DIATOMS 119 



we are actually beholding. We see, but we have a 

 certain difficulty in believing. For a time we question 

 the existence of such a possibility, and we finally 

 conclude that we are on the threshold of an infinity 

 in microscopy as great as that which confronts the 

 devout astronomer when studying the realms of space. 



The microscope enables the geologist to study the 

 rocks of the globe, so that he can show that whole 

 districts of Istria and Dalmatia consist of diatoms ; 

 that these flinty boxes contribute largely to the com- 

 position of the rocks of a recent geological formation ; 

 that lake deposits several feet in thickness exist in 

 Australia, that the soil of large tracts of Austria, near 

 Bori, is almost exclusively flinty boxes of diatoms ; 

 that the city of Richmond, in the United States, is 

 built upon an eighteen feet stratum of fossil diatoms. 



The seas and freshwaters of the globe contain 

 countless millions of diatoms ; they are to be found 

 in every country of the world. 



The hoardings of our cities advertise in large 

 characters myriads of diatoms for sale ; only sub- 

 stituting for their correct name the words ' knife 

 polish.' Many a man has more diatoms in his scullery 

 than he can examine and mount as microscopic 

 objects, even if he should devote a lifetime to the 

 task. 



England has become possessed of other countries 

 in various ways and by a variety of means, but none 

 of her actions were so subtle as those now employed in 

 acquiring South America, for we are daily purchasing, 



