32 THE EYE 



degrees of fineness in different butterflies, and the cross- 

 striae of Hipparchia Janira, a very common brown butter- 

 fly, are in particular so delicate that only the very best 

 instruments exhibit them distinctly. 



Besides these common scales, there are many others 

 of different shape and differently marked upon their sur- 

 face, and when we have pursued the investigation of them 

 for any length of time we are overwhelmed with infinite 

 abundance of forms, which Nature has here developed in the 

 most insignificant and diminutive parts. Many indeed, 

 and especially in former days, have been content with the 

 delight which the contemplation of these elegant forms 

 afforded them, and scarcely anticipated the importance of 

 microscopic investigations to science, as may be seen from 

 the titles of so many of the works published in the last 

 century, such as Ledermiiller's " Microscopic delights for 

 the Eye and Soul," (Nuremberg, 1761), Rosel von Rosen- 

 hoff's "Insect Recreations," (Nuremberg, 1746 61), 

 &c. Yet observers were not wanting even thus early, 

 who saw fully the seriousness of this branch of natural 

 history studies, and we have an example even of an excess 

 in Swammerdam, who in his last days committed to the 

 flames, a great portion of the results ho had obtained only 

 by the most tedious labours, because he thought that the 

 Creator had not veiled these minute circumstances from 

 the eyes of man without wise purpose, and it were sacri- 

 lege to profane God's mysteries. But such a notion, if 

 consequently carried out, would oppose every advance 

 of humanity beyond the rudest and almost brute condition 

 of Nature. 



It was reserved for our century to apply the microscope 

 to its true use, to the study of Nature, and it is most 

 delightful to observe how the application of this instru- 



