12 



FORAMINIFERA. 



Minute as these shells are, invisible for the most part to ordinary 

 vision, the microscope reveals many of them to be structures of 

 exquisite beauty, emulating in their shape the model forms of 

 ancient vases, and presenting an elaborate sculpture surpassing 

 that of Chinese carvings in their decoration. 



It is not, however, from their beauty, but from the numbers in 

 which they exist, that these and similar organisms derive their 



FIG. 5. RHIZOPODS. 



chief importance. Few visitors at the sea-side can have failed to 

 observe that often in the summer-time the waves are luminous, 

 and shine with phosphorescent splendour. The ripples as they 

 totter towards the beach sparkle with scintillations, and the crested 

 waves blaze with a pale but brilliant light. The fisherman, who 

 from his boat surveys the lambent flames that play around him, 

 seems to float in fire. The mariner can trace his path by the 

 long wake of light that streams behind like the train of some vast 

 sky-rocket, or looking from the prow, he sees his vessel, as she 

 breasts the waves, dash from her bows broad sheets of liquid 



