diff --git a/metrics/README.md b/metrics/README.md
index 2907cc7..9aa64aa 100644
--- a/metrics/README.md
+++ b/metrics/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@
 
 ## Rationale
 
-TODO
+Code instrumentation is absolutely essential to achieve [observability][] into a distributed system.
+Metrics and instrumentation tools have coalesced around a few well-defined idioms.
+`package metrics` provides a common, minimal interface those idioms for service authors. 
+
+[observability]: https://speakerdeck.com/mattheath/observability-in-micro-service-architectures
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -53,6 +57,7 @@
 ```
 
 A gauge for the number of goroutines currently running, exported via statsd.
+
 ```go
 import (
 	"net"
@@ -66,14 +71,13 @@
 func main() {
 	statsdWriter, err := net.Dial("udp", "127.0.0.1:8126")
 	if err != nil {
-		os.Exit(1)
+		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	reportingDuration := 5 * time.Second
-	goroutines := statsd.NewGauge(statsdWriter, "total_goroutines", reportingDuration)
-	for range time.Tick(reportingDuration) {
+	reportInterval := 5 * time.Second
+	goroutines := statsd.NewGauge(statsdWriter, "total_goroutines", reportInterval)
+	for range time.Tick(reportInterval) {
 		goroutines.Set(float64(runtime.NumGoroutine()))
 	}
 }
-
 ```
diff --git a/metrics/expvar/expvar.go b/metrics/expvar/expvar.go
index b8245e2..5ff6c13 100644
--- a/metrics/expvar/expvar.go
+++ b/metrics/expvar/expvar.go
@@ -29,34 +29,42 @@
 )
 
 type counter struct {
-	v *expvar.Int
+	name string
+	v    *expvar.Int
 }
 
 // NewCounter returns a new Counter backed by an expvar with the given name.
 // Fields are ignored.
 func NewCounter(name string) metrics.Counter {
-	return &counter{expvar.NewInt(name)}
+	return &counter{
+		name: name,
+		v:    expvar.NewInt(name),
+	}
 }
 
+func (c *counter) Name() string                       { return c.name }
 func (c *counter) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Counter { return c }
 func (c *counter) Add(delta uint64)                   { c.v.Add(int64(delta)) }
 
 type gauge struct {
-	v *expvar.Float
+	name string
+	v    *expvar.Float
 }
 
 // NewGauge returns a new Gauge backed by an expvar with the given name. It
 // should be updated manually; for a callback-based approach, see
 // PublishCallbackGauge. Fields are ignored.
 func NewGauge(name string) metrics.Gauge {
-	return &gauge{expvar.NewFloat(name)}
+	return &gauge{
+		name: name,
+		v:    expvar.NewFloat(name),
+	}
 }
 
+func (g *gauge) Name() string                     { return g.name }
 func (g *gauge) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Gauge { return g }
-
-func (g *gauge) Add(delta float64) { g.v.Add(delta) }
-
-func (g *gauge) Set(value float64) { g.v.Set(value) }
+func (g *gauge) Add(delta float64)                { g.v.Add(delta) }
+func (g *gauge) Set(value float64)                { g.v.Set(value) }
 
 // PublishCallbackGauge publishes a Gauge as an expvar with the given name,
 // whose value is determined at collect time by the passed callback function.
@@ -101,6 +109,7 @@
 	return h
 }
 
+func (h *histogram) Name() string                         { return h.name }
 func (h *histogram) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Histogram { return h }
 
 func (h *histogram) Observe(value int64) {
@@ -117,6 +126,19 @@
 	}
 }
 
+func (h *histogram) Distribution() []metrics.Bucket {
+	bars := h.hist.Current.Distribution()
+	buckets := make([]metrics.Bucket, len(bars))
+	for i, bar := range bars {
+		buckets[i] = metrics.Bucket{
+			From:  bar.From,
+			To:    bar.To,
+			Count: bar.Count,
+		}
+	}
+	return buckets
+}
+
 func (h *histogram) rotateLoop(d time.Duration) {
 	for range time.Tick(d) {
 		h.mu.Lock()
diff --git a/metrics/expvar/expvar_test.go b/metrics/expvar/expvar_test.go
index 636f70e..644bb40 100644
--- a/metrics/expvar/expvar_test.go
+++ b/metrics/expvar/expvar_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 func TestHistogramQuantiles(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
-		name      = "test_histogram"
+		name      = "test_histogram_quantiles"
 		quantiles = []int{50, 90, 95, 99}
 		h         = expvar.NewHistogram(name, 0, 100, 3, quantiles...).With(metrics.Field{Key: "ignored", Value: "field"})
 	)
diff --git a/metrics/metrics.go b/metrics/metrics.go
index 49e93d3..f126925 100644
--- a/metrics/metrics.go
+++ b/metrics/metrics.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 // between measurements of a counter over intervals of time, an aggregation
 // layer can derive rates, acceleration, etc.
