are natives of Japan, while there are
grapes and figs in plenty, plums, strawberries in season, a few
apples, and tasteless pears. Yokohama is the principal seaport,
and has 100,000 inhabitants. It looks very much like a foreign
city except for the tile roofs. The streets of all the cities of
Japan are macadamized and beautifully clean. Yokohama contains
5000 foreigners, 200 only of which are Americans. The people of
Japan are so exceedingly polite and courteous that they rival the
French in that respect, they are very industrious, and, as the
late war has proved, are patriotic and brave. I suppose you are
all as glad as I am that Japan has been victorious, as I think
that Americans take the side of the Japanese. I have lived here
six years, but was born in San Francisco and lived there seven
years.

CHARLES H. THORN, R.T.K.
TOKYO, JAPAN.

Query for the Natural History Society.

Does any botanical member know the modern classification (whether
as animal or vegetable) of the Tremella (_Conferva gelatinosa_), a
green water-plant? It forms in stagnant pools, and consists of a
number of filaments interwoven through each other. According to
the description, if one of these is moistened and placed under a
microscope, the extremities rise and fall alternately, and move to
the right or to the left, twisting in various directions.
Sometimes it forms itself into an oval or irregular curve. If two
are placed side by side, they become twisted together by a
peculiar motion. If we are to believe the author, the plant has
the nine lives of a cat, for if a filament or mass of tremella is
dried and laid away for several months it will, on being
moistened, revive and multiply as before.

The plant was also known under the names of _Omnium tenerrima et
minima_ and _Aquarium limo innascens_. Can any member give me
further information on this subject?

VINCENT V. M. BEEDE, R.T.F.
HACKETTSTOWN, N. J.

Prizes for Entertainment Programmes.

Two prizes of $10 each will be given by HARPER'S ROUND TABLE for the
best programme for evening entertainments. Of course the programmes must
be new. The performance should consume at least one hour, and be open to
both sexes, any age, and from four to an unlimited number of people. Use
your ingenuity, and devise something funny a