1028 General Notes. [ December, 
England is through Hudson’s Bay. Even the city of Winnipeg, 
near the southeastern extremity, is at least 800 miles nearer to 
Liverpool by the Hudson’s Bay route than by the St. Lawrence. 
- As regards the difficulties caused by ice, Dr. Bell believes that 
the strait and bay may be navigated and the land approached by 
steamer dung an average of four and a-half months each year, 
or from the middle of June to the end of October. The bay itself 
and probably the straits are open all the year round—it is only 
the harbors that are closed. 
MICROSCOPY .' 
AMERICAN Society oF MIcRroscopists.—The executive com- 
mittee of this society has decided to accept the invitation of the 
Elmira Microscopical Society, and to convene the next annual 
meeting of the society at that city, Elmira, N. Y., on Tuesday, 
Aug. 17, 1882, at 10 A. M. It is expected that the meetings will 
occupy four days, the final adjournment occurring Friday evening — 
or Saturday morning, leaving ample time for those who wish to 
attend the Montreal meeting of the A. A. A. S.to reach Montreal 
by Tuesday, Aug. 24th. Many important papers have already 
been promised, and there is every reason to believe that the 
attendance will be large and the proceedings important. The 
local society at Elmira has taken up the work of preparing for 
the reception and entertainment of the society, with great enthu- 
siasm, and will doubtless carry it out with marked success. 
The committee appointed to consider and report upon the 
possibility of securing greater uniformity in the sizes of oculars 
produced by different makers, and some definite and uniform , 
nomenclature in regard to their amplifying powers, has issued a 
circular to all manufacturers in this country asking info 4 
and co-operation. In the interest of the future convemience er 
satisfaction of all parties concerned, it is hoped that makers ae | 
dealers will cordially unite with the society in attempting by 
reasonable means to secure so desirable an object. Those makers 
who may have failed to receive the circular can obtain copies fri see 
any member of the committee which consists of the inl 
Ex-Presidents and present President of the Society: R. H. Wa : 
Troy, N. Y., H. L. Smith, Geneva, N. Y., J. D. Hyatt, Morrisan® 
N. Y., Ge i 
This degartment is edited by Dr. R. H. Warp, Troy, N. Y- 