 type Counter interface {
+	Name() string
 	With(Field) Counter
 	Add(delta uint64)
 }
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
 // Gauge captures instantaneous measurements of something using signed, 64-bit
 // floats. The value does not need to be monotonic.
 type Gauge interface {
+	Name() string
 	With(Field) Gauge
 	Set(value float64)
 	Add(delta float64)
@@ -25,8 +27,10 @@
 // milliseconds it takes to handle requests). Implementations may choose to
 // add gauges for values at meaningful quantiles.
 type Histogram interface {
+	Name() string
 	With(Field) Histogram
 	Observe(value int64)
+	Distribution() []Bucket
 }
 
 // Field is a key/value pair associated with an observation for a specific
@@ -35,3 +39,10 @@
 	Key   string
 	Value string
 }
+
+// Bucket is a range in a histogram which aggregates observations.
+type Bucket struct {
+	From  int64
+	To    int64
+	Count int64
+}
diff --git a/metrics/multi.go b/metrics/multi.go
index 1981637..42938ac 100644
--- a/metrics/multi.go
+++ b/metrics/multi.go
@@ -1,73 +1,107 @@
 package metrics
 
-type multiCounter []Counter
+type multiCounter struct {
+	name string
+	a    []Counter
+}
 
 // NewMultiCounter returns a wrapper around multiple Counters.
-func NewMultiCounter(counters ...Counter) Counter {
-	c := make(multiCounter, 0, len(counters))
-	return append(c, counters...)
+func NewMultiCounter(name string, counters ...Counter) Counter {
+	return &multiCounter{
+		name: name,
+		a:    counters,
+	}
 }
 
+func (c multiCounter) Name() string { return c.name }
+
 func (c multiCounter) With(f Field) Counter {
-	next := make(multiCounter, len(c))
-	for i, counter := range c {
-		next[i] = counter.With(f)
+	next := &multiCounter{
+		name: c.name,
+		a:    make([]Counter, len(c.a)),
+	}
+	for i, counter := range c.a {
+		next.a[i] = counter.With(f)
 	}
 	return next
 }
 
 func (c multiCounter) Add(delta uint64) {
-	for _, counter := range c {
+	for _, counter := range c.a {
 		counter.Add(delta)
 	}
 }
 
-type multiGauge []Gauge
+type multiGauge struct {
+	name string
+	a    []Gauge
+}
+
+func (g multiGauge) Name() string { return g.name }
 
 // NewMultiGauge returns a wrapper around multiple Gauges.
-func NewMultiGauge(gauges ...Gauge) Gauge {
-	g := make(multiGauge, 0, len(gauges))
-	return append(g, gauges...)
+func NewMultiGauge(name string, gauges ...Gauge) Gauge {
+	return &multiGauge{
+		name: name,
+		a:    gauges,
+	}
 }
 
 func (g multiGauge) With(f Field) Gauge {
-	next := make(multiGauge, len(g))
-	for i, gauge := range g {
-		next[i] = gauge.With(f)
+	next := &multiGauge{
+		name: g.name,
+		a:    make([]Gauge, len(g.a)),
+	}
+	for i, gauge := range g.a {
+		next.a[i] = gauge.With(f)
 	}
 	return next
 }
 
 func (g multiGauge) Set(value float64) {
-	for _, gauge := range g {
+	for _, gauge := range g.a {
 		gauge.Set(value)
 	}
 }
 
 func (g multiGauge) Add(delta float64) {
-	for _, gauge := range g {
+	for _, gauge := range g.a {
 		gauge.Add(delta)
 	}
 }
 
-type multiHistogram []Histogram
+type multiHistogram struct {
+	name string
+	a    []Histogram
+}
 
 // NewMultiHistogram returns a wrapper around multiple Histograms.
