MICROSCOPIC WONDERS 19 



is looking into a world of such small creatures that they are 

 invisible except by the aid of the microscope, and these minute 

 specks are perfectly equipped for their existence, and do not 

 even know of this all-important semi-artificial product, which 

 lives in the bliss of " Top of the Tree." 



" Oh ! '' I can hear the reader remark. "What ! does this pond- 

 hunting enthusiast consider a microscopic quantity above man ?'' 

 And the answer is " No." But to the writer's mind man is only 

 one of the many fine creatures in this world, but he, unfor- 

 tunately, owing to ignorance of his surroundings, thinks he 

 is " the only one." And oh, for the pathos of such ignorance, 

 for even a pond contains countless numbers of perfect 

 creatures, and the largest pond is only a minute speck 

 compared with the universe. 



And as all the actions of the most intelligent creatures are 

 labelled with that hopelessly inaccurate and childish title 

 " Instinct,'' what can the actions of the Lilliputians into 

 whose lives we are now to inquire be put down to? A 

 nothingness? For we find that certain minute animalcules 

 hunt in pairs single-celled creatures for all that. Why 

 should we think that the Deity has only given man the power 

 to make the best of his surroundings (which he so seldom does), 

 whilst all other things should exist, and no more ? 



As time goes on, and we become more enlightened, such 

 ideas will be ridiculed by everyone, and we will learn that it is 

 part of our duty to try and understand things, and not 

 to imagine that all the wonders of this world were made for 

 the particular purpose of being destroyed in the most ex- 

 peditious manner. 



So, returning to our pond life, we will study a few of the 

 wonderfully adapted creatures known as Infusoria. 



If we place a small quantity of hay in a jar of water certain 

 small animals make their appearance after a very few days. 



One of the first to appear is the amoeba. Amoeba Proteus 

 is ^th to ^&(jth of an inch in diameter. 



Under the microscope this minute lump of jelly-like sub- 

 stance will be seen to wander aimlessly this way and that by 

 producing temporary projections. Should, however, a current 

 be produced the amoeba will be seen to work its way against 

 it, and show every sign of unwillingness to float with the 

 stream. 



Although mouthless, and free from a digestive system, yet 

 the amoeba feeds like every other living thing. It is inter- 

 esting to see one obtaining a meal. The weird little cell, by 

 altering its shape, wanders about until it touches a Desmid or 



