GUANO. 175 



tribute to the growth of vegetable substances. 

 We shall now see the wonderful functions they 

 perform during life, for the benefit of us all. 



These curious infusorial animalculse are 

 found living in all the stagnant waters with 

 "which we are acquainted. It may be truly 

 said, — 



" where the pool 



Stands mantkd o'er with green, invisible 

 Amid the floating verdure millions stray. 



Every fluid drop of the ocean contains them ; 

 and they abound in mud. 



Like the eels of the wheat again, some of 

 these maintain a torpid existence, when dried 

 up by the summer's sun ; and in this condition 

 countless myrinds of them are raised up with 

 exhalations into the atmosphere. The giianoy 

 so extensively used for manure, is full of the 

 most beautiful infusoria, some of them splen- 

 didly iridiscent ; and there is no better method 

 of testing the genuineness of this useful sub- 

 stance than by the microscope. A small por- 

 tion of guano dust, viewed with a quarter of 

 an inch achromatic, affords a surprising spec- 

 tacle, as any one who pleases may prove. In 

 short, the whole creation teems with life. 



"Link after link the vital chain extends, 

 And the long line of being never ends." 



