3 o RAMBLES AND REVERIES, 



" Nature hath tones of magic deep, and colours iris bright, 

 And murmurs full of earnest truth, and visions of delight ; 

 'Tis said, ' The heart that trusts in her was never yet 



beguiled,' 



But meek and lowly thou must be, and docile as a child. 

 Then study her with reverence high, and she will give the 



key, 

 So ahalt thou learn to comprehend the secrets of the sea." 



There are many marine algse besides these larger 

 ones, which never fail to give delight to those who 

 will take the trouble to look for them, minute and 

 indeed invisible, and requiring the microscope for 



FlG. l.Navicvla didyma. 



their detection. They are common enough, but 

 they are passed over unconsciously by all but the 

 thorough student of the wonders of the shore. 

 These are the Diatoms, whose glassy coverings or 

 valves are familiar to every one who possesses a 

 microscope (Figs. 7, 8). It is scarcely possible to avoid 

 collecting diatoms if anything at all wet is gathered. 

 Weeds, muddy or sandy sediment from tidal pools, 

 damp caves, stones, in fact everywhere, these 

 interesting organisms are met with. If obtained 

 in a living state, their curious locomotion, which 

 led the older naturalists to class them amongst 

 animalculsB, may be studied ; and if dead, their 



