•THEAlOmCOpE- 



:ArED 



Vol. XI. 



TRENTON, N. J., APRIL, 1891. 



No. 4. 



ORIGIMAL 

 C°AnVMICAT|OnS 



THE MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF CERTAIN 

 FEATHERS. 



DR P. L. HATCH, 

 PRESIDENT MINNESOTA ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 



COMPARATIVEIjY few objects with which we are surrounded 

 come distinctly within the range of vision because of their 

 size being too great, or too small, and of those that are visible 

 only a small portion arrest attention sufficiently to secure care- 

 ful consideration although some striking feature of outline, pro- 

 portion, or color, or some remarkably evident adaptation to a 

 given purpose may do so occasionally, Avhen we are at once im- 

 pressed with the perfection of detail in the structure. Some 

 persons are thus led to habitual observation of every perceptible 

 characteristic in the constitution and relations of parts of special 

 objects, unconsciously initiating themselves into a world of 

 infinitudes in either direction, and especially so when beguiled 

 into the employment of modern optical facilities. 



Gross objects come into conscious perception without sensible 

 efforts, or demanding trained habits of vision, commanding 

 attention by their size ; imposing themselves upon us nolven^ 

 volens by their magnitudes ; filling us with the profoundest inter- 



