CORRESPONDENCE. 
319 
mitting as genuine wool such a percentage of straight hairs as is 
found to be present in a specified quality of the sheep's coat. Third, 
doubtful hairs. Among the imbricated hairs of the wool of the 
sheep some are occasionally found which so closely resemble the 
softer hairs of the cow or calf that the investigators confess them- 
selves unable to discriminate between them in all instances. Hairs 
of this description are therefore more properly classed as doubtful, 
than included in either of the other groups. 
Microscopy at the American Association. — The ' American 
Naturalist ' (October) says that the subsection of microscopy of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science, which has 
hitherto been a transient organization, temporarily formed whenever 
necessary, was established as a permanent body at the Buffalo meeting 
in August last. In addition to business connected with the details of 
organization, nine papers were read, and many interesting discussions 
were held. Two evenings were occupied, one by an informal soiree 
at the rooms of the subsection, and the other by a very successful 
reception tendered by the Buffalo Microscopical Club. The members 
present were cordially and unanimously in favour of the permanent 
organization. Dr. E. H, Ward, of Troy, was elected chairman for 
the first year, ending with the Nashville meeting next August. 
An Objection to the term Microscopy, which had been raised 
some time since in a paper published in ' Science Gossip,' by 
Mr. F. Kitton, has called out the criticism of an American writer, 
who says that " Mr. Kitton objects strenuously to the terms micro- 
scopy and microscopist. He argues that there is no such science as 
microscopy, because its objects of study belong to zoology, botany, &c. 
Precisely the same statement might be made in regard to anatomy, 
physiology, and to histology, which he mentions in the same sentence 
without protest. All of these terms are too convenient to die, and 
the ' microscopy ' of ' Science Gossip ' itself is too good to be sup- 
pressed or dispersed by suicidal theories in regard to its name. Even 
as a word, microscopist is no worse than pianist or organist, and 
microscopy is as good as thermometry." 
COKEESPONDENCE. 
Dr. Abbe's Letter on Dr. Pigott's Paper. 
To the Editor of the '■Monthly Microscopical Journal.'' 
Petersfield House, Cambridge, November 4, 1876. 
Sir, — If, according to Dr. Abbe's letter in your last number, I 
have inadvertently failed to note priority, and to give sufficient pro- 
minence, honour, and credit to that gentleman's result, no one more 
regrets it than myself. Writing from memory, and not having read 
Dr. Abbe's paper except in extracts without the formula, my opinion 
was formed from Professor Helmholtz's own statement as translated 
by Dr. Fripp. 
