45 



through the long- line of vertebrates to the sea squirts ; or, we begin 

 with the sea squirts, and climb painfully up to man again, expect- 

 ing the boy to be profoundly impressed. But he is not. He is 

 sure to disappoint us. Some day, bald-headed and with spectacles 

 on, he may argue with other spectacled bald-heads, and maintain 

 his ground, that, because a cross-vein in the wing of some insect 

 arises from the principal at an angle of thirty degrees, instead of 

 thirty-five, an entire group should be rearranged; but for the 

 present, being a boy, he hates the thought of any kind of chain 

 2nd the merest suggestion of order. 



Puff-Balls Wanted. — The editor recently had the 

 pleasure of meeting Mr. C. G. Lloyd, who is making a special 

 study of our puff-balls. He is especially anxious to obtain col- 

 lections of any species of these, except the very large ones, and 

 will gladly pay the transportation charges on specimens sent 

 him. The specimens do not need any special preparation — just 

 carry them home without crushing, lay them aside to dry and 

 then send them, packed so they will not be injured, to Air. Lloyd, 

 at Court and Plum Streets, Cincinnati. It is suggested that 

 when specimens are plenty a pint of each kind be sent, especially 

 if the species is a small one. While not pursuing this study for 

 the number of new species to be got out of it, Mr. Lloyd is in- 

 clined to believe that there are several species in the Lnited 

 States still unknown, and every person who knows a puff-ball 

 when he sees it can assist in settling the question. The best time 

 to collect the specimens is just before they are ripe, but do not 

 discard them even if fully ripe. 



