1893.] MTCROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 85 



fish-bones are plainly visible. This at once opens a very inter- 

 esting field tor investigation ; and it vs'ill be for future microsco- 

 pists to determine the various species of fish shed under varying 

 circumstances — whether they be trout, rock bass, or embryonic 

 sturgeon, although the probability is that tear-fish are in most 

 instances allied closely to the family of bluefish. However that 

 may be, a tear is composed, as science tells, of water, minute 

 proportions of salt, soda, phosphate of lime, jihosphate of soda 

 and mucus, and when seen under the microscope after evapora- 

 tion a deposit of minute fish-bones are formed by the salines, 

 these arranging themselves in lengthened cross-lines, as shown in 

 the picture of the human tear under a powerful glass." 



The cut is reproduced exactly on page 84. We have shown this 

 article and cut to several intelligent people, who supposed the 

 statements might be true. It is fair to assume that of the average 

 newspaper readers, one-half are too ignorant of the subject to suc- 

 cessfully question the statements. 



What pleasure an editor can take in thus deceiving the ignorant 

 classes we are at a loss to know. It is not possible for us to cor- 

 rect the evil he has accomplished, but we can and do denounce 

 such journalism as utterly and inexcusably bad. 



Scientific Names. — Soon after writing the February editorial 

 a good illustration of what was there said about the absurd prac- 

 tices came to our notice in Erythea^ the new botanical maga- 

 zine. 



It seems that Linnaeus gave the name ]\Iyos7irus i7iinimus to a 

 little annual commonly called Mouse-tail. That is, he called it 

 " the smallest" mouse-tail — minimus. But, as a matter of fact, 

 it is the /ar_^£'5/ of seven species belonging to this genus. The 

 Nabalus altissimus grows from 3 to 6 feet in height. Its name 

 says it is " the tallest " but Nabalus crepidineus grows to eight 

 feet in height. The specific names alba and nigra., as well as 

 others denoting color, are sometimes misapplied. A prominent 

 naturalist recently said to us that he can recommend absolutely 

 no reliance being placed upon such words — they may or may not 

 correspond with some important character of the object. Science 

 is said to be exact knowledge, and yet every beginner must learn 

 not to be misled by such names or he will get into serious con- 

 fusion. And yet what is being done to remedy such unscientific 

 science.'^ Can we be permitted to correct such blundering.'' Let 

 the leading botanist of the Pacific coast answer: 



'• In dealing with the second species of j\fyos7t}-7ts that was 

 made known, our monographer uses a kind of freedom which is not 

 in our day commonly allowed. Between two names, M. apetalus., 

 which has priority, and A/. aristat?is., which is more appropriate, 

 he chooses the latter. * * * It is perhaps true that there 

 is less injustice in rejecting a prior name that is bad than one that 

 is good ; because, it may be said with reason, that no man has a 

 right to impose on a species an unfit name. But the consequences 



