﻿FIELD AND FOREST. 49 



instruments, most of them first-class, were provided, with far more ob- 

 jects than time permitted the large assembly to examine. Several of 

 the instruments were new forms, of stands recently brought out to com- 

 pete with the more popular stands of European make. Among the 

 slides of special interest on exhibition, were portions of the shower of 

 flesh which recently fell in Kentucky, that appears to have been 

 ejected from buzzards. Gold crystalized in beautiful fern like tiny 

 plates, and several remarkable fragments of coal, prepared by members 

 of the Buffalo club, which seemed to show pieces of bone and teeth, 

 and insect injuries, as worm holes, are still plainly perceivable in the 

 structure of the coal itself. These thin slices were prepared by simply 

 rubbing on hones without the aid of wheels or any machinery what- 

 ever. Prof. H. L. Smith of Geneva exhibited specimens of diatoms 

 prepared for study, and we were much gratified at meeting Mr. 

 C. Spencer, formerly of Canastota, N, Y., well known as the father of 

 American microscopy. In addition to his successful labors in the 

 construction of object glasses and the investigation of optical glass, 

 Mr. Spencer has found by trial that some of the American double re- 

 fracting spar is superior to that brought from Iceland, being harder 

 and therefore taking a better polish. 



Besides several invitations for excursions and parties, which interes- 

 ted only portions of the Association, two of a general character were 

 given and carried through with great success. The first on Saturday 

 to Niagara Falls, included beside the railroad ride admission to most 

 of the places of interest, by the courtesy of their owners, and a sump- 

 tuous entertainment at the residence of J. L. Bush, proprietor of the 

 Clifton House. It was mentioned as a happy incident that at the 

 meeting of the Association ten years ago at Buffalo, a similar excur- 

 sion and entertainment took place. 



The second party was of a still more formidable character, in num- 

 bers and distance, being composed of over 300 members and their 

 friends who went to Chatauqua Lake 70 miles distant, steaming all 

 around the lake giving an opportunity of seeing the Sunday School 

 grounds and of enjoying a capital lunch at the Lake View Hotel. 

 During this trip a prolonged session of Section Q was held on the boat, 

 presided over by Dr. Morris of Baltimore, at which several papers were 

 read that will probably not appear in the proceedings. 



Finally on the closing day of the convention the city fathers provi- 



