ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
651 
Many of the larger species are also protected against being swallowed 
by the frustules being connected together into a pseudo-thallus, or by a 
large number being invested in a common gelatinous envelope. Since 
these characters are not constant in nearly allied species, it would appear 
as if they had been acquired at a comparatively late period for the 
purpose of protection. 
Diatoms from New Zealand.* * * § — Count Abbe F. Castracane describes 
a diatomaceous deposit from “ Jackson’s Paddock,” Oamaru, New 
Zealand, in which he finds further evidence of the fact which he has 
already published — the formation of internal sporules. He also records 
the observation that in one of the species in this deposit the punctation 
of one of the frustules, in other words, the number of the granules, is 
determined from the first moment of existence of the diatom. 
Diatoms in abnndance.f — “ The Golden Star Cleaning Powder,” 
prepared at Keene, New Hampshire, and peddled about for the 
polishing of silver and plated ware, tin, glass, and other articles, is 
composed entirely of diatomaceous earth. The deposit is an exceed- 
ingly rich one, and the material seems to have been put through some 
process by which it has been partly cleaned, so that the diatoms are 
ready to be picked out, soaked in chloroform, and mounted. Many 
valves are broken, but there is abundance in a perfect state, some of 
them being well worth examining and preserving. Electro-silicon, a 
similar powder, sold for the same purpose, is also a diatomaceous earth, 
but of an entirely different character. The frustules included are 
usually small, disciform, and apparently all of one genus and species. 
Any one in need of diatoms is recommended to purchase a box of the 
“ Golden Star Powder,” when he will have more than he could look at 
if he should live to the age of Methuselah, and devote his whole time to 
their examination. The following recommendation from the N.H. State 
Assayer is worth noting ; “ The article you send is absolutely pure silica, 
of the kind known as polishing powder, formed by the decomposition of 
minute organisms supposed to be plants. Its great use is for polishing, 
but it is used for many other purposes.” 
‘Le Diatomiste.’J — We have received the first number of a new 
quarterly journal devoted to the interests of Diatomology, edited by 
M. J. Tempere, with the assistance of MM. Brun, Bergon, Cleve, 
Dutertre, Grove, and Peragallo. The present number contains descrip- 
tions of a number of new species with illustrative figures, an abstract of 
Mr. Battray’s synopsis of Aulacodiscus and Auliscus, published in this 
Journal, an index to the recently published numbers of Schmidt’s 
‘Atlas de Diatomees,’ together with a Bibliography and Correspondence. 
Gelatinous sheath of the 0scillariace8e.§ — Under the name Lyngbya 
Borziana Prof. L. Macchiati describes a new species of this genus of 
Oscillariaceas, distinguished by the fact that the hormogones sometimes 
consist of a single cell only. He takes the opportunity of expressing 
* Atti Accad. Pontif. Nuov. Lincei, xliii. (1890) 12 pp. 
f The Microscope, x. (1890) pp. 151-2. 
X No. 1, June 1890, 4to, Paris (12 pp. and 2 pis ). 
§ Nuov. Giorn. Bot. Ital., xxii. (1890) pp. 40-6. Cf. this Journal, 1888, p. 1012. 
