SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 17 
are made into what is called ‘‘Type plates’’ where from 100 
to 150 forms are arranged in symmetrical rows in a square, 
or they are made into concentric order or fancy designs of 
vases, fountains, of bouquets of fHowers. all well within the 
scope of a one one-half inch objective. In fact, the whole 
figure is so small that, to the naked eye, it appears as a mere 
blur on the cover glass. And the deft way it is done adds 
to one’s admiration. The earth is cleaned from fragments 
and sponge specules, and the different species sorted out under 
a microscope, all requiring great care and delicacy of touch. 
Then the diatoms are picked up, one by one, and put in their 
places in Canada balsain on the slide, then covered and laid 
away to dry. The lifting and placing is done by an instru- 
ment called the mechanical finger, which is made to move 
up and down from side to side by means of screws. But the 
funny thing about it is that the tip of this finger is made 
of a cat’s whisker. Nothing has been found to be such a 
good diatom lifter as pussy’s whisker. 
When one is bitten by the diatom craze, the only hope is a 
microscope, and long delightful tramps with dip net and _ bot- 
tles, or hammer and basket for possible forms. 
Each pool and brook is a treasure land, or water, and the 
sun-baked street or railroad cuttings become wondrous 
mines; and His Majesty who dehehts in idle hands, will have 
an-uncomtortable quarter of an hour when the evening or holi- 
day brings time for a micro hunt among the treasures collected 
from the pools or the great white earth deposits. 
Celestial Measures. 
In the beginning the number of days in a year was assumed 
to be 360, and it was observed that the sun traverses one-360th 
of the celestial circle each day. The 360 divisions of the cirele 
were named steps, or degrees. As astronomical observations 
grew more exact each of these degrees was split into 60 parts, 
partes minutae, whence our minutes. These were again di- 
vided in 60 more, called partes minutae secundae, whence our 
seconds. 
