Introduction. v 



individual or the species, and at the same time works out 

 the most majestic schemes. Microscopic researches, such 

 as are within the reach of millions, offer many of the most 

 beautiful illustrations of these truths ; and although the 

 following pages are confined to such objects as are easily 

 obtainable from ponds, and relate almost exclusively to the 

 Infusoria, the Rotifers, the Polyps, and the Polyzoa, it is 

 hoped 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 sug- 

 gested by the author's diary of operations for the year 

 1860, and although it by no means follows 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 creatures is introduced, is that in which a general 

 description of the class is given. The illustrations are 

 taken from drawings made by the wife of the author from 

 the actual objects, with the exception of a few instances, in 

 which the authority is acknowledged. The sketches were 

 made especially for beginners, and the rule followed, was 

 not to introduce any details that could not be seen at 

 one focus, and with the simplest means: more elaborate 

 representations, though of the highest value to advanced 

 students, are bewildering at the commencement. 



b 



