14 MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION. 



this kind ; assuring you that, though my author has not 

 altogether restrained his imagination, his descriptions, 

 on the whole, accord with truth. 



" The principal flower," says he, " in this elegant 

 bouquet was a carnation, the fragrance of which led 

 me to enjoy it frequently and near. The sense of smell- 

 ing was not the only one affected on these occasions : 

 while that was satisfied with the powerful sweet, the ear 

 was constantly attacked by an extremely soft but agree- 

 able murmuring sound. It was easy to know that some 

 animal within the covert must be the musician, and 

 that the little noise must come from some little body 

 suited to produce it. I instantly distended the lower 

 part of the flower, and placing it in a full light, could 

 discover troops of little insects frisking and capering 

 with wild jollity among the narrow pedestals that 

 supported its leaves, and the little threads that occupied 

 its centre. "What a fragrant world for their habitation ! 

 What a perfect security against all annoyance in the 

 deep husk that surrounded their scene of action ! I was 

 not cruel enough to pull out any of them for examina- 

 tion ; but adapting a microscope to take in, at one view, 

 the whole base of the flower, I gave myself an oppor- 

 tunity of contemplating what they were about, and this 

 for many days together, without giving them the least 

 disturbance. Thus could I discover their economy, 

 their habits, and their enjoyments. With what adora- 

 tion to the hand that gave being to these minute 

 existences must a heart, capable of due warmth in his 

 praise, see the happiness he has bestowed on them ! 

 The base of the flower extended itself under the leaves, 

 and became trunks of so many stately cedars; the 

 threads in the middle seemed columns of massy structure, 



