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SYMMEIRICAL FIGURES IN BIRDS’ FEATHERS. 677 
there before the astonished gaze were diamonds such as Aladdin 
might have envied, in form as varied, but far more symmetrical 
than the frost work on a window pane of a winter’s morning. 
Some of the figures, as I afterwards found on repeated trial, 
retained their outlines for several hours, in a few instances for 
days, even when exposed to the moisture of the atmosphere. 
hen examined by lamp-light many, but not all, cast an un- 
doubted shadow. The exceptions appeared to be symmetrical de- 
pressions instead of raised figures 
These figures must, of course, be common to skilled microsco- 
pists. It is not at all probable that forms due to universal causes 
should remain unseen ever since the invention of the microscope, 
but to me they were a new revelation, and I watched their forma- 
tion with intense interest, as the work of polarizing forces whose 
operation is co-extensive with the universe, and to which all things 
material are subjected. As the law of gravitation may be observed 
in a drop of dew as well as in the circling orbs, so it seemed pos- 
sible for these tiny jewels to elucidate principles of farthest reach- 
ing power. 
The frost work, annually repeated, is not less beautiful or inter- 
esting because it is common, nor do snow crystals grow unlovely 
because we have seen them before ;—the value of neither is lost 
when they are perceived to be related to certain other symmetrical 
forms, but on the contrary, all the members of the related groups 
rise in importance when they are understood to be varying expres- 
sions of one eternal omnipresent law of matter,—operating alike 
in dead and living forms, but according to modes peculiar to un- 
organized or to organized matter. 
One very beautiful form is not given in the cut. It was 
less distinct then the rest and I waited for a better example to 
copy. It never appeared again. It was a circle with ornaments 
at four opposite points, but as I cannot remember the exact style 
of the ornament, I do not venture to give even a suggestion of the 
figure. Other very beautiful designs were lost in the same way. 
Water containing material from the feathers of the common barn- 
door fowl produced, mainly, simple crosses, the lines usually cross- 
ing in the middle, but even in this, some beautiful six-rayed forms 
were seen. The feathers of the domestic turkey yielded more ar- 
borescent forms, as those seen at b, which are larger and stronger 
than those afforded by the feathers of the dove, shown at a. 
