THE MICROSCOPE. 



President Henry Mills reported some personal observations 

 upon the cause of motion in diatoms. Reported from the Royal 

 Microscopical Journal. 



ELMIRA MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 



The regular monthly meeting of the Elrnira Microscopical Soci- 

 ety was held March 2d, at the Surgical Institute. The attendance 

 was sufificient to comfortably fill the apartment where the sessions 

 of the society are held. Besides the regular members there were 

 twenty visitors present. Dr. Ford, the Vice-President, presided in 

 the absence of President Gleason. Dr. Lucy, who had been ap- 

 pointed to read a paper, excused himself from the duty, saying that 

 physical disability had prevented him from preparing it. 



Professor Ford said that, since the society was thrown upon its 

 own resources for this evening, he would ask some questions, which 

 he proceeded to do, as follows: Why are live geese feathers con- 

 sidered better than those taken from dead birds ? Why is the fur 

 upon skins taken from live animals considered better than that ob- 

 tained from dead ones ? 



Several members volunteered to examine the microscopic struc- 

 ture of fur and feathers under the two conditions named, and report 

 at the next meeting. 



An interesting discussion then arose as to whether there existed 

 a development of muscular cell structure in animals after death. 

 Dr. Lucy had witnessed cell reproduction in plants severed from 

 the root, under the microscope, but never in animals. 



Plans for examining living, animal, muscular structure under 

 the microscope, were suggested. 



Prof. Ford, Dr. Lucy, Dr. Krackowizer, Judge Dexter, J. G. 

 Lowman, and the secretary, canvassed the causes that led to the 

 budding and growing of the branches from saw-logs, in the spring, 

 after having laid in the yard during the winter. Why should they 

 put out life at any particular time— as when growing trees shoot out 

 buds ? Why not a month earlier or a month later ? Why not in 

 the winter, when kept in a warm place ? 



A committee consisting of the secretary. Judge Seymour Dexter 

 and F. G. Hall were appointed to make arrangements for a recep- 

 tion to be given by the society some time in April. The committee 



