64 



in the immensity of space. Its general outline and beautiful sym- 

 metry of form, as well as its mode of life and manner of propaga- 

 tion, is as wonderful as the most astounding astronomical phe- 

 nomena. It is a new world, which, so to say, has been called into 

 existence during this nineteeth century, the age of great discoveries, 

 a world diversified by hundred different forms, peopled by hundred 

 different, living, moving, self-producing organisms, existing in a 

 single drop of water. I cannot resist the temptation of adding here 

 the beautiful motto of Greville's Scottish Cryptogamic Flora, in the 

 original Latin, as it would loose much of its beauty by translating 

 it: " Cui bono haec omnia? Vt cognoscamus sapientium Creatoris, 

 quae in minimis non minus educat quam in magnis plantis. v 



Prompted by the desire of studying this branch of science, 

 which ought to be cultivated in every school of a high grade, 

 I undertook, with the University microscope at my disposal, the 

 most attractive study the scientific explorer can be engaged in — the 

 examination of the Microscopic Algse of Louisiana. Unfortunately 

 the magnifying power of the various object glasses of our micros- 

 cope is not exactly known. It may however be safely assumed that 

 its highest power ranges from between 200-250 diameters. I have 

 been enabled by means of this instrument to determine from eighty 

 to ninety species of Desmidiae and Diatomacise, most of them with 

 complete certainty; a few only approximately, taking Pritchard's 

 Infusoria as my guide, and consulting Eabenhorst's " Flora Europsea 

 Algarum." 



Most of the specimens, of which a list is annexed, have been 

 microscopically viewed while in a living state, and have been care- 

 fully studied after preparing and mounting them in Canada balsam. 

 They are thus permanently fixed, and their place on the slide, which 

 is precisely indicated by means of that admirable and simple little 

 contrivance, called Maltwood's Finder, is registered in a book kept 

 for that purpose, so that the specimens can be examined at pleasure 

 at any future time. I intended to accompany this report with the 

 figures of all the microscopic plants determined, but the appliances 

 required to accomplish the object have not yet been received, and 

 consequently that part of my report will not have as much interest, 

 as far as men of science are concerned, as it would otherwise pos- 

 sess, if it had been possible to give the illustrations. 



