348 The Microscope. 



gle-celled algse, from the spherical of the coramon protococcus of 

 our trees and walls, to the burr-like, spiny Polyedrium. For instance, 

 one Raphidium is crescent-shaped, another needle-shaped, another 

 unicellular algae is shaped somewhat like the letter S, another like a 

 J, another a C. The Botrydium is balloon-shaped, the Chytridium 

 often urn-shaped, others appear as little discs, others ellipses, others 

 cubical or pentagonal. When associated in masses, pressure and the 

 exigencies of growth change the shape of those naturally circular 

 into irregular polygons. Some species of Ophiocytium grow into 

 curious coils ; some Polyedriums are exact triangles, others take the 

 form of a Greek cross. Extend our view to the desmids and dia- 

 toms, which are also of the unicellular algse of fresh water, and the 

 number of cut and fantastic forms which a plant of a single cell may 

 present, becomes indefinitely increased. — E. S. Burgess in Am. 

 Naturalist. 



NEWS AND NOTES. 



Plymouth, England, has a new marine biological laboratory. 



At the recent assembly of the Agassiz Association at Ashbury 

 Park, Prof. F. C. VanDyck, of Rutger's College, held a conversa- 

 zione on how to use the microscope. 



Peof. Fairchild, of New York, has been elected to the chair 

 of natural history. University of Rochester, 



One of the most interesting features of bacterial life is found in 

 their waste products and the influence they exert on the media in 

 which they grow. It is not common to think of waste products in 

 connection with plant life, but they are no more a feature of animal 

 life than they are of plant life. — Allan. 



Mr. Edward S. Burgess recommends preserving specimens of 

 algse for microscopical examination in cement cells, using as a 

 medium King's fresh water-algae fluid. 



Prof. W. G. Thompson took as the subject of his discourse at 

 the term opening of the Loomis Laboratory, N. Y., " The Laboratory 

 as a factor in Medical Education." 



Rev. Walter Howchin, F. G. S., in a paper recently read before 

 the Royal Microscopical Society, London, adds to our knowledge four 

 new genera and thirteen new species and varieties of carboniferous 

 fossils. 



According to the Prager Rundschau, flash powder for taking 



