THE MICROSCOPE. 281 
has found useful, it may be just what some one less thoughtful 
and inventive needs to further his researches. Because an ob- 
ject or item seems small to one, is no reason that it should be 
small to another. 
With these aims and hopes’and helps, THE Microscope begins 
its new life at a distance from its birth-place and the home of its 
maturity. A “change of air” is often beneficial. May it be so 
in this case; and as says tiny Tim, “God bless us, every one!” 
ZOOLOGY . 
REPRODUCTION OF CERATIUM.— Until quite recently the mem- 
bers of the genus Cerativm have been described as Infusoria, but 
at present some investigators consider them to belong to the 
vegetable kingdom, one form, Ceratium hirundinella (Mull.) 
Bergh, being common in the water suply of San Francisco, and 
sparingly found in that of New York city. M. E. Penard has 
been studying the reproduction of some of the species. He has 
observed the formation during the summer, of internal embryos, 
elliptical in shape, and possessing chlorophyll, an eye-like pig- 
ment spot and a nucleus. They escape, become encysted and 
pass through a resting state. A second method is by the pro- 
duction of two swarm spores, whose fate was not determined ; 
and lastly, reproduction takes place by fission. 
THE CONTRACTILE VESICLE.—Until within a short time the con- 
tractile vacuole has been supposed to be confined to the lower 
animal organisms, its possession by Volvox globator being one rea- 
son for relegating the creature among the animals, whereas the 
earlier investigators decided it to be a plant. Prof. M. M. Hartog, 
however, states, in Nature, that all naked protoplasmic bodies 
living in fresh water have at least one contractile vacuole, and 
that this is entirely independent of the possessor’s systematic 
position. 
BOTANY . 
THE CYCLOSIS WITHIN THE NETTLE HAIR AND OTHER VEGETABLE 
CELLS.— You are doubtless aware that the common nettle owes its 
stinging property to the innumerable stiff and needle-like, though 
