232 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [ December, 
the study of minute crustaceans, a special line of investigation which he has pursued for 
some time, and upon which he has made valuable reports to the Liverpool Microscopi- 
cal Society. His letter gave suggestions as to the use of the tow-net in obtaining the 
gatherings, and prescribed the following as a solution best fitted to preserve specimens 
of marine life :—Water, one part; proof spirits, two parts; glycerin, one part, with I per 
cent. of carbolic acid added. By securing gatherings from the Pacific Mr. Thompson 
hopes to add to his previous finds of new copepoda, which constitute the chief part of 
pelagic life. In an expedition to the Canary Islands Mr. Thompson captured from 
forty to fifty new species. The San Francisco Society will endeavor to obtain the ma- 
terial which is necessary for the study proposed by Mr. Thompson. 
An interesting letter was read from W. F. Barraud, of Wellington, New Zealand. 
The Wellington Microscopical Society meets fortnightly, and its members are now 
making special effort to investigate and catalogue the fresh-water infusoria found in 
the district. Several interesting diatomaceous deposits occur in New Zealand, one at 
Oomaru being celebrated for its richness. Specimens of this earth have been quite 
widely distributed, and mounted slides of it have been shown in the San Francisco 
Society meetings. Mr. Barraud sent a sample of the earth, which will be worked up 
by Mr. Riedy, and a sample of the Nevada salmon-colored diatomaceous earth found 
some time ago by Professor Hanks will be sent to Mr. Barraud in exchange. 
The chief part of the evening was given to an exhibition of high-power objectives 
recently received. Dr. Ferrer gave an outline first of the claims made for the apo- 
chromatic objectives and eye-pieces made with special kinds of glass by Zeiss, of Jena. 
After a conversational discussion of the points advanced, the Zeiss glasses, one-twelfth, 
were shown by Drs. Ferrer and Mouser, and Dr. LeConte used Spencer’s one-tenth and 
one-eighteenth. Various objects were examined, including test diatoms and bacteria, 
and the work of the glasses very favorably commented upon. It was not intended to 
attempt to arrive at any definite and formal work of the glasses, but rather to give all 
members an opportunity to examine for their own satisfaction. Dr. Mouser worked 
his Zeiss one-twelfth up to 2,250 diameters with most admirable effects. The per- 
formance of the Spencer glasses was also very satisfactory. 
As there was a vacancy in the vice-presidency, because of the elevation of Dr. 
Ferrer to the presidency, an election was held, and William Payzant, of Berkeley, 
was chosen vice-president. At the next meeting there will be a further exhibition of 
microscopic appliances and a report by Professor Hanks upon ‘ Coals,’ a subject which 
he has been specially examining in the field during the last few months. After these 
announcements the society adjourned. 
Oo 
The meeting of the San Francisco Microscopical Society, held on the evening of 
October 26, 87, was well attended and interesting. President Ferrer presided. H.H. 
Carlton, of San Francisco, was present as a visitor. 
Dr. Julius Rosenthirn, of San Francisco, was elected a regular member. Dr. Doug- 
lass Montgomery and Dr. Kahn were proposed for membership—election, under the 
rules, being postponed until next meeting. 
A letter was read from A. H. Breckenfeld, of Los Angeles, expressing continued 
interest in the work of the society, and sending a specimen of marine diatoms on sea- 
weed from Professor Romyn Hitchcock. The material was collected at Osaka, Japan. 
Professor Hitchcock is one of the Smithsonian Institution staff who is now in Japan 
pursuing special investigations. 
Dr. Ferrer continued his demonstrations of new accessories, of which a part was 
given at the last meeting of the society. He had just received from Zeiss, of Jena, a 
number of low-power objectives and oculars. These are apochromatic and are made 
of the new glass, the invention of which excited so much interest a year or so ago. 
Beside the lenses for ordinary use to the microscope Dr. Ferrer exhibited projecting 
eye-pieces which are inserted in place of the ordinary eye-pieces when the instrument 
is used in connection with a micro-camera for photographing. Dr. Ferrer said he had 
but just received the glasses and not fully tried them, but in his preliminary tests of 
‘their powers he’was convinced of their wonderful definition. Comparative examina- 
tions were made of the Zeiss ordinary eye-piece and the ‘ compensating eye-piece ’ 
which occupied the members for a long time and afforded much material for discussion. 
The society received several donations of material intrinsically valuable and still 
more to be prized because of its associations. ‘ Mdller’s typen platte’ and ‘ probe 
platte,’ a number of valuable micro-photographs, and a large collection of slides were 
