214 THE MICROSCOPE. 
science, together with the progress of mechanics as applied to the 
microscope. Many of the editions, in fact a majority of them, con- 
tain a high grade of illustrations, considering the date when they 
were executed, while some are embellished with fine-line copper- 
plate engraving that would do credit to our own day. The oldest 
publications, belonging to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, are 
all bound in heavy parchment, and mostly written in the scholarly 
language of the time—Latin. The printing is remarkably good 
and legible, there being no perceptible fading of ink or paper. The 
authors represented were Adams, Baker, Baster, Bonanni, Descartes, 
Ellis, Hichhorn, Gleichen, Gétze, Grew, Hill, Hooke, Joblot, Leder- 
miiller, Leenwenhoek, Martin, Needham, Power, Redi, Scaaffer, 
Glabber, Smith, Spallanzani, Schott, Swammerdam, Trembley. 
Notable among these are Descartes’ works, with numerous wood- 
cuts, small quarto, Amsterdam, 1650. This work contains an illus- 
tration of Descartes’ gigantic microscope eight feet high. 
In the collection is Powers’ “Experimental Philosophy, in 
Three Books, containing New Experiments, Microscopical, Mercurial, 
Magnetical,” London, 1664. This last work is the earliest volume 
on the microscope in the English language. 
Before adjourning a unanimous vote of thanks was tendered 
Mr. Reidy for his interesting exhibition of what is certainly the 
most unique collection of rare microscopical literature in the United 
States. 
E: Dsl TOs | Ade. 
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MICROSCOPISTS. 
S PREVIOUSLY announced in Tue Microscors, the next 
meeting of the American Society of Microscopists will be 
held in Buffalo, N. Y., commencing on Tuesday morning, August 
20, 1889, and continuing four days. No other city could offer greater 
inducements for the gathering together of a large national organiza- 
tion of scientific men. Buffalo is centrally located as regards rail- 
road facilities, possessed of active scientific and literary societies, 
well supplied with hotel accommodations and halls, and surrounded 
by beauties of nature which are of untiring interest to the zealous 
naturalist. 
The President’s circular will be issued this month, and from an 
advance copy we learn that the time set is the week preceding the 
meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of 
Science, which will be held this year in Toronto, Ontario. This 
