Wm fuF In U;jF i ! 8TTOT' SCOTT Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/microscopemadeea01bake THE MICROSCOPE Made Eafy : O R, I. The Nature, Ufes, and Magnifying Powers. of the beft Kinds of Microscopes Defcribed, Calculated, and Explained: FOR THE Inftruction of fuch, particularly, as defire to fearch into the Wonde r s of the Minute Creation, tho' they are not acquainted with Optics. Together with Full Directions how to prepare, apply, examine, and prefcrvt all Sorts of Objects, and proper Cautions to be obfcrved in viewing them. II. An Account of what furprizing Difccveries have been already made by the A'Iicroscope : With uferul Reflections on them. AND ALSO A great Variety of new Experiments and Obfervations, pointing out many uncommon Subjeds ior the Examination of the Curious. By HE NET BAKEP, Fellow of the Royal Society, and Member of the Society of Antiquaries , in London. Illuftrated with Copper Plates. Return Natura nufquam magis quam in Minimis tota eft. Plin. Hift. Nat. Lib. XI. c. 2. LONDON: Printed for R. Dodsley, at Tull/s Head in Pall-Mall. • «- . . M, DCC. XUJ, At a Meeting of the Royal Society \ OElob. 28. 1742. IMPRIMATUR. M. Folkes, Pr. R. S. i • « busty C.2- T O /> Martin Folkes, £/^; PRESIDENT, And to the COUNCIL and FELLOWS OF THE Royal Society of London. Gentlemen, N Attempt to excite in Mankind a general Defire of fearching into the Won- ders of Nature, will, I pcrfuade myfelf, be accepted favour- ably by You, whofe Endeavours for the Advancement of Natural Know- ledge, according to the Purpofe of your Institution, are efteem'd by all the World. A It ii DEDICATION. It is fomething more than an hundred and twenty Years fince the Microscope was happily invented; and to the valuable Difcoveries made thereby, we ftand indebted, as the following Sheets will mew, for a great part of our prefent Philofophy. In fuch a length of Time, it is how- ever probable, many more Advanta- ges might have been reaped from it, had not fome Difficulties and Difcou- ragements prevented its general Ufe. At the beginning it was confined to very few ; who, making a Secret of it, endeavoured all they could to keep it to themfelves^ and, when it became a little more publick, the Price was fixt fo high, that the moft Curious and Industrious, who have not always the greater!: Share of Money, could not conveniently get at it. Of late Years, indeed, the Expence has been much lefs ; but then newDifcouragements have Start- ed up from Miftake and Prejudice. For DEDICATION. iii For many have been frighted from the Uie or it, by imagining it re- quired great Skill in Optics, and abundance of other Learning, to comprehend it to any Purpofe : whereas nothing is really needful but good Glaffes, good Eyes, a little Practice, and a common Underftand- ing, to diftinguifli what is feen ; and a Love of Truth, to give a faithful Account thereof. Others have con- fider'd it as a nicer Play- thing, a matter of Amufement and Fancy only, that raifes our Wonder for a Moment, but is of no farther Ser- vice : which Miftake they have fall- en into from being unacquainted with any Principles whereby to form a right Judgment of what they fee. Many, again, have laid the Micro- fcope afide, after a little Ufe, for want of knowing what Objects to examine, where to find, how to prepare, and in what manner to ap- ply them. The Trouble of manag- ing it has alfo frighted fome. iv DEDICATION. But we are now fo fortunate to have this Inftxument greatly improv- ed amongft ourfelves, the Apparatus made much eafier as well as more ufeful, and the Price confiderably reduced. The Solar or Camera Ob- fcura Microfcope, and the Micro- fcope for viewing Objects that have no Transparency, by throwing a ftrong reflected Light upon them, are alfo new Inventions, from whence great Things may be expecled. Nothing therefore is now want- ing, but a general Inclination