-func NewMultiHistogram(histograms ...Histogram) Histogram {
-	h := make(multiHistogram, 0, len(histograms))
-	return append(h, histograms...)
+func NewMultiHistogram(name string, histograms ...Histogram) Histogram {
+	return &multiHistogram{
+		name: name,
+		a:    histograms,
+	}
 }
 
+func (h multiHistogram) Name() string { return h.name }
+
 func (h multiHistogram) With(f Field) Histogram {
-	next := make(multiHistogram, len(h))
-	for i, histogram := range h {
-		next[i] = histogram.With(f)
+	next := &multiHistogram{
+		name: h.name,
+		a:    make([]Histogram, len(h.a)),
+	}
+	for i, histogram := range h.a {
+		next.a[i] = histogram.With(f)
 	}
 	return next
 }
 
 func (h multiHistogram) Observe(value int64) {
-	for _, histogram := range h {
+	for _, histogram := range h.a {
 		histogram.Observe(value)
 	}
 }
+
+func (h multiHistogram) Distribution() []Bucket {
+	return []Bucket{} // TODO(pb): can this be statistically valid?
+}
diff --git a/metrics/multi_test.go b/metrics/multi_test.go
index 29cdcf2..ffb7cb3 100644
--- a/metrics/multi_test.go
+++ b/metrics/multi_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 func TestMultiWith(t *testing.T) {
 	c := metrics.NewMultiCounter(
+		"multifoo",
 		expvar.NewCounter("foo"),
 		prometheus.NewCounter(stdprometheus.CounterOpts{
 			Namespace: "test",
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@
 
 func TestMultiCounter(t *testing.T) {
 	metrics.NewMultiCounter(
+		"multialpha",
 		expvar.NewCounter("alpha"),
 		prometheus.NewCounter(stdprometheus.CounterOpts{
 			Namespace: "test",
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@
 
 func TestMultiGauge(t *testing.T) {
 	g := metrics.NewMultiGauge(
+		"multidelta",
 		expvar.NewGauge("delta"),
 		prometheus.NewGauge(stdprometheus.GaugeOpts{
 			Namespace: "test",
@@ -111,6 +114,7 @@
 func TestMultiHistogram(t *testing.T) {
 	quantiles := []int{50, 90, 99}
 	h := metrics.NewMultiHistogram(
+		"multiomicron",
 		expvar.NewHistogram("omicron", 0, 100, 3, quantiles...),
 		prometheus.NewSummary(stdprometheus.SummaryOpts{
 			Namespace: "test",
diff --git a/metrics/print.go b/metrics/print.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd8f22a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metrics/print.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package metrics
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"text/tabwriter"
+)
+
+const (
+	bs  = "####################################################################################################"
+	bsz = float64(len(bs))
+)
+
+// PrintDistribution writes a human-readable graph of the distribution to the
+// passed writer.
+func PrintDistribution(w io.Writer, name string, buckets []Bucket) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "name: %v\n", name)
+
+	var total float64
+	for _, bucket := range buckets {
+		total += float64(bucket.Count)
+	}
+
+	tw := tabwriter.NewWriter(w, 0, 2, 2, ' ', 0)
+	fmt.Fprintf(tw, "From\tTo\tCount\tProb\tBar\n")
+
+	axis := "|"
+	for _, bucket := range buckets {
+		if bucket.Count > 0 {
+			p := float64(bucket.Count) / total
+			fmt.Fprintf(tw, "%d\t%d\t%d\t%.4f\t%s%s\n", bucket.From, bucket.To, bucket.Count, p, axis, bs[:int(p*bsz)])
+			axis = "|"
+		} else {
+			axis = ":" // show that some bars were skipped
+		}
+	}
+
+	tw.Flush() // to buf
+}
diff --git a/metrics/print_test.go b/metrics/print_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9e52ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metrics/print_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package metrics_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/go-kit/kit/metrics"
+	"github.com/go-kit/kit/metrics/expvar"
+	"github.com/go-kit/kit/metrics/teststat"
+)
+
+func TestPrintDistribution(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		name      = "foobar"
+		quantiles = []int{50, 90, 95, 99}
+		h         = expvar.NewHistogram("test_print_distribution", 1, 10, 3, quantiles...)
