50 
THE LOWEST FORMS OF LIFE. 
VEGETABLE LIFE— THE “ PROTOPHYTA,” or “FIRST 
PLANTS.” 
BY THE EDITOR. 
HOSE who have never -witnessed the beauties of the 
microscopical world can form no conception of the 
astonishment and delight afforded by the first glance into the 
magic tube. 
It is nearly ten years since I experienced this pleasure, but 
I recollect the circumstance almost as though it were yesterday. 
My instrument had cost me about ten shillings, and the sub- 
stance that I first examined with it was a little of the green 
scum from a water-cistern behind my house. To find in this 
suspicious-looking fluid myriads of bright green globules sailing 
about swiftly in all directions, was as great a surprise to me as 
it was afterwards to hear that each of these moving specks was 
a living plant, endowed with the capability of moving from place 
to place in search of suitable nourishment ; and that, if I had 
looked carefully, similar organisms possessing animal life would 
also have been visible. It is, as just stated, nearly ten years 
since I peered into the microscope ; and if the novelty has some- 
what abated with increased experience, the loss has been 
counterbalanced by the gratification -with which I observe the 
delight of others when they first inspect similar objects through 
the more powerful and complicated instrument that I now 
possess. 
During the hot weather last June we had on a visit with us 
a young lady who asked me on more than one occasion to 
“ show her something under the microscope •” and having post- 
poned the fulfilment of her wish until the warm weather had 
called into life most of the denizens of the pools, I one morning 
sallied forth with my ring-net and pocket lens in search of 
something interesting, and on my return fixed the same evening 
for the exhibition. 
As the time approached, conjectures multiplied as to the 
character of the “ animals ” that would be found in the water ; 
and, immediately after tea, I retired to my study, to investigate 
before exhibiting the contents of my bottle. 
This did not occupy much time, for my fishing expedition had 