to employ thefe Inftruments, for a far- ther Difcovery of the Minute Won- ders of the Creation ; which may not, perhaps, improve our Knowledge lefs than the grander Parts thereof. Bears, Tigers, Lions, Crocodiles and Whales, Oaks and Cedars, Seas and Mountains, Comets, Stars, Worlds and Sims, are the Capitals in Nature's mighty Volume, and of them we fhould not be ignorant : but DEDICATION. v but whoever would read there with Understanding, muft make himfelf Mafter of the little Letters likewife, which occur a thoufmd times more frequently, and, if he does not know them, will flop him fhort at every Syllable. The likeliefl: Method of difcover- ing Truth, is, by the Experiments of Many upon the fame Subject ; and the moft probable Way of engaging People in fuch Experiments, is, by rendring them ealy, intelligible and pleafant. To effect this is my En- deavour in the following Treatife, which may ferve as the Reprefenta- tion of an Object for the Inftrument I am recommending ; fmall, indeed, and feemingly of no Confequence ; but what, upon Examination, will be found, perhaps, to contain as many ufeful Parts as thofe that are much bulkier : for, to drop the AI- lufion here, I am certain, that with half the Pains I could have made it twice as large. A 3 vi DEDICATION. Think me not fo prefumptuous to dream of inftrudling you in Matters you are much better acquainted with than I can pretend to be; but give me leave to requeft the Favour of your Concurrence, in my Defire of explaining, to thofe that are igno- rant, a Science that may prove of the moft eminent Service towards the Advancement of True Knowledge, and in which every body that has Inclination and Opportunity may be able to do fomething. ' Excufe my Miftakes, forgive my detaining you thus long, and permit me the Honour to be, with all pofli- ble Refpect and Veneration, Gentlemen, Your moft Obedient and devoted Humble Serv c , Henry Baker. ( vii ) Contents of the Chapters, PART the FIRST. INTRODUCTION, p. xi. CHap. I. Of Micro fcopes in general, p. i Chap. II. Of the Kinds of Mi cr of copes, 7 Chap. III. Mr. Wi lson'j Single Pocket- Microfcope, 9 Chap. IV. A new Invention for fxing the Pocket- Microfcope, and giving Light to it by a Speculum, 1 4 Chap. V. Of the Double Reflecting Micro- fcope, 1 6 Chap. VI. The Solar or Camera Obfcura Microfcope, 2 2 Chap. VII. The Microfcope for Opake Ob- jects, 2 6 Chap. VIII. Toflnd the magnifying Power of Glaffes employed in Single Microfcopes, 3 1 Chap. IX. The magnifying Power of Glaffes in the Double Microfcope ', 3 9 A 4 Chap. viii Contents of the Chapters. Chap. X. To find out the real Size of Objects '■ view d. by Micro/copes, 40 Chap. XL The Area, or Portion of an Ob- ject feen, 48 Chap. XII. Of Obj eels in general, 50 Chap. XIII. Of examining Objects, 52 Chap. XIV. Of preparing and applying Ob- jects, 56 Chap. XV. Cautions in viewing Objects, 62 PART the SECOND. ^Hap. I. Of the Animalcules in Fluids, 68 ^ Chap. II. To make Pepper-Water, 7 1 Chap. III. Of Hay-Water, 76 Chap. IV. Of Eels in Pajle, 81 Chap. V. Of Rain-Water and other Wa- ters, 83 Chap. VI. An Examination of the Blood in Animals, 102 Chap. VII. Some Account of the Blood, as examined by the Microfcope, 103 Chap. VIII. Of viewing the Blood with the Microfcope, 1 1 2 Chap, IX. The Circulation of the Blood, 1 \j Chap. X. Of viewing the Current and Cir- culation of the Blood, 120 Chap. XL The Pulfation of the Heart, 1 %y Chap. XII. Of the mujcular orfefiy Fibres of Animals 3 130 Chap, Contents of the Chapter?. ix Chap. XIII. Of Bones, 143 Chap. XIV. OfYhe'Nerues; 145 Chap. XV. Of the Generation of Animate and Vegetables, 148 Chap. XVI. Of the Animalcules in Scmine Mafculino, 152 Chap. XVII. Animalcules in the Teeth, i6y Chap. XVIII. Of the Itch, 169 Chap. XIX. Of Scales on the Human Skin, 172 Chap. XX. Of the Pores of the Shin, 174 Chap. XXI. Of the Lou/e, j 