XIV INTRODUCTION. 



The microscope is every day becoming a more fami- 

 liar instrument to the young. There is a growing in- 

 terest among the boys and the girls, even among those 

 of larger growth, in the little things of the world, and 

 the number of so-called microscopists is rapidly in- 

 creasing. But the possessor of an instrument looks at 

 the two or three mounted objects supplied by the 

 dealer, and then wonders if they are all, arid if they 

 are the only foundation for the charming stories he h^s 

 heard of the charming things to be seen with the mi- 

 croscope. 



"Will you tell me where I can find a book that will 

 help me to know a microscopic plant from a micro- 

 scopic animal, and teach me how I can best collect 

 them," is a question that has often, in some shape, 

 been asked the writer, and has as often remained un- 

 answered, for there is no book on common American 

 microscopic objects. It is only possible to direct the 

 questioner to the ditches and the ponds, and to wish 

 him a success that is almost hopeless. In any event, 

 the beginner naturally, and almost instinctively, goes 

 first to the water for his microscopic objects, probably 

 because he has heard so much about the "animalcules" 

 there. His first examination bewilders him; there is 

 so much life and motion and color; there are so many 

 strange forms; but where shall he turn for help ? 



Since our illustrious scientists have not offered to 

 help him, the writer, who is only, a beginner himself, 

 and who makes not the slightest pretensions, has sym- 

 pathized with the inquirers whom he has been com- 

 pelled to turn away unsatisfied when they have come 

 for printed help in their microscopical work, and this 

 little book is the result. It claims no literary merit; 

 it makes no scientific pretensions. Its only aim is to 



