212 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST, 

green or brown fence, without any detail, and such is the differ- 
ence when two objectives of half-inch power, one of 35° and the 
other of 66° are worked over a shell of Pleurosigma formosum. 

HOW TO FOUND A LOCAL MICROSCOPICAL 
SOCIETY. 
I‘ the fall of last year, and also at the commencement of the 
present, we received several enquiries upon the above subject 
from correspondents wishful to start microscopical work in their 
respective towns. They wished to be informed of the modus 
operand? to be gone through in order to successfully launch a 
Society and give it a permanent existence. We wrote advising 
that the subject should be postponed until a convenient season in 
this year: that period has now arrived, and a few words upon the 
subject may lighten the labours of those who wish to devote their 
energies to the foundation of a local Microscopical Society. 
In the first place, an energetic Secretary must be found, and this 
selection requires very delicate management. A Secretary should 
be fairly well known in his district, a good microscopist, and his 
occupation should be approximately regular in order that “ pressing 
engagements” do not interfere with his attendance at meetings. 
The President (and we perhaps should have mentioned him first) 
should be chosen, as much for his social position as for his scien- 
tific worth. If both qualifications can be secured, so much the 
better, otherwise it will often be found that the former possesses 
more attraction, and a good, genial President, a good business 
man, will be more likely to lay a good foundation for the Society 
than a crotchety scientist, whose sole aim is to air his views and to 
Impress upon the members that there is nothing new under the 
sun, at least to himself, 
If the President be wise he will leave most of the general work 
to the Secretary, reserving to himself the task of giving aid on 
momentous occasions, and friendly advice at all times. In many 
Societies it is too much to expect the President to attend every 
meeting, and therefore provision must be made in the shape of 
Vice-Presidents, for a chairman on every occasion when the Pre- 
sident is absent. 
Four Vice-Presidents are sufficient,—neither more nor less 
should be chosen,—and they should be as carefully selected as 
the President. Let it not be forgotten that although it may be an 
honour to the individual to be selected, yet the welfare of the 
Society is the object of primary importance, and men should be 
