IV. 



MICROSCOPIC SHELLS. 



The sand among tte shells was bruslied 

 into a tray, and with a microscope Undine 

 found it contained tiny shells with colors and 

 coils equaling even the large spirals- and irides- 

 cent abalones which had so taken Tom's fancy. 



Miss Bremely told her that in a pound of 

 sand taken from the Adriatic, by computation 

 two hundred thousand individuals were found ; 

 many more must have suffered wreck from the 

 rough tossing and rubbing of the waves and 

 sand. In an ounce of sand from Cape May it 

 was estimated over thirty-five thousand indi- 

 viduals of a single species were discovered. 



She was told that the sands of some beaches 

 are composed almost entirely of shells, vari- 

 ously and perfectly formed, while the compli- 

 cated organisms and harmonious contrivances 

 of the animals inhabiting them must fill the 

 beholder with amazement. 



Undine sat for a long time picking one 



33 



