54 HOtTRS WI-fH NATtfRE. 



about two inches in diameter, is tied on to the neck of 

 an ordinary four ounce round phial. Look, wherever 

 there is a gleam of sunshine upon the surface of the 

 water, he is plunging his tiny net every now and thenj 

 and raising it when withdrawn slightly above the sur- 

 face so as to allow the waste water to flow through the 

 net. Having got a haul, he transfers the contents of 

 the phial into a larger vessel. 



" I wonder why he chooses sunny spots." 



"Because he knows that the water animalcules are 

 sure to come to the surface there." 



"What are you doing, Mr. W. ?" 



" O, is it you, Vidyabhushan ? I am pond-hunting 

 for to-morrow's lessons." 



HALF AN HOUR WITH A MICROSCOPE- 



(Second day in the Museum.) 



Arranged on a long and narrow table in the spa- 

 cious verandah of the Invertebrate Gallery are two or 

 three microscopes, a glass containing some dirty water, 

 a few glass tubes with tapering ends, and one or two 

 glass rods. Mr. W. takes hold of one of the glass 

 tubes between the thumb and the third and fourth rin- 

 gers of his right hand ; the index finger is pressed 

 firmly on the top. The tube is dipped into the water 

 of the jar, and its open end placed over the sediments 

 which have collected at its bottom : the index finger is 

 now slightly lifted, causing a gentle rush of water into 

 the tube carrying some sediments ; the finger is imme- 



