CHAPTER III. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL. 



" In these beings [insects], so minute, and as it were 

 Such nonentities, what wisdom is displayed, 

 What power, what unfathomable perfection 1 " 



PLINY (A.D. 60). 



OME, then, and sit with me while we busy 

 our minds over the exceedingly little things 

 of nature ; and, while we travel through 

 pleasant fields of study together, let us 

 never forget the many lessons they were 

 intended to teach, since "all matter is radiant 

 with spiritual meaning," and the Great Teacher 

 is still educating every devout mind with parables. 



Do you ask me to explain our instrument, and tell 

 you about its cost and power of magnifying? Well, 

 first you may have a tolerably good microscope for 

 about five pounds good enough, that is, to begin with. 

 Remember, the value of the glasses depends not so much 

 upon their magnifying power as their power of penetra- 

 tion and definition. The human eye is, perhaps, of all the 

 senses, the easiest to educate ; and constant practice with 

 the low powers that is, those which magnify least will 

 strengthen the sense of vision, and gradually prepare the 

 eye for the higher powers. The glasses we shall presently 



