^0 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Oct. 



appear in the most outre of fantastic, and even monstrous de- 

 partures from their respective types. 



I will state briefly some features of my work alluded to. On 

 the 17th of December, 1886, I read to the New York Microscop- 

 ical Society, a paper on " Raising Diatoms in the Laboratory," 

 which contained in substance the work of two years. The ex- 

 periments were conducted at my residence, Freehold, N. J., and 

 'in sea- water, although 20 miles from the ocean. Eirly in the 

 Spring of 1870, with the intention of instituting a marine aqua- 

 rium at my inland home, I procured from the sea a supply of 

 water in a large wicker-covered vessel. Tlie water wa^ obtained 

 at high-tide, and was so turbid that it had the color of we^.kc )f- 

 fee ; but reliance was placed on its clearing by ssdimsntation. 

 The vessel was put in a dark cellar, where it was undisturbed, 

 and in truth became almost forgotten, as I was not able to carry 

 out my intention. After fourteen years of darkness, and undis- 

 turbed quietude, a little incident brought to mind the sea-water 

 in the cellar. A tuft of the pretty Hydroid, Sertidaria argentea , 

 having been sent me by a fisherman, into a small glass jar was 

 carefully poured about a half litre of my sea-water. Into this 

 the Sertularia was placed, and the whole was set in an eastern 

 window. 



I had before supposed the Hydroid was fresh from the sea 

 but badly dried during the transit. There wis a faint hope that 

 some of the zooids might be living. All this was in happy igno- 

 rance of the fact, learned afterw irds, that the specimen had 

 hung for months as a curio in the fisherman's home. 



However, vitality was evinced where it was not expected. In 

 about six weeks a discoloration was noticed of the bottom of 

 the jar which was irregularly covered with light brown patches. 

 My surprise was great, when, having put some of this brow i 

 matter under the microscope it proved to be composed entirely 

 of diatoms. 



I then took from my sea- water in the cellar the same quantity 

 in a similar jar, making sure to avoid every cause of error. 

 This jar containing nothing but the sea-water was set beside the 

 first one. In six weeks similar light brown patches appeared on 

 the floor of the jar. This matter examined with the microscope 

 proved also to consist entirely of diatoms. Some of thisgrowth 

 was collected in a small phial, and sent to Prof. H. L. Smith, 



