1 68 THE MICROSCOPE. 



at the various divisions of sentient life as they come under our in- 

 vestigation, we will proceed to examine the various species of what 

 we may call the genus Microscopista, the generic characteristics of 

 which are, that they examine minute objects with artificial aid more 

 or less elaborate, and that they do this with a more or less useful 

 end in view. 



"Of this great genus, whose habitat is the civilized world, the 

 first species is the M. delectata [sic), or the playing microscopist. 

 This is the lowest species in the scale of development, and some ob- 

 servers consider that the other species are all derived from this one, 

 while a few who have no love for the genus affirm that this is the 

 one and only species, the others so-called being only transient 

 varieties. But M. delectata, though often despised, is by no means 

 to be set aside. We will grant that in his hands the instrument is a 

 plaything and nothing more; that he looks at the wondrous beauties 

 revealed merely to please the eye; that he peers into quaint and 

 curious forms merely to satisfy curiosity; that the valve of a diatom 

 is interesting to him merely as it is strange; and that the organs of 

 an insect or the home of a Bryozoon only allure as they are novel. 

 In this there is nothing to be despised. The great order of the 

 Bimana must be amused, and the more rational the amusement the 

 better; and surely it is not less rational to find amusement in ex- 

 amining the wonders of nature, her paintings of marvellous beauty, 

 her sculpturing of unrivalled forms, that in turning over the prints 

 of man, or spending time examining and collecting his effigies; 

 surely as reasonable as counting the pips on a card, as cannoning 

 ivory balls, or bouncing India rubber ones over a net. We will not, 

 then, push out of existence the playing microscopist; for my own 

 part I have for him a very tender regard, being perhaps myself but 

 little removed, if at all, from this species. In your name I will wel- 

 come all such to our gatherings, assuring them that they will find 

 here much to amuse them if they do not care to learn; but we will 

 hope that in consorting with higher forms they will imperceptibly, 

 perhaps, yet surely, by the force of association, put on new features, 

 lose obsolete and useless organs, and develop into higher 

 and higher forms, and this not in descendants yet to be, but in a 

 conscious life-history. Again I say we are delighted to find, and 

 would gladly have more in our midst of M. delectata. 



"We advance next to M. evocationes (sic), or the collecting mi- 