+		seed      = int64(555)
+		mean      = int64(5)
+		stdev     = int64(1)
+	)
+	teststat.PopulateNormalHistogram(t, h, seed, mean, stdev)
+	metrics.PrintDistribution(os.Stdout, name, h.Distribution())
+}
diff --git a/metrics/prometheus/prometheus.go b/metrics/prometheus/prometheus.go
index 3c913e4..29968c4 100644
--- a/metrics/prometheus/prometheus.go
+++ b/metrics/prometheus/prometheus.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 type prometheusCounter struct {
 	*prometheus.CounterVec
+	name  string
 	Pairs map[string]string
 }
 
@@ -30,13 +31,17 @@
 	}
 	return prometheusCounter{
 		CounterVec: m,
+		name:       opts.Name,
 		Pairs:      p,
 	}
 }
 
+func (c prometheusCounter) Name() string { return c.name }
+
 func (c prometheusCounter) With(f metrics.Field) metrics.Counter {
 	return prometheusCounter{
 		CounterVec: c.CounterVec,
+		name:       c.name,
 		Pairs:      merge(c.Pairs, f),
 	}
 }
@@ -47,6 +52,7 @@
 
 type prometheusGauge struct {
 	*prometheus.GaugeVec
+	name  string
 	Pairs map[string]string
 }
 
@@ -57,13 +63,17 @@
 	prometheus.MustRegister(m)
 	return prometheusGauge{
 		GaugeVec: m,
+		name:     opts.Name,
 		Pairs:    pairsFrom(fieldKeys),
 	}
 }
 
+func (g prometheusGauge) Name() string { return g.name }
+
 func (g prometheusGauge) With(f metrics.Field) metrics.Gauge {
 	return prometheusGauge{
 		GaugeVec: g.GaugeVec,
+		name:     g.name,
 		Pairs:    merge(g.Pairs, f),
 	}
 }
@@ -86,6 +96,7 @@
 
 type prometheusSummary struct {
 	*prometheus.SummaryVec
+	name  string
 	Pairs map[string]string
 }
 
@@ -99,13 +110,17 @@
 	prometheus.MustRegister(m)
 	return prometheusSummary{
 		SummaryVec: m,
+		name:       opts.Name,
 		Pairs:      pairsFrom(fieldKeys),
 	}
 }
 
+func (s prometheusSummary) Name() string { return s.name }
+
 func (s prometheusSummary) With(f metrics.Field) metrics.Histogram {
 	return prometheusSummary{
 		SummaryVec: s.SummaryVec,
+		name:       s.name,
 		Pairs:      merge(s.Pairs, f),
 	}
 }
@@ -114,8 +129,14 @@
 	s.SummaryVec.With(prometheus.Labels(s.Pairs)).Observe(float64(value))
 }
 
+func (s prometheusSummary) Distribution() []metrics.Bucket {
+	// TODO(pb): see https://github.com/prometheus/client_golang/issues/58
+	return []metrics.Bucket{}
+}
+
 type prometheusHistogram struct {
 	*prometheus.HistogramVec
+	name  string
 	Pairs map[string]string
 }
 
@@ -129,19 +150,28 @@
 	prometheus.MustRegister(m)
 	return prometheusHistogram{
 		HistogramVec: m,
+		name:         opts.Name,
 		Pairs:        pairsFrom(fieldKeys),
 	}
 }
 
+func (h prometheusHistogram) Name() string { return h.name }
+
 func (h prometheusHistogram) With(f metrics.Field) metrics.Histogram {
 	return prometheusHistogram{
 		HistogramVec: h.HistogramVec,
+		name:         h.name,
 		Pairs:        merge(h.Pairs, f),
 	}
 }
 
 func (h prometheusHistogram) Observe(value int64) {
 	h.HistogramVec.With(prometheus.Labels(h.Pairs)).Observe(float64(value))
+}
+
+func (h prometheusHistogram) Distribution() []metrics.Bucket {
+	// TODO(pb): see https://github.com/prometheus/client_golang/issues/58
+	return []metrics.Bucket{}
 }
 
 func pairsFrom(fieldKeys []string) map[string]string {
diff --git a/metrics/statsd/statsd.go b/metrics/statsd/statsd.go
index 2876bf5..7a02ded 100644
--- a/metrics/statsd/statsd.go
+++ b/metrics/statsd/statsd.go
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@
 
 const maxBufferSize = 1400 // bytes
 
-type statsdCounter chan string
+type statsdCounter struct {
+	key string
+	c   chan string
+}
 
 // NewCounter returns a Counter that emits observations in the statsd protocol
 // to the passed writer. Observations are buffered for the report interval or
@@ -36,16 +39,24 @@
 //
 // TODO: support for sampling.
