$6 THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
ing mass in our hands, and we shall no longer 
turn away from the stagnant pond or fenny bog 
as only homes where the 
‘ Frogs have sung their old songs in the mud,’ 
or as dread reservoirs, distilling fevers, poison, 
and death.” 
Though somewhat familiar with the wonder- 
revealing power of the microscope, the young 
observers were nevertheless deeply interested 
by this new and unexpected exhibition of its 
transforming potency. The slimy repulsiveness 
had vanished as they gazed at the dark fronds 
through the instrument, and Oscillatorics and 
SpirogyrcE were glowing in their golden and 
emerald splendors. 
When satisfied with gazing at the exquisite 
beauty of forms presented. Doctor Dean quick¬ 
ened their attention by referring to the singular 
movements observed in some of these vegetable 
fibres. 
” In many of these fronds of algae,” said he, 
“ there is seen a series of marvellous transfor¬ 
mations, which approach wonderfully near the 
instincts of animal life, and which for a time 
left the closest observers in doubt where they 
