The Microscope. 189 



frank and manly recommendations. Dr Love has little respect for 

 the ancient treatment and opinions still used and believed in by 

 the routinists, and expresses his mind in an emphatic and char- 

 acteristic way that makes the reading of his book very agreeable. 

 His own methods commend themselves to one's reason, and 

 carry weight as the experience of a specialist. It is to be re- 

 gretted that he occasionally condescends to the use of slang; 

 there are but two instances of this, however, yet these are two 

 too many. Otherwise the book merits a cordial welcome. 



Editor The Microscope : — 



As a matter of scientific interest to your readers I would like- 

 to make known the discovery of a deposit of infusorial earth,, 

 made near Montgomery, while strolling along the river bluffs 

 observing the character of the various exposed strata. I noticed 

 an outcrop of argillaceous earth, which upon examination with a 

 small lens, suggested the possibility of its being a fossil earth • 

 on giving it the requisite treatment, I was surprised to find it a 

 pure diatomaceous earth, and as it happens, the first of its kind 

 and character recorded as occuring in the Southern States. Its 

 occurrence adds another component rock to the geological strata of 

 Alabama, hitherto not noticed nor mentioned in any work treat- 

 ing of the geology of the State. I have barely examined the 

 extent of the thickness of the strata, but it may be greater than 

 four feet, and may likewise underlie a very wide area in the 

 vicinity of the hill where its outcrop occurs. The numerous 

 included species are similiar to forms already named from locally 

 ties in the New England States, but as an entirely new source 

 of the material it must in the future make Montgomery widely 

 known, as diatomists in all parts of the world will want samples 

 of it for their collections when its fame is spread abroad. 



302 State St., Mobile, Ala. K. M. Cunningham. 