7? Chap. XXII. Of the Wood-Loufe, 185 Chap. XXIII. Of Mites, 186 Chap. XXIV. Of the Flea, 1 9 1 Chap. XXV. Of Spiders, 196 Chap. XXVI. Of the Gnat, 203 Chap. XXVII. Of the Ox-Fly, or Gad- Bee, 207 Chap. XXVIII. Of the Stings oflnfe&s, 20 > Chap. XXIX. Of a Bees Sting, 2*10 Chap. XXX. Of the Sting of a Scorpion, 2 1 2 Chap. XXXI. OfthePovfon of a Viper, 215 Chap. XXXII. Of the Snail, 217 Chap. XXXIII. Of the common FU, 219 Chap. XXXIV. Of the Weevil, " or Corn- Beetle, 221 Chap. XXXV. Of the Wolf, 223 Chap. XXXVI. Of the pearled Eyes of In- fers, 226 Chap. XXXVII. Of the Antenna?, Feelers, or Horns of Injects, 230 Chap. XXXVIII. Of the Wings of Infers, 2;2 ■•>■ x Contents of the Chapters. Chap. XXXIX. Of the Balances or Poifes bflnfeBs, . 235 Chap. XL . Of the Scales of Fifies, 236 Chap.XLI. OftheOyfter, 239 Chap. XLII. Of the Light on Oyfters, 241 Chap.XLIII. OftheMuJcle i 242 Chap.XLIV. Of Hairs, 245 Chap. XLV. Of the Farina of Flowers, 247 Chap.XLVI. Of Seeds, 251 Chap. XLVII. Of Leaves, 256 Chap. XL VIII. Of Salts in general, 259 Chap. XLIX. Of Salts in Mineral Waters, 262 Chap. L. Mifcellaneous D if cover ies and Ob- fervations, 265 Chap. LI. The Works of Art and Nature compared and confiderd, 292 Chap. LII. Some reafonable Refections on Difcoveries made by the Micro/cope, 300 THE ( * ) THE INTRODUCTION. N tills inquifitive Age, when the Defire of Knowledge has fpread itfclf far and wide, and we fit not down contented, as hereto- fore, with the Opinions of ancient Times, but refolve to examine for Ourfelves, and judge from our own Experience ; it may not, perhaps, prove unacceptable, to point out fome proper Subjects of Enquiry. The Works of Nature are the only Source of true Knowledge, and the Study of them the moft noble Employment of the Mind of Man. Every Part of the Creation demands his Attention, and proclaims the Power and Wifdom of its Almighty Author. The fmalleft Seed, the minuteil InfecT: mews the Skill xii The INTRODUCTION. Skill of Providence in the Aptnefs of its Contrivance for the Purpofes it is to ferve, and difplays an Elegance of Beauty beyond the utmoft Stretch of Art. The Wife in all Ages have been fenfible of this Truth ; and, as far as they were able, have ftudied and enquired into the RecelTes of Nature ; but for want of proper Helps have frequently been miftaken. As certain Principles muft firfl be learn'd e'er we can become Matters of any Science, fo in the School of Nature, we mufl begin with the Minutice, the fmallefr. and moil uncom- pounded Parts, e'er we can underftand the larger and more confiderable. The Ancients, having only their naked Eyes to trufr. to, were uncapable of any great Difcoveries of this Sort : but we are fo happy, that, by the Help of GlalTes, we can diftinguiih and examine Objects many thou- fands of times lefs than what the fharp- eft Eye, unafiifted, can difcern. In fhort, Microscopes furnifh us as it were with a new Senle, unfold the amazing Operations of Nature, and prefent us with Wonders un- thought of by former Ages. Who, a thoufand Years ago, would have imagined it poffible,. to diftinguiih Myriads 2 of The INTRODUCTION. .\iii of living Creatures in a fingle Drop of Wa- ter ? Or that the purple Tide of Life, and even the Globules of the Blood fhould be ken diftinclly, rolling thro' Veins and Arteries fmaller than the fined; Hair ? That Millions of Millions of Animalcules fhould be difco- vered in the Semen Mafculimtm of all Crea- tures ? That not only the exterior Form, but even the internal Structure of the Bowels, and the Motion of the Fluids in a Gnat or Loufe, (hould be render'd Objects of Sight ? Or that numberlefs Species of Creatures fhould be made viiible, tho' fo minute that a Million of them are lefs than a Grain of Sand ? Thefe are noble Dz'fcovcries, whereon a new Philofophy has been raifed, that enlar- ges the Capacity of the human Soul, and furnifhes