288 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
disaster and decay, produce the ancient odour often of late arising 
from the water supplied to this neighbourhood. A proper system 
at the filtering beds ought to keep the water in the mains free from 
fishes. 
“HENRY F. WARDEN.” 
In our next issue we shall bring forward some of the chief 
microscopical characters of waters, and endeavour to place the 
matter in a fair light before our readers, reserving our third article 
to the question of the self-purification of river waters and the germ 
theories of zymotic diseases. 
BIRMINGHAM MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
ABSTRACT OF PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS} ice; 
PURPOSE devoting my address this evening to some account 
of my own particular pursuit, much of which is applicable, to a 
large extent, to other branches of study in which the microscope 
takes an all-important part—viz., the collecting, growing or cultiva- 
tion, and examination or display of microscopic aquatic life. So 
much invaluable information upon the first subject is given in 
numerous works at hand that I feel I shall have to repeat much 
that has been said before, and give little which can be called 
strictly original. 
I have thought it strange that while marine creatures are sought 
regardless of cost or peril by means of very elaborate and skilfully- 
contrived appliances, dredging and sounding apparatus, steamers 
specially fitted out for cruises in dangerous parts of the ocean, 
zoological stations and expeditions arranged under the auspices of 
even a British Government, the living multitudes (fishes excepted) 
which inhabit our rivers, lakes, and ponds should be left to 
individual and usually very casual and unsystematic research. It 
is doubtless attributable to this cause, or neglect, that so many of 
the forms found in this country come to us rather as proofs of the 
faithful industry of observers in other countries than of our own 
original work and enterprise. 
It is true that investigations in marine zoology are often 
associated with other matters of equally great scientific and com- 
mercial importance, and that the marvellous fauna of the ocean is 
vastly more grand and extensive ; but, on the other hand, so many 
of us are destined to live in inland districts, and so keen is our 
appetite for an insight into the beginnings of life, that the tiny in- 
