SEEING BY AID OF THE LENS 



253 



In the center of the plate is a circu- 

 lar space, outlined with oblong mark- 

 ings, with rounded corners. The axis 

 of these figures are meridianal ; that is 

 the length lies pointing to center and 

 circumference. In the specimen now 

 focused under my microscope, there 

 are thirty-eight of these oblong figures. 

 This is the beginning of the spider- 



web design, which works out towards 

 the margin of the disc. 



At the end of each oblong mark, and 

 at a harmonious distance from it, is a 

 dot, a little longer than it is broad, 

 and with rounded corners. In the 

 spaces between these dots, start the 

 rays which correspond to the staying 

 threads of the spider's web. These 

 rays project to near the margin of the 

 disc. It is apparent that the spaces be- 

 tween the rays where they end near the 

 margin of the disc, are much widei 

 than where they begin near the center. 

 We find this greater width subdivided 

 into halves, by rays running from near 

 the margin, to about half way to the 

 center. And these halves are in turn 

 subdivided by other rays running but 

 a short distance from margin toward 

 center. This arrangement of the rays 

 permits the filling of the spaces be- 

 tween them, with lines of dots, smaller 

 than those mentioned before, and 

 equally spaced in orderly precision, 

 ceasing in equi-distance with the rays, 

 from the margin. The effect, as these 



lines of dots break up the white rays 

 of light into prismatic hues, is like the 

 mist strung spider's web, when the 

 morning sun lights the tiny globules of 

 water. The margin of the disc, is 

 fretted similar to the edge of a milled 

 coin. 



I chose this one of the many beauti- 

 ful forms of microscopic life of the 

 Pacific Northwest, because it is the 

 most easily described. There are many 

 others, equally charming in detail, of 

 which I should not know where or how 

 to begin a description, so complicated 

 is the form and ornamentation. 



There are no diatoms that are not 

 beautiful, in all the three thousand 

 different forms. The higher the mag- 

 nification, the greater the detail. It 

 can scarcely be imagined what would 

 astonish our vision, were a still higher 

 magnification possible, for each suc- 

 ceeding increase of magnifying power 

 brings to view some new and wonder- 

 ful detail. 



Katydid. 



BY ADDISON ELLSWORTH, BINGHAMTON, 



NEW YORK. 

 Bidding farewell to the waning day, 



The twinkling stars shone out, one by one, 

 Casting weird shadows across my pathway, 



As alone I strolled at setting sun, 

 Through meadow lanes, past a wimpling 

 brook, 

 Beside gloomy woods where wild birds 

 hid, 

 When suddenly from some quiet, wayside 

 nook, 

 Arose the cry: "Katydid, Katydid!" 



All else was still, no ether sounds were 

 heard 



Save the brook's murmuring, mirthfully, 

 And rustling grass, by gentle zephyrs 

 stirred, 



While the only sign of life I could see 

 Were the tiny lamps of the fireflies, 



Darting here and there, as by fancy bid, 

 When from the unseen pixies again did rise 



The plaintive cry: "Katydid, she did!" 



Ah, charming Katy! She could do no 

 wrong, 



You must have made some mistake about 

 It, 

 Her heart is always so full of song, 



We cannot for a moment doubt it: 

 So pray tell me what it was that Katy did, 



Shy little elf, and why did she do it. 

 The answer came back: "Katydid, she did!" 



And I guess that's all there is to it. 



