MICROSCOPIC VEGETABLES. 43 



iheGonium Pectorale, or "High Priest's Breast- 

 plate" so called from its resemblance to the 

 breastplate of the Jewish high-priest. It con- 

 sists of sixteen bright green spherical bodies 

 contained within a transparent mantle, like 

 jewels reflecting light on both sides ; or, as Mr. 

 Gosse observes, " like emeralds set in a plate of 

 the purest glass." 1 These " emeralds" are dis- 

 posed in quadrangular form, like the precious 

 stones in the high-priest's breastplate, the four 

 centre ones being generally larger than the 

 others, and each " emerald" is joined to its 

 neighbour by six links or cords. How many 

 and beautiful are the archetypes of the Lord, 

 both in Creation and ^Redemption ! 



6. Ere we leave the vegetables, we would 

 glance at one group among the Volvocinece at 

 the Monas Crepusculum, or " Twilight Monad" 

 It is the most minute and simple of all living 

 beings which the Microscope, in the exercise of 

 its highest powers, has yet discovered. This 

 monad is r^oinrth of an inch in size ! Twelve 

 thousand of these plants would be easily dis- 

 posed of within the length of an inch, if they 



1 Life, p. 21. 



