LIBRAkN 

 NEW 



INICaI 

 UE/V 



INTRODUCTION. 



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MONOGRAPHS, enabling the student to compass without 

 loss of time the accumulated information regarding 

 the species comprised in certain groups of organised 

 beings, are imposing themselves every day more indispensably. 



Descriptions of plants os well as of animals are at present 

 scattered through such a vast heap of miscellaneous polyglot 

 literature that no " common mortal " nor " beginner " in the 

 science of natural history can possibly find his way in the per- 

 plexing chaos. The difficulties of " erudition ; ' are so great that 

 they explain the frequent recording of old species and facts as 

 new by recent observers. It is much easier to give a new 

 denomination to an organism than to hunt it up through many 

 volumes, often difficult of access. My sole object now is to 

 help the student of the Diatomacese who may wish to study the 

 forms contained in the genus Campy lodiscus. I hope I have 

 been successful. The only use of discriminating forms or so- 

 called '-species" is to instruct the student as to the particular 

 organism he may have under consideration at the time of his 

 investigations on their biology. 



The developmental history of these microscopic organisms, 

 the Diatoms, is in a most backward state. None are more in 

 need of an observer possessing good objectives and a bountiful 



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