202 



FACTS AND FANCIES. 



because of their geometrical proportions. Cer- 

 tain styles of coloring are necessarily beautiful 

 because of harmonies and contrasts which 

 depend on the essential properties of the 

 waves of light. Beauty is thus in a great 

 measure independent of the taste of the spec- 

 tator. It is also independent of mere utility, 

 since, even if we admit that all these combina- 

 tions of forms, motions, and colors which we 

 call beautiful are also useful, it is easy to 

 perceive that, the end could often be attained 

 without the beauty. 



. It is a curious fact that some of the .simplest 

 animals — as, for example, sponges and Foramin- 

 ifera — are furnished with the most beautiful 

 skeletons. Nothing can exceed the beauty 

 of form and proportions in the shells of some 

 Foraminifera and Polycistina, or in the skele- 

 tons of some silicious sponges (see Fig. 19), 

 while it is obvious .that these humble creatures, 

 without brains and external senses, can neither 

 contrive nor appreciate the beauty with which 

 they are clothed. Further, some of these 

 structures are very old geologically. The 

 sponge whose skeleton is known as " Venus's 

 flower-basket" produces a structure of inter- 

 woven silicious threads exquisite in its beauty 



