The Microscope. 281 



nature, as in the case of black pepper, the most common adulter- 

 ants of which are ground cracker, corn, rice and buckwheat, yet the 

 consumer is deceived into paying a high price for worthless matter, 

 and cheats the system of that good and wholesome substance which 

 is supposed to be supplied. It seems to us that self-protection 

 against this form of fraud should be the concern of eveiy one, and as 

 a large number of these adulterants can be readily recognized by 

 means of the microscope, as we have before pointed out, every phar- 

 macist and physician, and especially the health officers of our larger 

 cities, should endeavor to keep the people posted in regard to the 

 various brands of foodstuffs which are found to be other than abso- 

 lutely pure. 



If microscopists were on the alert to expose this nefarious busi- 

 ness, not many years would ela'pse before it would be as difficult to 

 find adulterated foodstuffs as it is now easy. 



Mh. Edwakd Pennock calls our attention to an item on making 

 sections of buds, which appeared in our July issue credited to 

 another journal as having first appeared in the Microscopical Bul- 

 letin. We are very glad to place the credit where it belongs. 



In reply to inquiries in regard to the late Joseph Zentmayer, of 

 Philadelphia, we are able to state that the firm will continue under 

 the management of his two sons, whose long connection with their 

 father in the manufacture of optical goods will doubtless enable them 

 to maintain the high reputation attained by the founder of the 

 house. 



ABSTRACTS. 



A CURIOUS CASE OF MIMICRY. 



A CENTRAL AMERICAN orchid, Maxillaria Lehmanni, 

 -*■ ^ exhibits a form of tnimicry which has not heretofore been 

 observed. On the central portion of the labellum or lip is a collosity 

 which Herr J. M. Janse observed is covered with a fine yellow 

 powder, which bears a veiy close resemblance to pollen grains, and 

 like them contains much nutritious material. To the bees which 

 visit the flowers they answer the same purpose, and are devoured 

 eagerly, the insects apparently mistaking them for pollen. While 

 moving about on the labellum, however, gathering them up, they are 



