viil 1>'TK0DUCTT0X. 



the Polyps, and the Polyzoa, it is liopecl that 

 they will assist in associating a few of the highly 

 suggestive reasonings of science, with one of the 

 most pleasurable recreations that human ingenuity 

 has devised. 



After a preliminary chapter, which is intended 

 to assist the young microscopist in some technical 

 matters, that could not be conveniently introduced 

 into the text, the observations are distributed in 

 chapters, corresponding with the twelve calendar 

 months. This arrangement was suggested by the 

 author's diary of operations for the year 1860, 

 and although it by no means folloAvs that the 

 months in which particular creatures were then 

 discovered, will be those in which they will be 

 most readily found in other years, it was thought 

 advantageous to give a real account of an actual 

 period of microscopic work, and also that the plan 

 would facilitate a departure from the dry manner 

 of a technical treatise. The index will enable any 

 one to use the book for the purpose of reference, 

 and it will be observed that the first chapter in 

 which any member of a group of creatui'es is in- 

 troduced, is that in which a general description 

 of the class is given. The illustrations are taken 

 from drawings mside by the wife of the author 

 from the actual objects, with the exception of a 

 few instances, in which the authority is acknowledged. 



