The Mighty Deep 



Widely distinct are the Animal Kingdom and 

 the Vegetable Kingdom ; yet on the border- 

 land between the two is found a hazy belt of 

 uncertainty. 



So gently does the one glide into the other 

 that, though a line of demarcation does exist, it is 

 not always easily made out. But the transition 

 from the lowest form of that which lives to 

 any and every form of that which has no Life 

 is abrupt, absolute, precipitous. Here we see 

 no quiet sliding of the one into the other, no 

 wavering hesitancy as to whether a certain 

 something may belong to this or that side of 

 the dividing parapet. 



The term ''Vegetables," used scientifically 

 about Land Vegetation, includes all manner of 

 growths, from the lichen to the forest tree. 

 But by that word, used in connection with 

 the Ocean, is meant, not cabbages and cauli- 

 flowers, 7iot garden-plants or forest-trees, but 

 an enormous variety of Sea- Weeds. 



And amonCT ocean-veo^etables of humblest 

 form, flourishing in salt water, is that of 

 Diatoms — Flint-makers. 



It need not be imagined that the manufacture 

 of Flint is a monopoly of the Diatom tribe. 

 That would be a mistake. 



150 



