An Unlucky Botanist. 127 



„hich the microscope reveals a number of green granules, ar- 

 ranged in forms. Let this membrane be kept in quiet water, 

 and at a high atmospheric temperature, and the granules may 

 be seen, under a powerful microscope, to present at their sur- 

 face certain convexities and depressions, which are the effect 

 of the repeated contraction and distension of these granules* 

 If they are carefully watched for several days, the granules 

 will be seen to be reciprocally displaced ; after a certain time 

 they separate from the membrane, and may then be perceived 

 to have a rapid and regular movement, as if in chase of each 

 other; cool with a drop of water, that in which the granules 

 are floating, and their motions will become slower, they will at- 

 tach themselves by some part of their circumference, and will 

 acquire a swinging motion from right to left, and from left to 

 right. In this sort of imperfect reeling and twirling, one sees 

 the granules approach in pairs, just touch each other, retreat, 

 approach again, and glide away to the right or left, staggering 

 as it were, and trying to preserve their balance ; at last, in- 

 stead of pairs, fours combine to execute the movements of the 

 dance. Imagine the field of the microscope covered, shortly 

 after, with a hundred of these animated globules, whose diam- 

 eter is not, in reality, more than the 4000th of an inch, chasing 

 each other, retreating and intermingling, as if executing the 

 mazes of a fantastic reel, and you have one of the most curious 

 spectacles that the microscope can exhibit. 



Such are, in part, the wonders revealed by the microscope 

 in these ambiguous productions ; many others of equal interest 

 might be named, but what has been said will suffice to show 

 how marvellous a store of curious facts remains to be collected 

 by those whose time and disposition are favorable to such 

 inquiries. — Ladies 1 Botany. 



AN UNLUCKY BOTANIST. 



Charles de l'Ecluse, better known under the name of Clusius, 

 was one of the most excellent and learned botanists who ever 

 lived, and the author of many works whose value will ever be 

 appreciated. His mental ability was not more remarkable 



