1892.] THE MICROSCOPE. 1S9 



Another object, this time of the ' popular ' sort and of quite 

 secondary value to anybody, instigates the following compliment 

 and the succeeding very sensible review of the principle involved : 



" An instructive slide and much better for Club circulation than 

 many of those of histology which are not fulh' understood by the 

 general run of microscope users." * * * 



" The above growl demonstrates the difficulty of pleasing every- 

 body ; also how easy it is for somebody to be very selfish and nar- 

 row-minded. I am a student of histology, but I delight in the 

 variety of the objects circulated through our Club. I examine 

 everv one. My microscopical horizon is thereby broadened. I 

 become better educated, and in all manner of wavs a better student 

 of histology. I can examine with pleasure and profit a well- 

 prepared object of any class, and feel it to be a pleasurable duty to 

 add my mite to the notes whenever possible. I notice our friend 

 does not give one word of information on the ' instructive' fiy's 

 leg, which might help a member more ignorant, if possible, than 

 himself. Friend, come up higher, study every mount with atten- 

 tion, try to see what others can see in it, and you will soon notice 

 ' something' interesting even in a histological mount; and then, 

 and not until then, will vou be able to appreciate a ' fly's leg,' 

 and see in it what you have never yet seen. ' Fireflies' are not 

 truly flies, but beetles ; and the portion of the insect shown in the 

 mount is the tarsus, answering very nearly to the ankle." * * * 



Note-Books. — While it seems still difficult for members to 

 realize the importance of giving an adequate dissertation upon 

 their slides when contributed to the Club boxes, some improve- 

 ment has been made in that direction. The want of fuller descrip- 

 tions is thus expressed: ''This is a very interesting botanical 

 specimen, and certainly deserves a better description than the 

 owner has seen fit to give, probably from lack of appreciation of 

 the subject. If each contributor would study his own contribution 

 and write a short, concise description of the same, it would do 

 more to enlighten the members and maintain the interest in the 

 Club than anything else. How^ever well the contributors under- 

 stand the subject, it is not to be supposed all members are as fa- 

 miliar with it. To me the contributions from members are much 

 more interestinsf than manv that come from abroad." 



Much has been done by those expert in various departments, 

 in the way of adding illustrative photographs and helpful notes to 

 the various slides that pass. This work is fully appreciated : 

 " Some of these notes are very benficial." "-All honor to * * * 

 who so kindly gives his time and knowledge to help those of us 

 who are not versed in the histological points of these slides." 

 While it would be impossible to specify all these generous contribu- 

 tors, and equally difficult to draw a line of excellence anywhere 

 between them, there is one, Dr. S. G. Shanks, of Albany, who 



