatoms 
having appendages projected 
through apertures of the frustule. 
The highest power of my microscope is one of Messrs. R. and J. Beck’s, 
-),th, a very fine glass. I propose to forward as soon as possible the 
sticks, dry and in balsam, as well as the “ gathering ” in spirits, to a 
competent diatomist, who will confirm my observations if correct. 
The Origin of the Bed Clay found by the 1 Challenger. ’ — Dr. Car- 
penter made some remarks of interest on this subject at the Bristol 
Meeting of the British Association. He said that when it was first 
YOL. XIV. 
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