THE MICROSCOPE. 61 



appreciate the present slide. You will see therein, set forth as it has 

 never been before, how the thoughtful study of a single natural 

 object opens up ever-widening views of the mystery we term "Life," 

 with all its various and complicated relations. The subject chosen 

 for the lecture is " But a Lobster " ! " The commoner the object 

 the better" is the remark of the Professor. Passing the lobster 

 briefly in review, the external tegumentary skeleton is first 

 examined — ring by ring, limb by limb. To learn how these came 

 to be as they are involves the consideration of development as 

 well as the study of surrounding conditions. Then, after 

 allusions to the modes of grouping necessary to evolve order out 

 of what would otherwise be but a chaotic assemblage of detached 

 facts, as to name, species, genera, orders, representative forms, etc., 

 come considerations of the lobster as a living creature, with the 

 adaptations found in the various parts, fitting one to the other. 

 The motor powers come next under review, as muscles, nerves, 

 and so on — the physiological lessons to be learnt — -the geological 

 cousinships to be traced out, involving considerations of all 

 bearing on the subject — until at last he feels compelled to exclaim, 

 on viewing the widely ramified bearings even of so simple a 

 subject : " Truly it has been said, that to a clear eye, the smallest 

 fact is a window through which the Infinite may be seen," and 

 concludes with the following peroration : — " There is not a frag- 

 ment of the organism of this humble animal, whose study would 

 not lead us into regions of thought as large as those which I have 

 briefly opened up ; but what I have done, I trust, has not only 

 enabled my readers to form a conception of the scope and purport 

 of Zoology, but has given an imperfect example of the manner in 

 which, in my opinion, that science, or indeed, any physical 

 science, may be studied. The great matter is to make the study 

 real and practical, by fixing the attention on particular facts ; but, 

 at the same time, it should be rendered broad and comprehensive, 

 by constant reference to the generalisations of which all particular 

 facts are illustrations. The lobster has served as a type of the 

 whole animal kingdom, and its anatomy and physiology have 

 illustrated for us some of the greatest truths of biology. The 

 student who has once seen for himself the facts which I have 

 described, has had their relations explained to him, and has 

 clearly comprehended them, has so far a knowledge of zoology, 

 which is real and genuine, however limited it may be, and which 

 is worth more than all the mere reading knowledge of the science 

 he could ever acquire. His zoological information is so far know- 

 ledge and not mere hearsay." 



In such a spirit alone can we properly attempt to read the 

 choice preparation now before us. The small spots which give a 

 name to the creature are best seen with the naked eye, as also the 



