The Microscope. 11 



pursued for some time, and upon which he has made valuable 

 reports to the Liverpool Microscopical Society. His letter gave sug- 

 gestions as to the use of the tow-net in obtaining the gatherings, 

 and prescribed the following as a solution best fitted to preserve 

 specimens of marine life: Water, one part; proof spirits, two 

 parts; glycerine, one part; with one per cent, of carbolic acid 

 added. By securing gatherings from the Pacific Mr. Thompson 

 hopes to add to his previous finds of new copepoda, which constitute 

 the chief part of pelagic life. In an expedition to the Canary Islands 

 Mr. Thompson captured from forty to fifty new species. The San 

 Francisco Society will endeavor to obtain the material which is neces 

 sary for the study proposed by Mr. Thompson* 



An interesting letter was read from W. F. Barraud of Welling- 

 ton, New Zealand. The Wellington Microscopical Society meets 

 fortnightly, and its members are now making special effort to investi- 

 gate and catalogue the fresh water infusoria found in the district. 

 Several interesting diatomaceous deposits occur in New Zealand, one 

 at Oomaru being celebrated for its richness. Specimens of this 

 earth have been quite widely distributed and mounted slides of it 

 have been shown in the San Francisco Society meetings. Mr. Bar- 

 raud sent a sample of the earth, which will be worked up by Mr. 

 Riedy, and a sample of the Nevada salmon-colored diatomaceous 

 earth, found some time ago by Professor Hanks will be sent to Mr. 

 Barraud in exchange. 



The chief part of the evening was given to an exhibition of high- 

 power objectives recently received. Dr. Ferrer gave an outline first 

 of the claims made for the apochromatic objectives and eyepieces 

 made with special kinds of glass by Zeiss of Jena. After a conver- 

 sational discussion of the points advanced, the Zeiss glasses, one- 

 twelfth, were shown by Drs. Ferrer and Mouser, and Dr. LeConte 

 used Spencer's one-tenth and one- eighteenth. Various objects were 

 examined, including test diatoms and bacteria, and the work of the 

 glasses very favorably commented upon. It was not intended to 

 attempt to arrive at any definite and formal work of the .glasses, but 

 rather to give all members an opportunity to examine for their own 

 satisfaction. - Dr. Mouser worked his Zeiss' one-twelfth up to 2,250 

 diameters with most admirable efPects. The performance of the 

 Spencer glasses was also very satisfactory. 



Meeting October 26, President Ferrer presiding. 



Dr. Ferrer continued his demonstrations of new accessories, of 

 which a part was given at the last meeting of the society. He had 



