80 THE MICROSCOPE. [May. 



Diatoms. — I have seen your question in February number 

 (page 32) and would say : 



If your question relates to the richness of earth in diatoms, 

 the so-called fossil earth of Nice (but which we suppose to come 

 from Sicily) contains some 95 per cent, diatoms to 5 per cent, of 

 waste matter, If we speak from the point of view of the 

 diversity of forms, the deposit of the fresh-water Loch Kinnord, 

 in Scotland, is the best, as it contains 200 different species accord- 

 ing to the list published by the Rev. Geo. Davidson, while the 

 richest deposit of marine forms is that of Sendai, Japan, which 

 has furnished us more than 400 species. 



M. J. Tempere, Paris, France. 



RECENT PUBLICATIONS. 



A??ierican Monthly Microscopical Journal for March. Wash- 

 ington, D. C. 



The following is a brief synopsis of the contents : Professor 

 Osborn gives a biological description of certain common hydroid 

 animals. It is an exhaustive and valuable paper. Explicit direc- 

 tions are given for studying the Hydra. The article is accom- 

 panied by a finely-executed plate, with explanation of the figures. 



Rev. F. B. Carter gives a continuation of an exhaustive treatise 

 on the Radiolaria. Next is an examination of terrace-dust from 

 Calcutta, India, with description of some magnetic and hyaline 

 spherules found therein, with cuts and explanations of same. 



Microscopical technique applied to Histology. A continuation 

 of this valuable article, with a great many explicit directions for 

 manipulations. 



Dr. Schneider, a new contributor, writes on the Contractile 

 Vesicle of Paramecium. This is a fine article, with cut of 

 Paramecium aurelia. 



Dr. Gray writes upon the spiracles of the click-beetle (with cut). 



The editorials are upon scientific names and upon newspaper 

 trash. A note upon terrace-dust suggests a chance for amateurs 

 to do some scientific investigation. 



A wash-bottle for sections and a convenient life-slide that can 

 be made in five minutes are illustrated and described. 



Two methods are given for detecting Tubercle bacilli in milk. 

 Explicit directions are also given upon how to mount fish-scales. 

 Under Diatoms we have an account of Moller's test plates. 



Reports of Microscopical Societies always contain valuable 

 information, such as abstract of papers read, etc. 



Two new r publications upon microscopical subjects are reviewed. 

 Titles of microscopical publications are given to be used in form- 

 ing a card catalogue. This is a new feature which promises- to 

 be of much value. 



