1880.] 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



115 



Many new names are given in 

 consequence of the ideas of the 

 authors as to what constitutes speci- 

 fic or generic characters. This 

 is well illustrated by the names 

 given to what Prof. H. L. Smith, 

 Rev. Mr. Dallinger and the 

 writer consider N. rhomboides^ 

 viz. : Frustulia Saxonica^ F. 

 torfacea, N. crassinerois, N. Amzci, 

 all of which were grouped togeth- 

 er by De Brebisson in genus 

 Van JTuerkia — simply because the 

 transverse strige are parallel. Wm. 

 Smith makes genera of those forms 

 that grow in gelatinous tubes. 

 Prof. H. L. Smith rejects that 

 even as a specific character ; Wm. 

 Smith insists on the closeness of 

 striae as a specific distinction — one 

 generally rejected, and with it 

 many specific names. He also con- 

 siders the position of certain oily 

 globules in the frustule a specific 

 character (Vol. II, p. 25), but 

 curiously enough, never men- 

 tions that in any specific descrip- 

 tion. 



Now, your correspondent need 

 not " forswear diatoms forever," if 

 he is an enthusiastic microscopist, 

 for they are interesting as exhibi- 

 tion objects, even if he knows no 

 more of them than can be learned 

 from the dealer's label on the slide. 

 But if he is a true naturalist wish- 

 ing to know all about these " gems 

 of the Ocean," as the late Prof. 

 Bailey called them, he must be pre- 

 pared for long study and large 

 expenditure for books and instru- 



ments, with indomitable patience 

 and perseverance. And without 

 these, no branch of microscopy can 

 be successfully pursued. If he 

 " sticks " to blood, he will find it 

 is not " all plain sailing." Who is 

 right in the intei"pretation of blood 

 and its contents ? Salisbury, Cutter, 

 Richardson, Woodward, Schmidt, 

 of New Orleans, or Tread well ? He 

 must test the theories and measure- 

 ments of all. If he only proposes 

 to use his microscope where it is 

 plan sailing, I recommend the point 

 and eye of a needle and similar ob- 

 jects, such are plain enough, and 

 afford " no chance for doubt or mis- 

 takes." 



It is to be hoped that there will 

 be sufficient encouragement to in- 

 sure the publication of the new 

 editions of Habirsliaw's Catalogue 

 and Smith's Synopsis of the Dia- 

 toms. Also, of Prof. Smith's great 

 work, yet in manuscript, on the 

 Diatoms, with his beautiful draw- 

 ings of the living plants. If ever 

 published by the Smithsonian Ins- 

 titution, it will be an honor to the 

 nation. 



I may be allowed to add, that 

 one of the best means of identify- 

 ing species of diatoms by the best 

 authority now accessible, is Prof. 

 Smith's series of named slides, 

 beautifully mounted and at a low 

 price. There will be about seven 

 hundred slides when the series is 



complete. r^ o 



^ Charles Stodder. 



Boston, May 20, 1880. 



The Simplest Forms of Life. 



BY E. EYFERTH. 



II. Family Astasi^a, 



Body contractile, metabolic, smooth or striped, usually colored green or red, with 

 numerous granules within. A contractile spot is visible in most of them, in many 

 there is a red pigment-spot (stigma) near the anterior end. 



