1884. | Sctentific News. 449 
was characterized by great originality and excellence. He was 
one of the first opticians in America to construct object-glasses 
for the microscope on Amici’s immersion system, and he suc- 
ceeded in developing several original formule by which he ex- 
tended the apertures far beyond the limit previously attained 
in either Europe or America. One of the earliest examples of 
his work seen in this country was a one-sixth water-immersion 
object-glass, now in the possession of Mr. Frank Crisp, Secre- 
tary of the Royal Microscopical Society, and which was the 
subject of much discussion. in journals devoted to microscopy. 
Mr. Tolles claimed for this object-glass an aperture which was 
generally regarded as impossibly large. After much controversy 
ehad the satisfaction of receiving the support of Professor G. 
G. Stokes, Secretary of the Royal Society, Professor S. Newcomb, 
Director of the Washington Observatory, and Professor E. Abbe, 
of Jena University, for the general accuracy of his views. He 
Was an enthusiast in his work, and was almost incessantly en- 
gaged in making experimental object-giasses both for the micros- 
cope and telescope, many of which exhibited rare qualities, and 
Were eagerly sought for by amateurs of fine work. He made 
the highest power microscope object-glass produced in America, 
à water-immersion of Lin. in focal length. One of his latest and 
Most successful telescopes was a 51%4in. portable equatorial of 
very short focus for Professor Hamilton L. Smith, of Hobart 
gen S who has published his trials of the instrument, proving 
la ave done much to place American optical workmanship 
"n apar with the best in Europe. 
Ta March number of the American NaruraLisrt, Mr. Titian 
onn S repeats the old account of the Bowditch islanders being 
i Bt of fire at the time of their discovery in 1841. While 
x a e the advantage of being an eye witness of what he 
o ii NO om Wi 
| the Le Members of the Wilkes’ expedition had misinterpreted 
T Pia, Stouns of astonishment, for Hale, the ethnologist of the 
Tune. Psdition, gives the native word for fire, while the Rev. Mr. 
a that they he visited the island a few years later, gives evidence 
, Origin of their es acquainted with fire for so long a time that the. 
add adopted un 
sas 1m Washington and vicinity, and a committee was ap- 
