LIVING MICROSCOPY. 197 



a Lepralia which encrust the rock; the midmost 

 part of the spire is most expansive, whence the 

 diminution above and below is pretty regular, The 

 general colour, while alive, is pale buff, but the cells 

 become nearly white in death. 



When examined microscopically it is, however, that 

 the curious organization of this zoophyte is discovered, 

 especially when examined in full health and vigour, 

 with all the beautiful polypes protruded and expanded 

 to the utmost, on the watch for prey. It seems to me 

 a poor thing to strain one's eyes at a microscope over 

 a dead and dry polypidom, as it does to examine a 

 shrivelled and blackened flower out of a herbarium ; 

 though I know well that both the one and the other 

 are often indispensable for the making out of techni- 

 cal characters. But if you want to get an insight 

 into the structure and functions of any of these 

 minute animals, especially such as are so transparent 

 that all the offices of life are discernible in active 

 operation, or if you want to be charmed with the 

 perception of beauty, or delighted with new and sin- 

 gular adaptations of means to ends, oi if you desire 

 to see vitality under some of its most unusual and yet 

 most interesting phases, or if you would have emotions 

 of adoring wonder excited, and the tribute of praise 

 elicited to that mighty Lord God who made all things 

 for his own glory, — then take such a zoophyte as this, 

 fresh from his clear tide-pool, take him without injury 

 done by violently tearing him from his attachment, 

 and therefore detach with care a minute portion of the 

 surface-rock itself, and then drop him with every 

 organ in full activity into a narrow glass cell with 



