382 The Microscope. 



Editor The Microscope : — 



In view of the fact that you have shown so much interest in 

 the subject as to print on pages 24-26 of the current volume of 

 The Microscope a somewliat extended account, with figures, of 

 the new parasite of Pinniilaria, described by Zopf as Septocarpus 

 corynophorus, and hitherto known to occur onl}'^ in Europe and 

 at considerable altitudes, it may interest you and some of your 

 readers to know that I have found this parasite on a Pinnu- 

 laria (apparently P. viridis) ampng the grass of an overflowed 

 meadow in Belchertown, Mass., at an altitude of between 300 

 and 400 feet above the sea. It is, therefore, to be expected 

 that it may be found quite widely distributed, and, perhaps, 

 common. These aquatic parasites of the family chytridiaceae 

 have received almost no attention in America, and I shall be 

 very glad if your readers would send me specimens, living if 

 possible, of an}^ parasites of algae or aquatic fungi with which 

 they ma}'^ meet. Any assistance in my study of the American 

 forms of this group will be much appreciated, and will be 

 suitabl}^ acknowledged in connection with the publication of 

 results. Very sincerely, 



Amherst, Mass. Jas. Ellis Humphrey. 



Editor The Microscope : — 



A short time ago I had the privilege of spending an after- 

 noon with Messrs. Spencer & Smith in their workshop, at 250 

 Allen street, Buffalo, N. Y.,and watching the process of making 

 objectives for the microscope. 



I was well acquainted with the elder Spencer, the famous 

 Charles A., who many years ago turned out the wonderful 

 objectives from his little shop in, at that time, the backwoods 

 village of Canastota, N. Y., with which Prof. Bailey, of West 

 Point, aroused the wonder and incredulity of his European cor- 

 respondents. But it was many years since I had met the son, 

 Herbert R., who is proving a worthy successor to his renowned 

 father, and I, therefoi'e, eagerly accepted an invitation to spend 

 an afternoon with him in his den. 



The first thing that struck me, after the cordiality of my wel- 

 come, was the modesty of the men and the simplicity of the 

 apparatus with which they have achieved their wonderful results. 



