The Microscope. 307 



distinct. Dr. A, C. Stokes, who has described more of our species 

 than any one else, has said that the species in the sphagnous swamps 

 of New Jersey are mostly new. The many unique forms he has 

 brought to light appear to justify the conclusion. There remains to 

 be explored the waters of our extensive coast and the greater part of 

 our vast inland waters. When this hks been accomplished as thor- 

 oughly as it has been done in Europe, the number of species in the 

 catalogue will be enormously increased. Then, again, there are 

 whole groups which have well-nigh escaped observation; for example, 

 the Proteotnixa, of Lankester, a group at the very threshold of 

 organic life, studied by leading biologists of Europe, but almost 

 wholly neglected or overlooked in this country. A few of the species 

 have been discovered, bat aside from the additions by Dr. Joseph 

 Leidy, scarcely any new data have been added to the recorded knowl- 

 edge of the branch. Dr. Leidy has given us, in Rhizopods of 

 North America (1879), an admirable summary and treatise of the 

 rhizopoda, which, with the available manuals and reports, give our 

 students of the rhizopoda a fair basis for work. In the field of 

 infusoria there is equal advantage afforded by the manual of Kent, 

 the magnificent treatise of Stein, the comprehensive work of Biitchli 

 (now issuing), the paper of Entz, Maupus and others, and the recent 

 summary of American species, both described and identified, by Dr. 

 Stokes. So, at last, the books necessary for progress are to be had 

 by our students; we have the microscopes surpassed by none; what, 

 then, is lacking ? Methods and determination that enters the mind 

 as an influence. Our university biological laboratories do very little 

 in this line, the ordinary schools, nothing; therefore, zoological 3ta 

 tions, summer biological schools, and scientific societies may justly 

 be called upon to foster this department of research by teaching its 

 methods. 



The discovery and description of species, although necessary 

 and naturally first in order, are not the most important or most 

 fascinating parts of the investigation. The biological history and 

 habits of species, their food and relations to other species, are not less 

 worthy of the student's attention. There are still many unanswered 

 questions as regards their anatomy and physiology. Among these 

 may be mentioned the following: the nature, behavior and signifi- 

 cance of the nucleus, the nervous system, the reticulation of the 

 protoplasm, pholophytic nutrition, the nature and action of the 

 trichocysts, the passage from host to host of parasitic species and 

 their pathological influence, the nature aad function of the con- 

 tractile vacuole, the production of shells and cysts, and many more. 



