1892.] MICKOSCOPICAL JOUKNAL. 145 



until after thev have been exhibited in some of the principal cities 

 of Europe and of this country. If some of our diatom experts 

 would only put up such slides of some of the most beautiful forms 

 of the polvcystina, I am sure they would find a ready sale. I 

 have a slide with just one specimen oi astromma on it, put up by 

 Mr. Geo. B. Scott, and it is " a thing of beauty and a joy for- 

 ever." never failing to call forth admiration. It happens to be 

 quite a large form, and here let me say that the Radiolaria vary 

 considerably in size. I have just measured a dozen or so of them 

 and find that the round forms, spheres, or disks, range from 

 i-S5th to i-300th-inch. This, of course, is without taking into 

 account the spines, some of which are as long as the diameter of 

 the main skeleton and even longer. In the conical forms, the 

 long diameter, exclusive of appendages, horns, or feet, ranges 

 from I -90th to i-400th-inch, while the double forms have a 

 length of from i-400th to i-7ooth-inch. Histiastrum^ including 

 the arms, measures i-45th inch. 



( To be continued. ) 



EDITORIAL. 



Proceedings of the American Society of Microsco- 

 pists. — The meeting of this society for 1S91 was held in Wash- 

 ington ten months ago, and at this writing the volume of proceed- 

 ings is not yet out. The rules require that every paper shall be 

 in the hands of the secretary at the close of the meeting in order 

 to facilitate prompt publication. 



Those members who do not know what an immense number 

 of details are involved in the publication will be inclined to con- 

 sider such delay as unnecessary. They are mistaken, excepting 

 on the supposition that a secretary is going to drop all his other 

 occupations and do nothing but hurry through such a volume. 

 Even then, half the time is required and much experience. 



A publishing house, with many facilities not enjoyed by indi- 

 viduals, and devoting itself energetically to the task, would re- 

 quire several months in which to get out a volume like the pro- 

 ceedings. 



The extent to which a secretarv must trench upon his personal 

 interests and private enjoyments in order to put through such a 

 volume is far greater than the members realize. It is worth $500 

 in hard cash to do it, and the secretary ought to be credited by 

 the treasurer with a donation of that sum to its exchequer. Of • 

 course he would also enter payment of $500 for the services in 

 order to balance his accounts. But the members should feel that 

 even with the delay they are deeply indebted to the secretary. 

 The present is the second or third volume which Professor Sea- 

 man has Edited. We beg to submit that at the coming meeting 



