THE MIcROSCcOPE. 191 
always observing to keep the surface in a right condition, which 
will be easily done when it is once stored with these animal- 
cule. Their continual motion will prevent any mouldiness 
thereof. 
They are very entertaining objects, but more particularly 
so if examined by the solar microscope, with which they may 
be magnified to an inch or more in diameter. The internal 
motion of their bowels may be very plainly seen, and their 
mouths to open to a considerable width. 
Myconoay or Romse.—Two observers describe 116 micromy- 
cetes from the neighborhood of Rome, 98 of which are new to 
the district. 
Trip to Devit’s Laxe.—On a botanical trip to Devil’s Lake, 
Wis., a few weeks ago we observed on the sides of the cliff over- 
looking the lake immense numbers of the Columbine, Aquilegia 
Canadensis, and these were frequented by bumble-bees. One 
of the latter we watched as she passed from flower to flower 
gathering her load of sweets, and we observed that she invaria- 
bly avoided the regular road to the nectar and sipped it through 
an opening in the base of the spur, which she either cut for her- 
self, or which had been cut for her by a previous visitor. Our 
curiosity was awakened and as the flowers were very abundant 
many of them were examined, and it was found that the great 
majority of them had their nectaries perforated. We also 
watched the operation of perforating and ascertained that it 
was very quickly and easily done. We were aware that certain 
short tongued bumble bees were accustomed to obtain by illegi_ 
timate means the nectar from long-spurred or long-tubed flow- 
ers, but we confess the expertness of the thievery surprised us. 
Will the Columbines give up the struggle for existence and join 
the great host of plants that have been but no longer are, or 
will they develop some protective device to circumvent the 
bumble-bees ? 
ANATOMY oF LearLess Puants.—Schube says that plants 
which have no or very few leaves are able to carry on the fune- 
tions of assimilation by means of an unusually abu ndant de- 
velopment of the Parenchyma in the axial organs, and by a 
diminution of the means of transpiration. 
