16 THE WEST AMEEICAN SCIENTIST. 



EDITOR S NOTES. 



The printer omitted the note from the January number of the Scientist, saying 

 that no December (1885) number appeared. The January number was in type in 

 December, but the printer was delayed in printing, so that it was not issued til 

 February 22d. 



S. E. Cassino has retired from the firm of S. E. Cissiao & Co., of Boston (who 

 advertise in this paper), Bradles Whi leu continuing the business for the present 

 under the same firm name. 



California Erythraean are waited by the editor, who requires about fifty fine 

 lierbarium specimens of nearly every species. 



We would acknowledge the receipt of valuable publications from the following 

 authors : Geo. F. Kunz, Dr. C. C. Parry, Dr. Asa G-ray, Prof. C. S. Sargent, Abbott 

 Kinney and Pev. E. L. Greene, which should recaive further notice if time and 

 spac3 permitted. 



The pavement-like teeth of a sting ray, from Todos Santos bay. Lower Cali- 

 fornii, forms the material upon which Miss Posa S nith base 5 a new species, Phin- 

 optera encenadae, lately described in the proceedings of the U. S. national museum. 



Nearly one-fourth of those who had been duly elected to active membership 

 in the San Diego society of natural history, had failed to sign the constitution as 

 required to do. The affairs of the society have bsen con lucted very loosely in the 

 past and we see slight hope for an improvement in the future. It is hoped that 

 some distinguished scientist will visit San Diego soon, when we shall have the 

 pleasure of recording the 'proceadings' of another meeting. 



'We have made a mistake in encouraging alditions of persons who are not 

 interested in natural history, as ma.nbers,' writes the secretary of one of the prom- 

 inent scientific societies on the coist, very truly giving that as the cause of their 

 ^'A success in one of the most educated sections of the state. The sec etary of 

 another society writes: 'It is easy to awaken an enthusiasm, but hard to keep it 

 lip ; our society is now inactive. ' 



The secretary of the young Humboldt society of natural history has publishel 

 a Tetter giving some valuabl ; information of nterest to the members of that associ- 

 ation. The membership is la-gely composed of teachers, who should interest their 

 scholars in the personal obs rvation of the objects of Nature. We would advdse 

 them (and all other teac'iers as well) to orgmize chajiters of that grand institution 

 for young people, the Agassiz association, the surest way of enlisting and retaining 

 the attention of' their pupils, as well as of preserving their own interest in the pur- 

 suit of knowledge. 



What is an editor to do, when, after the seoon 1 proof-reading, the printer makes 

 some 'pie' and changes a 'collector' into a 'doctor'? E plurlbus unum. 



We ask correspondents to sen! in more notes and short articles, selected or 

 original, which they would like to see in print or have in a permanent form that 

 would be suitable for this paper. 



Suh^cnhe, we want your name on our books. If you can ill spare a dollar, we 

 will be glad of natural history or other specimens. 



