Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1871-04-26
N COUNTY, OHIO; WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1871.

are many SO infinitely minute that no pro
duction from the inventive forge OF human
intelligence has Yet been able to present
them to us. These swarms Of diminutive
creatures have been included in the roll
Of animal existence under tho name of
nnimalculcs. We but strain our mind in
vain In endeavoring to determine the phys
ical properties OF uhinalcular creation. In
all likelihood the day will come when
the patient investigation of psychologists
will have raised the mysterious veil that
OF present conceals this hliputian world
when she shall know the extent OF their
limited facultesand their general economy
in nature. Darting across their liquid EN-.
pire we observe moving molecules with
bodies of all shapes-spheriCal, cylindrical,
elongated, sinuous, or angular the Trich-
oda, without tails tho Circaria, with tails;
some gelatinous, come transparent, and
some polymorphous an endless variety of
animated existence, as different. from each
other as is the elephant from the mouse,
the ostrich from the hummingbird, or man
from the worm. AS we. visible creatures,
feed ON one another, so do these small
animalcules dcvour those that are yet
smaller
Taking into consideration their extreme
minuteness ESQ minute are they that it has
been calculated that 1t takes 100000 of
Monas Crepusculum to occupy the space Of
one grain of mustard seed), their power Of
motion is beyond the misunderstanding
about with tremendous speed, and that,
too, without any apparent means of propul-
sion for the strongest glass has failed to
detect fin, leg, or arm, Take, for instance,
the Gymnodes; their actions seem guided
by actual volition they avoid or swim
round obstacles they rush in thick masses
to a shady spot to escape the oyer-power-
ing glare of the rejecting mirror Volun-
tary motion without muscular action !! To
those who have been accustomed to trace
hll sensation and intelligence to the nervous
system, this seems so extraordinary as to
approach the verge of impossibility
Animalcules increase with incredible
rapidity the descendants of one individ.
ual will number over 100000 in ten days,
In some cases they spring from eggs, but
in many from selfdivision; the individ.
ual splits up into several parts, each of
which becomes separate being. They
exist everywhere: they make the sea glow
with hosphorescont light; they color
tracts of water; they fall to tho earth in
aggregated masses like dust. With our
very breath we inhale multitudes Of ami
malcules every moment we slay thousands
on thousands--ay, millions
If single drop of water affords us this
grand insight into the immensity and va
riety Of creation, what might we not ex-
pect from revelations of life In the ocean.
Mr.. Francs Ingram Palmer, who had
been employed in surveying the coasts of
Japan and China, occupied himself on his
return voyage home from Hong Kong to
England In ascertaining what might be
the surface oceanic life to be found upon
the way. Lately attempts have been made
to explore the bottom of the deep sea, and
many marvels of life have been brought
to light There, under three miles thick
ness Of water, lie the lingering and stunted
refugees of a world of animals for the
most part extinct, and whose existence in
those hidden and awful depths was even
unsuspccted. But the vast surface of the
ocean bears Upon il hitherto unknown
miracles of life, which present forms of
wondrous diversity and brilliance Of color.
In the vast midst of ocean there appear to
be vast plains, so to speak, Of Animated
life, as unseen Os those primeval glories
which bloomed in forest depths before
man was in sufficient force to traverse, or
in sufficient numbers TO occupy, the earth.
Mr. Palmer las therefore made quite
revelation of bca life TO the world. He
dragged $4,000 miles of sea one foot deep.
He wore out forty new nets and eighty re-
paired ones In this vast operation Of scien-
tifc enterprise and patience. AS the wan
dering Tartars Of the ocean were entrap'
ped, they were brought up to the deck OF
Her Maiostys ship Rodney, and made to
display themselves under powerful exam
lining glasses Though. manfoGtly unac-
customed to competitive naval cxamina-
tons, they appear to have passed very
well, for Mr.. Palmer was able to draw
them in all thclt surprising developments
of form and rainbow beauty and brilliOnce
of color. Tho strange and delicate crea-
lures are simply astonishing.
Mr. Palmer covered 12 feet of length,
and feet of depth, Of drawlhg-papcr with
his delheations Of them. lie ornamented
his large picture also by sketches of terri
torial scenes There are six or eight views
OH the Higher Yang.tse.Kiang, which
wotld attract attention and command ad-
IMITATION at any watorcolor exhibition.