56 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Feb., 



glass over which the myxomycete moves, it does not 

 seem to interfere with the animal life on the glass. 

 There are a large number of the brown Hydra and 

 numerous small worms, which do not appear to be 

 affected in any way, although they are surrounded by 

 the Plasmodium of the myxomycete. 



I have not been able to definitely name the species, 

 owing to the absence of the sporngium, but from fig- 

 ures I have seen it resembles Didymium, serpvla. Of 

 course in the foregoing there is nothing very new, 

 but having been fortunate enough to get so fine an 

 example, so favorably located for examination, I thought 

 it might interest some of the members to see under 

 the microscope, an object about which so many div- 

 erse views have been held by botanists and zoologists. 

 Apparently the only reason for the botanical claim to 

 it is the fact that in its reproductive stage it forms 

 sporangia like some of the fungi, while on the other 

 hand, from its first appearance in the water or in 

 damp places it acts precisely like an animal in its 

 mode of progress and its way of taking in and digest- 

 ing solid foods. 



EDITORIAL. 



The American Society of Microscopists. — Our readers 

 will be much amused with the article in this issue written by 

 Dr. James of St. Louis, but we hope that those who are mem- 

 bers will resolve to rid the society of such incubuses as now 

 weigh it down, and decide to renovate it. That something is 

 radically wrong, no observing person can fail to see. Dr. James 

 hints that it is run by and for the glorification of one person. 

 We should be sorry to believe such to be the case and are very 

 sorry that others are forced to such a belief. But unfortunately 

 many things give color to this idea. Selfish interests often 

 dominate societies during their decline, while patriotic devotion 

 would produce opposite results. There are unselfish men like 



