PEEFACE. IX 



The chief end of this new plan of mine is to give 

 a Hand-book for the Microscope, to be used as hand- 

 books are, in the presence of the objects themselves, 

 and not as a mere scientific catalogue, with hard names 

 and notices, which presuppose a greater amount of 

 scientific knowledge than young students ever possess. 



It is written for the young of both sexes ; possibly 

 my own daughter has involuntarily guided my pen 

 in writing, to awaken deeper interest than merely 

 scientific arrangement could give, to kindle a high and 

 holy love of the beautiful as the expression of Divine 

 "Wisdom, to give with the little Microscopic Moth, not 

 only a curious wonder at its minute perfection, but a 

 glance at its former life and development; also to 

 give, when looking at an injected preparation of 

 animal life, a hint of the mystery that lies beneath the 

 object before us. 



To sit for an hour at the microscope, and pass slide 

 after slide upon the stage with superficial attention, is 

 not a worthy occupation for the great spirit within us, 

 neither is it safe for the finite and frail intellect of man 

 to enter upon scientific research into the organisms, 

 systems, and theories of life, without the brightening 

 influence si forethought as to Him who hath woven the 

 intricate web of Creation, and afterthought as to the 

 purpose for which all, and especially the human frame, 

 is so fearfully and wonderfully made. In those in- 

 jected preparations lie subject of deep thought; if 

 such the care and wisdom bestowed upon the tene- 

 ment, what must the indweller be, and what its final 



