32 THE MICROSCOPE. [February, 



"All collections should be arranged in some orderly manner, 

 and each specimen named as far as possible. The common name 

 will do at first, the proper scientific name to be attached later. 

 Science means systematized knowledge, and its first law is order : 

 so notes and specimens should be kept in some well-thought-out 

 order and improvements made as knowledge of the subject is 

 acquired." 



In replv to the same question, Dr. A. C. Stokes writes a list 

 of topics for study as follows : 



"Hairs, glands, scales of plants — a field practically unlimited. 

 Scales of insects : how many different forms, how many ways at- 

 tached, what surface markings. Internal crystals of plants, (ra- 

 phides, sphasraphides, long-crvstal prisms, etc.) : what plants con- 

 tain each kind. The wonderful variety in the cell form' in the 

 epidermis of leaves, of petals, and especially of anthers of flowers. 

 (This is good work, and easy with the method which I hit on of 

 boiling in glycerin to make the whole thing transparent.) The 

 different forms of insect antennas — practically endless. The teeth 

 of the different kind of flies — interesting and practically untouched 

 in this country. The different forms of pollen. Stomata (breath- 

 ing pores of plants) ; different forms and differing cell structure 

 (use ^-inch objective) . Teeth of land and of water snails (al- 

 most endless variety for ^- inch). Insect eggs : different forms 

 and markings ; for low powers ; opaque ; endless. The trouble 

 with the Agassiz members is that they spread themselves over 

 too much space, and so accomplish little or nothing. If each mem- 

 ber or each chapter would select some subject and investigate that 

 only, even for a limited time, the result would be better. There 

 is no end to the subjects that the beginner could investigate. All 

 he needs is to be started and to stick to some single subject till he 

 becomes an amateur expert in it." 



QUESTIONS, 



Note — 7 liese questions are addressed to all our readers, -who are invited to send anszvers 

 for publication in a subsequent number. In replying, say as much as possible in as Ji W 

 •words a r possible. 



The Lord's Prayer has been written on glass with a diamond 

 and inside i -28,000th of a square inch. What is the process? — 

 L. M. 



What known locality is richest in variety of fossil diatoms? 

 What in fresh-water diatoms? What causes determined the 

 quantity of diatoms in any given deposit? — H. 



What is the best method of collecting corpuscles from blood 

 stains and then of mounting them? — H. M. F. 