 func NewCounter(w io.Writer, key string, reportInterval time.Duration) metrics.Counter {
-	c := make(chan string)
-	go fwd(w, key, reportInterval, c)
-	return statsdCounter(c)
+	c := &statsdCounter{
+		key: key,
+		c:   make(chan string),
+	}
+	go fwd(w, key, reportInterval, c.c)
+	return c
 }
 
-func (c statsdCounter) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Counter { return c }
+func (c *statsdCounter) Name() string { return c.key }
 
-func (c statsdCounter) Add(delta uint64) { c <- fmt.Sprintf("%d|c", delta) }
+func (c *statsdCounter) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Counter { return c }
 
-type statsdGauge chan string
+func (c *statsdCounter) Add(delta uint64) { c.c <- fmt.Sprintf("%d|c", delta) }
+
+type statsdGauge struct {
+	key string
+	g   chan string
+}
 
 // NewGauge returns a Gauge that emits values in the statsd protocol to the
 // passed writer. Values are buffered for the report interval or until the
@@ -54,24 +65,29 @@
 //
 // TODO: support for sampling.
 func NewGauge(w io.Writer, key string, reportInterval time.Duration) metrics.Gauge {
-	g := make(chan string)
-	go fwd(w, key, reportInterval, g)
-	return statsdGauge(g)
+	g := &statsdGauge{
+		key: key,
+		g:   make(chan string),
+	}
+	go fwd(w, key, reportInterval, g.g)
+	return g
 }
 
-func (g statsdGauge) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Gauge { return g }
+func (g *statsdGauge) Name() string { return g.key }
 
-func (g statsdGauge) Add(delta float64) {
+func (g *statsdGauge) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Gauge { return g }
+
+func (g *statsdGauge) Add(delta float64) {
 	// https://github.com/etsy/statsd/blob/master/docs/metric_types.md#gauges
 	sign := "+"
 	if delta < 0 {
 		sign, delta = "-", -delta
 	}
-	g <- fmt.Sprintf("%s%f|g", sign, delta)
+	g.g <- fmt.Sprintf("%s%f|g", sign, delta)
 }
 
-func (g statsdGauge) Set(value float64) {
-	g <- fmt.Sprintf("%f|g", value)
+func (g *statsdGauge) Set(value float64) {
+	g.g <- fmt.Sprintf("%f|g", value)
 }
 
 // NewCallbackGauge emits values in the statsd protocol to the passed writer.
@@ -94,7 +110,10 @@
 	return c
 }
 
-type statsdHistogram chan string
+type statsdHistogram struct {
+	key string
+	h   chan string
+}
 
 // NewHistogram returns a Histogram that emits observations in the statsd
 // protocol to the passed writer. Observations are buffered for the reporting
@@ -114,15 +133,25 @@
 //
 // TODO: support for sampling.
 func NewHistogram(w io.Writer, key string, reportInterval time.Duration) metrics.Histogram {
-	h := make(chan string)
-	go fwd(w, key, reportInterval, h)
-	return statsdHistogram(h)
+	h := &statsdHistogram{
+		key: key,
+		h:   make(chan string),
+	}
+	go fwd(w, key, reportInterval, h.h)
+	return h
 }
 
-func (h statsdHistogram) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Histogram { return h }
+func (h *statsdHistogram) Name() string { return h.key }
 
-func (h statsdHistogram) Observe(value int64) {
-	h <- fmt.Sprintf("%d|ms", value)
+func (h *statsdHistogram) With(metrics.Field) metrics.Histogram { return h }
+
+func (h *statsdHistogram) Observe(value int64) {
+	h.h <- fmt.Sprintf("%d|ms", value)
+}
+
+func (h *statsdHistogram) Distribution() []metrics.Bucket {
+	// TODO(pb): no way to do this without introducing e.g. codahale/hdrhistogram
+	return []metrics.Bucket{}
 }
 
 var tick = time.Tick