58 



AQUATIC MICROSCOPY FOR BEGINNERS. 



common species of Hydra (Chapter VI.), which often 

 occur there so plentifully that two or three hang from 

 almost every leaf. 



SPHAGNUM MOSS (Fig. 15). 



On the wet shores of shady bogs this pale-green 

 moss grows in great patches, thick, soft, and elastic. 

 It is a beautiful plant anywhere, but it is especially so 

 when it appears greenly glimmering beneath the 

 shallow water, while the shadows of elder and azalea, 

 and the broad leaves of the tangled smilax vines, 

 make the neighboring thicket dim and cool, even 

 when the hot sun smites the bordering fields. In 

 such pleasant surroundings Rhizopods (Chapter IV.) 

 and Infusoria (Chapter V.) 

 are found in abundance. For 

 the former. Sphagnum is an 

 unfailing source of ' supply. 

 The water pressed out of a 

 little pinch of the moss will 

 be sure to contain many indi- 

 viduals and species. From a 

 single small bunc 

 Leidy, when 

 Rhizopods, obtained thi 

 eight species and miany 



Viduals of those animals, be- Fig. 13. — Portion of Leaf of 



sides numerous active diatoms Sphagnum. 



(Chapter III.) and desmids (Chapter III). 



The leaves make exquisite microscopic objects, ou 

 account of their peculiar and beautiful structure. 

 Each leaf is formed of two kinds of cells, a and b, 

 (Fig. 15). The large ones, a, will, when magnified, 



.Oh, Dr. Joseph '>•• JP^,a& 

 studying the. -■■:JM|^J 



indi- ' "' 



