172 THE AMEKICAN MONTHLY [September, 



in the Protozoa not previously suspected. I i-efer principally to the discovery 

 in 1 868 of the ' Collar ' of certain flagellate monads. This was a triumph for 

 for American objectives as w^ll as for an American naturalist. The many 

 beautiful forms discovered in the last two decades now constitute the order 

 Coano-Flagellata. He also discovered at this time that the tubular passages 

 of sponges were lined with similar collared monads ; hence he announced the 

 protozoic nature of the porifera ; a proposition with which but few naturalists 

 at present accord. This is mainly, it seems, because the supposed embry- 

 ology of the sponges allies them to the Metazoa. 



If these phenomena are finally interpreted differently the sponges may yet 

 be relegated to the Protozoa. So far as the fresh-water representatives are 

 concerned, excepting the so-called embryological characters, they appear to 

 be protozoic ; especially since the discovery of Proterospong-ia^ a genus of 

 imdoubted Coano-flagellate monads which secrete a mucilaginous matrix for 

 the shelter of the colony. Representatives of the genus are known both in 

 Europe and America. 



The Monograph of the North American Rhizopods by Dr. Leidy has been 

 mentioned. Besides this excellent work he has published many papers on 

 Rhizopoda, Gregarinee, and Infusoria. Most of the infusorian species are 

 parasitic in the intestines of insects and worms. 



The foundations of the science are well laid. There are now greatly increased 

 facilities for study, so that earnest specialists are now able to advance our 

 knowledge of these forms rapidly and with credit to our science. I will omit 

 further mention of specific work, reserving the same for an appendix to this 

 article. 



I am intensely interested in the lowly creatures to which I have asked your 

 attention, and I hope they are not wholly devoid of interest to any of you. 

 The exactions of the occupation of an American school teacher leave com- 

 paratively little time or energy for private study or investigation. The few 

 hours each week that 1 can get I devote to the refreshing pursuit of natural 

 science. It has come into my life as an influence as it has to many others. 

 It seems to me, and I am led to the conclusion b}' observation as well as ex- 

 perience, that the influence of no other specialty is so edifying and enduring. 

 The Protozoa have aftbrded me for the past few years the most available op- 

 portunities for that communion with nature that is both fascinating and satis- 

 fying. I can heartily recommend these beautiful objects, so wonderful in their 

 simplicity, to any who seek a special field of natural study. In conclusion I 

 will quote a paragraph from Dr. Leidy, expressing beautifully the experience 

 of every true fisherman : — 



' Goino- fishing? How often the question has been asked by acquaintances, 

 as they have met me with rod and basket on an excursion after materials fcj-j 

 microscopical study. Yes, has been the invariable answer, for it saved nii|.j-,g 

 detention and explanation. * * * No fish for the stomach, but, as^^i^jg 

 old French microscopist Jablot observed, " some of the most remarl 

 fishes that have ever been seen ;" and food fishes for the intellect.' 



, micro- 

 Aquarium microscope. — Mr. C. Collins reports a novel form ofj^^jg hy a 

 scope for observing the life in an aquarium. A sucker apparatus, m|-,g aqua- 

 rubber ring with a central piston, is fastened directly to the side of '^hich ap- 

 rium and the microscope is supported by a rod through the sucker, " 

 paratus is securely fastened to the body-tube. 



o ^n the study 



Quinine or chloral. — In slight doses, as used by Hertwig ^-j-^g addition 

 of Spermatozoa, it stopped their movements, which returned or 

 of water. Could this not be used for Protozoa ? 



