86 TllK AMKKICAN MONTHLY [March, 



to the stnhilitv (W" noMRMiclaturc arc alike in the two cases. If 

 names are ni>t to stand, wliether apt «)r inapt, according to strict 

 priority, changes will he perpetual." 



So. no matter wliat changes aiivancing knowledge or changed 

 conditions ma\ suggest, the only thing that these people can ad- 

 vise is to observe strictlv prioritv. It science has told a lie. stick 

 to it. We heg to sav that such scientists put themselves exactly 

 on the par w itli the colored gamin whom we, saw selling dough- 

 nuts on Pennsylvania avenue Inauguration day. Ik- kept 

 crving. " Hot doughnuts, vear's vour *ot doughnuts." A cus- 

 tt)mer. having nearly broken a tooth in biting the frozen pastry, 

 called out : "Here, boy, these doughnuts are not hot." "I 

 knt)ws it, boss," replied the inchin ; " that's just the name of 

 *em." So, like this ragged negro bo_> , the professors say that the 

 Mouse-tail is mittitnus, and when a student remarks that the one 

 in hand is not the smallest, the professor can oidy respond, '• I 

 knows it. boss ; that's just the name of 'em." Then the professor 

 looks over his spectacles, utters some trash about the sacredness 

 of prioritv. anil wants the student to respect him more than we 

 respect the King street peddler. 



Titles of Microscopical Publications. — A good many 

 favorable responses have been received to our (piestion in the 

 Feliruarv number as to the desirability of such a list, and some 

 verv valuable suggestions have been made. To satisfy those who 

 think that they wtnild prefer a larger type, we now repiint the list 

 of February with a diHerent type and with spaces between the 

 items. If the latter proves preferable to our readers in general, 

 we will continue in this style. The '' Letters to the Editor" on 

 this sul)ject have been crowded over from the March to the April 

 number. 



LKTTKHS TO THK KDITOK. 



Note. — 'J /lis cotumti is open to all corrcspoudi'iiff ivho write upon the 

 topics CHumcraled under " Prolilcms" or -who giz'e other injonnation of 

 interest. The fact that a problem has been answered once need not deter our 

 friends from making additional comtnrnts. To facilitate rejcrcnce, corre- 

 spondents should cite the number as well as the page on which have ap- 

 peared letters and queries to which reference is made. The editor is not 

 responsible for the Z'iews of others published in this periodical. 



(7) Terrace Dust. — Referring to the article on hyaline bodies 

 found in terrace tlust (published in this number), some further 

 investigation is desirable. If any of the microscopists in the 

 United States would "magnetically sift" some dust from house- 

 tops and then brushing ofl the few particles which adhere to the 

 magnet poles (using preferably a horseshoe magnet), would 

 mount them in balsam and examine them with the microscope, 

 it could bf determined whether or not the same bodies occur in 

 that part of the world. W. J. Simmons. 



Calcuita, ^<j»r, /i, /(S9J. 



