Stodder.] 422 [February 10, 



Section of Microscopy. February 10, 1875. 



Mr. R. C. Greenleaf in the chair. Six members present. 



Mr. Charles Stodder read a letter from Mr. J. Sullivant to 

 Prof. Christopher Johnston respecting the discovery of the 

 Bermuda Tripoli in Maryland. The letter, dated June 18, 

 1874, is as follows : — 



After so many years, and not having preserved any of my corre- 

 spondence on the subject, I cannot be positive as to the dates, but my 

 recollections are as follows: — 



Sometime about 1859, having procured a good microscope, I be- 

 came interested in the study of Diatoms and infusorial earths, and 

 for specimens of the latter my brother William and myself were 

 indebted to Prof. Bailey, of West Point. Among the specimens 

 received was a small quantity labelled, "Bermuda Tripoli." I 

 received also, about this time, from a friend, a quantity of what he 

 termed " Richmond marl," from the vicinity of Richmond, Va., but 

 which I found on examination to be infusorial earth. From a study 

 of these specimens, I was struck with their similarity in several par- 

 ticulars and so wrote you after we entered into correspondence. 

 Soon afterward you wrote me a friend had informed you that in the 

 vicinity of Bermuda Hundreds there was a fine white earth used for 

 scouring tin and silver vessels, and believing it was infusorial earth, 

 you proposed visiting the locality, for it suggested the possibility of 

 this being the true locality of the famous Bermuda Tripoli. I urged 

 the visit. Very soon afterward you informed me you had made the 

 visit, but without success; but gave me an account of your discovery 

 of the Nottingham earth, and forwarded specimens, together with 

 others from Marlborough and Piscataway, etc. 



From the facts communicated in your letters, I expressed sev- 

 eral times to my brother the belief that Bermuda Hundreds, and 

 not the island of Bermuda, would be found to be the locality of 

 the Bermuda Tripoli, and had strong hopes that the locality of Bai- 

 ley's specimen would still be found there. I divided the Nottingham 

 earth and |he other specimens with my brother, and after an exami- 

 nation of the contained organisms we had no doubt that the Notting- 

 ham earth, if not the true original of the famous Tripoli of Bailey, 



