Year: 1874

so as to have no resemblance to their pre-


vious appearance, As we witness these


wonderful and various transformations,


we cannot discover their purpose, unless


it may be means Of self.preservation !;
assuming many forms so as to appear to


be strangers ameng the many predaceous
beings by which they are surrounded


which might relish them for food, once
they should make their acquaintance.


Our attention is suddenly directed to


another quarter. by one of our party ex-
citedly exclaiming, "What is this J"


Here is something differing from what


we have seen before, moving and turn
ing rapidly in many ways. On closer
observation, it proved to be an animal,
covered with SHE'LL which opened with
a beautiful white, i,early hinge. We soon
discovered the cause its rapid motions.
1t is provided with arms, and broom,
which has lengthy handle; opening its
shell, it reaches out with its arms with
the broom it sweeps or scares its tinny
neighbors in reach oflts arms, when it
claspes them in its fatal embrace, and
compells them to traverse the way to It's
stomach. We see that death has been in
this family, for here and there are scat
tered empty shells and numerous bones
Of its skeleton, that remain, after the
flesh, blood vessels, and nerves have dc.
composed.


Extending our view farther along the
border of this expanse of water, in qui-
ct little nook we see an oval net in the
water, from which line extends to the
green shore; the net is quickly drawn to
the shore; as it passes out again, the line
unfolds as nicely as though sailor has
had the coiling of it. We look eagerly
for the master of the net it appears that
he is hidden in the herbage on shore.
Fish are playing and circlng about the
net, often darting al its mouth, as though
it had some enchantment for them-when
any of them find their way into this net,
its two fingered gates are instantly closed.
and it is hastily drawn to shore; as soon
as its contents are disposed of, it is gent
ly sent out for new haul. BY search
ing other parts Of the lake, we have the
good fortune to discover other fishers
with their nets, laboring to get an hon
est living by their industry. Here is one
in this quiet place, that keeps its net far
out, perhaps to the length Of its line. The
net appears to be perfect; in each Of its
two gates we count six blue fingers the
fisher is not wanting in patience; but no
fish play about the net, none appear pass
ing that way-as often happens with
other fishers, it catches nothing. Itap-
pears from its actions, and factions
speak louder than words, that it reasons
as a fisherman would reason, in such
case it has tried enough here, therefore,
moves its net far along the shore around
a point into another little recess of the
lake. Soon after the net is placed, here
comes rushing along frightful, preda-
ceous creature the net is quickly hauled
in, and held at shore until the danger
has passed, then it is sent out again to its
former position. AS often as any dan
ger threatens, the fishing is suspended,
and the same precautions taken to save
the net


Our party are intensely interested in
this being of the net; after long study Of
its habits, it appears to us that it is en-
dowed with faculty, il not of reason, of
something. near akin to it. One of our
party, minister of the Gospel, bowed
his head on his hand, and said, Is this
not reason Pit surely manifests some
thing like reason! could bear TO see
the many other objects that nature here
presents; but this is too muoh---it makes
my brain reel at the thought of reason
being manifested in this remote, minute
world, far below the scope ofthe unaided
vision! Though have grown old in eff.
forts to understand and teach the Word
of God to my fellow beings, I witness
here facts in nature, that have never been
dreamed of in my philosophy.


As by means Of the telescope, our
minds may be raised to the contempla
ton of the vast cords that revolve and
career through limitless space, SO by
means OF the microscope, we can see and
study with great benefit and interest the
lessons afforded by the ineonceivably
small beings that swarm in myrads in
every department Of the world of life.
Thus, the more we understand of the
province of all nature around us, the
better are we capable Of understanding
the laws Of our own being.


A- Some of the peoole of New York