MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 209 



when high up in the heavens to a similar state, by means 

 of a prism, and certainly the yellow light thus obtained 

 is as rich as that of the setting luminary ; but there is a 

 harshness in it — a want of mellowTiess, ow^ng to its not 

 ha\'ing passed through a long dense stratum of air, 

 which cannot be got rid of ; the same may be said of that 

 afforded by passing the solar light through coloured 

 glasses. We may, however, I suppose, indulge ourselves 

 by using all the different prismatic colours, and those of 

 coloured glasses also, if we like, for pleasure's sake, as 

 the Megaloscope can never be considered as an instru- 

 ment of discovery, but one for amusement only. 



If I rightly recollect, Mr. Jim Crow thought he had 

 given a very sufficient reason for using oyster-sauce to 

 his beef- steak, instead of eating it plain, (in which way 

 it would have been quite as nourishing, and many think 

 more wholesome,) by sapng, with a grin from ear to ear, 

 " Cos um so deliful." Upon no better principle can we 

 be justified in saucing our objects with these rich lights, 

 instead of using plain and simple ones. 



There is another way of using the Megaloscope — which 

 is in a horizontal position. In this case the stilt, fig. 7 

 (p. 203), is inserted between the pillar h of fig. 4 (p. 204), 

 and the table c of the same figm^e. The latter being made 

 horizontal, the body can be presented to the front of the 

 stage at/, or the stage may be turned round on its pin, 

 and a taper placed behind it. There is an inconvenience 

 in this mode of mounting (and also in fig. 4) ; which is, 

 that when you move the jframe about to go over your 



