2096 » THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
great men and great things. ‘‘ Look above, learn there, seek-to 
rise always,” this was your teaching. I see you again, after your day’s 
labour reading some story of battle from a book of contemporary 
history which recalled to you the glorious epoch which you had 
witnessed. In teaching me to read, it was your care to teach me 
the greatness of France. Be blessed, both of you, my dear parents, 
for what you were, and let me transfer to you the homage which is 
to-day bestowed upon this house. Gentlemen, I thank you for 
giving me the opportunity of saying aloud what I have thought for 
sixty years. I thank you for this celebration and for your recep- 
tion, and I thank the town of Dole, which does not forget any of 
its children and which has borne me in such remembrance.” 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF Livinc PRotopLasM.—The silver 
reaction for living protoplasm is not due to aldehyde as Reinke 
and Mori suppose as it takes place in Spirogyra which contain no 
aldehyde; neither does this reaction occur with every green or 
chlorophyll-free plant under every circumstance of growth. It 
occurs only when the protoplasm contains a lecithin compound 
whereby the chemical resistance is increased so that change does 
not follow immediately after the first attack on the cells.—J. C. S. 
DeEsTRUCTIVE INsEcTs.—In reference to the continued accounts 
of partial injury by drought and caterpillars received this week from 
America, “ Aphis” calls attention to the mischief now being done 
in our beanfields by the aphis devastator, plant louse, bean dolphin, 
or collier, the latter name being given on account of its blackness. 
The cause is said to be the comparatively dry season in this coun- 
try, just the contrary to what is said in America, that rains and too 
much moisture are favourable to the cotton worms. ‘The lateness 
of the crop in most sections is, however, of the most importance, as 
that renders it more liable to injury from insects and frost. 
Mr. Thomas Brittain, on account of advancing years and failing 
health, has resigned his position as one of the vice-presidents of 
the Manchester Microscopical Society. Mr. Brittain was largely 
instrumental in the establishment of the Society, and was its presi- 
dent during the year 1882. 
SrEvENsS’ SILIcon.—It may not be generally known to our 
readers that ‘Stevens’ silicon jewellery-reviver tablet ”’ is little else 
than a mass of Diatoms. The deposit occurs in the State of 
Nevada on the Pacific coast of North America, and was at first 
sight taken for a bed of pure white clay until its chemical com- 
position was ascertained by Professor Silliman. 
