334 FRESH WATER SKETCHES. 
vices they render to man in the economy of nature, and will, it is 
hoped, tend to show that it is the duty of all, especially of agricul- 
turists, to preserve such valuable animals.— Canadian Naturalist 
and Geologist. 
=f 
FRESH WATER SKETCHES. * 
BY PROFESSOR L. W. BAILEY. 
Ir must not be inferred, from the title above given, that it is the 
purpose of the author, in the following “ Sketches” to impose upon 
the readers of the Naruratist, either a temperance tract, or a trea- 
tise on hydropathy, a fisher’s manual, or even a guide to the lakes. 
The disciples of Isaac Walton will find that like Buller, I have 
tabooed the whole subject of angling, ‘and all its endless bothera- 
tion about baskets and rods, and reels and tackle—salmon-trout, 
sea-trout, perch, pike, etc.,” — nor must the tourist look here for 
descriptions of the picturesque, the beautiful, and the grand, as 
displayed in the scenery of our unrivalled rivers, lakes and cata- 
racts. My object, on the contrary, is to allude but slightly, if at 
all, to the charms of our inland aquatic scenery, or even to such 
objects of natural history, as may meet the eye of every ob- 
server, but rather to present, in a familiar way, some account of « 
the minute, but marvellous wonders, which may be found by the 
aid of the microscope in every pool, pond, lake or river in our 
country. As the sketches in question have not the formality of a 
scientific treatise, and are divested to a considerable degree of 
technical language, I hope they may find some readers among 
those who might be repelled by a more pretending title or a more 
ponderous theme. If they serve to recall to the accomplished 
microscopist, some of the pleasures which have often ‘lent a 
*The idea of these sketches was first suggested by some manuscript notes, left 
among the papers of my father, the late Prof. J. W. Bailey, of West Point, and which 
had been written with a view to the preparation of a small volume, similar in its gen- 
eral character to “ the Sea-side Book” of Harvey, but relating exclusively to the more 
to carry out the intention originally entertained, he has, in the following pages, embod- 
ied a portion of the notes in question, in a modified form, with the results of such ob- 
servations as he has himself b ble t ke upon the subjects alluded to.—L. W. B- 
i 
