290 THE AMERICAN" MONTHLY [Aug. 



tained, owing- to the considerate and often g-enerous ex- 

 ertions of members, and to the efficient supervision and 

 assistance of the secretary, Dr. Shanks, at least an aver- 

 ag-e success. After the boxes have completed their pres- 

 ent circuits, there will be the usual rest until fall. 



Owing- to the amount of time demanded by other and 

 more urg-ent details of club administration, the publica- 

 tion of the report has been necessarily deferred until 

 after vacation. 



San Diego Microscopical Society, 



At one of the last meeting's of that society, held at 

 the residence of Dr. B. F. Gamber, a permanent organ- 

 ization was effected, and the following- officers elected 

 to serve for the ensuing- year ; President, Dr. B. F. 

 Gamber; vice-president, D. Cleveland; recording- sec- 

 retary. Will H. Holcomb ; corresponding- secretary. Dr. 

 Joseph Rodes; treasurer, Philip Morse. 



A specimen of a beautiful species of alg'a, found in the 

 fresh waters of the San Dieg-o Flume was made the sub- 

 ject of investigati*>n and study by the society. A finely 

 prepared and mounted specimen of cyclpps, a minute fresh 

 water copepod of the g-enus cyclopidae, taken from the 

 Flume water, was exhibited by Dr. Gamber. This cu- 

 rious form of life, as observed through the splendid instru- 

 ment at the rooms of the society, does not fail to command 

 the attention of all present at the meeting-s of the society. 

 Its kite-shaped body and tail, cumbersome antennae, and 

 one eye, makes it as formidable an object in micros- 

 copical life as were the one-eyed giants to the races of 

 men described in the Homeric leg-end. A cyclops is said 

 to produce four and one half billion offspring- annually. 



Micrometallography, as its name implies, deals with the 

 microscopic examination of sections of metals. It prom- 

 ises to be of great practical use to the metal worker, for by 

 its means those mysterious fractures in steel, with which 

 every eng-ineer is familiar, are explained. Under the mic- 

 roscope the steel used by engineers can be thoroug-hly and 

 carefully examined, and the steel "cells" tested. Flaws 

 in the interior of metals can be detected by the micro- 

 scope, and thus many accidents can be prevented. 



