Application of the Microscope to the Art of Design. Ill 



seeks some particular aspect of a tree, and folds vertically its 

 wings, throws back the antennse, and remains motionless and 

 insensible to all external circumstances. When caterpillars, 

 which are insatiable feeders, are observed resting immoveable 

 with their heads bent down, they are asleep. The geometers 

 may be remarked stretched our for hours projected from a twig 

 resembling the angular stem of those trees they are feeding 

 upon, and the processionary caterpillars, whose night marches, 

 in marshalled communities, are regulated with such remarkable 

 exactness, that they resemble battalions platooning over a field, 

 in " strict love of fellowship combined " in passing the day in 

 inaction, spend it in repose. 



Whatever may be the controlling cause that renders some 

 insects diurnal feeders and flyers, and some nocturnal and cre- 

 puscular movers, frolicking or feasting in the twilight, the 

 solution must be sought in the adaptive differences that regu- 

 late the "sleep of plants." Some plants repose by night; 

 others expand in the darkened hours, and slumber under the 

 stimulation of light. Whether the closing of the flower be at 

 nightfall, or its opening be as soon as daylight fades, or whether 

 it be the reversal of this order, the differences are precisely the 

 same as in those animals that sleep through the day and awake 

 at night, or that awaken in light and slumber in darkness. 

 The regular intervals that lead to sleeping or waking are the 

 recurrences of those electrical incidents that attend the inter- 

 changes of day and night in the atmosphere. 



ON THE APPLICATION OF THE MICROSCOPE TO 



THE AET OF DESIGN. 



BY HENRY J. SLACK, F.G.S. 



Manufacturing experience affords many instances of surpris- 

 ing success achieved by ornamental goods, whose patterns were 

 judiciously selected from natural objects; but although examples 

 of various combinations of form and colour occur in great pro- 

 fusion in those portions of the natural world which are acces- 

 sible to unassisted sight, the microscope constantly presents us 

 with a rich store of ideas which the decorative artist would do 

 well to study and employ. If colour be the especial subject of 

 his pursuit, the wings of butterflies or the wing-oases of 

 beetles, the petals of flowers — such as London-pride — minute 

 sea-weeds, and other common objects, are highly instruc- 

 tive ; and if we were requested to point out an illustra- 

 tion of the union of extraordinary splendour with grateful 