a more jufl and iublime Idea than Mankind had before, of the Grandeur and Magnificence of Nature, and the infinite Power, Wifdom, and Goodnefs of Nature's Almighty Parent. That Man is certainly the happiefr., who is able to find out the greateft Number of reafonable and ufeful Amufements, eafily attainable and within his Power : and, if fo, he that is delighted with the Works of Na- ture, and makes them his Study, mull: un- doubtedly xiv The INTRODUCTION. doubtedly be happy ; fince every Animal, Flower, Fruit, or Infect, nay, almoft every Particle of Matter, affords him an Enter- tainment. Such a Man never can feel his Time hang heavy on his Hands, or be weary of himfelf, for want of knowing how to em- ploy his Thoughts : each Garden or Field is to him a Cabinet of Curiofities, every one of which he longs to examine fully j and he confiders the whole Univerfe as a Maga- zine of Wonders, which infinite Ages are fcarce fufTicient to contemplate and admire enough. The Invention of GlafTes has brought under our Examination the two Extreams of the Creation, if I may be allowed to call them fo, which were out of the Reach of former Ages : I mean, thofe van: and diftant Bodies of our Syftem, the Sun and Planets ; whofe Dimenfions, Diftances, Motions, Re- gularity, and Order we are become acquaint- ed with by the Help of Telescopes, and thofe exceedingly minute, and to them in- vifible, and unknown (tho* every where at hand) Species of Animals, Plants, Gfc. which the Microscope has difcover'd to us. I leave the Telescope to others, who are better able to do it JuiKce : my Intent in this Difcourfe is to treat of the M i c r o- scope, and encourage its more general Ufe, 2 by Tie INTRODUCTION. xv by mewing the Pleafure and Inftru&ion it can afford us. Mr. Boyle fays, in his Difcourfe of the Ufejuhiefs of Experime?ital Philofopby J that his Wonder dwells not fo much on Nature's Clocks as on her Watches ; and, indeed, up- on comparing the Structure of a Mite with that of an Elephant ; , I believe we mall con- cur in the fame Opinion. The Largenefs and Strength of the One may ftrike us with Wonder and Terror, but we iliall find our- felves quite loft in Amazement, if we atten- tively examine the feveral minute Parts of the Other. For the Mite has more Limbs than the Elephant, each of which is furnim- ed with Veins and Arteries, Nerves, Mufcles, Tendons and Bones : it has Eyes, a Mouth, and a Probofcis too (as well as the Elephant) to take in its Food ; it has a Stomach to digeft it, and Inteftines to carry off what is not retained for Nourishment : it has an Heart to propel the Circulation of its Blood, a Brain to fupply Nerves every where, and Parts of Generation as perfect as the largeft Animal. Let us now Hop, look back, and confider, as far as our Abilities can reach, the exceffive Minutenefs of all thefe Parts ; and if we find thorn fo furprizing and be- yond our Ideas, what mall we fay of thofe many xvi < P W\^^> -72 gym - THE MICROSCOPE Made Eafy, &fc. CHAP. I. Of Microscopes in General. Y Microscopes we are under- itood to mean, lnjiruments of whatever Stru&ure or Contri- vance, that can make jmall Ob- jecls appear larger than they do to the naked Eye. This is effected by Glaffes formed con- vex. B When 2 (^Microscopes in general. When only one fuch convex Glafs or * Lens is ufed for this intent, the Inftrument it is fixt in, however famioned, is called a Single Micro/cope : but if two or more Glaf- ies are employed, conjoyntly, to magnify Objects more, it is then called a Double or Compound Micro/cope. One remarkable Difference in the Effect of thefe two Inftruments is, that an Object view'd through a iingle convex Glafs, appears magnified, in the fame Pofition exactly as when {ten by the naked Eye; but when view'd through a Double Microfcope, com- pofed of three convex Glaffes, all Parts of it become inverted : that is, the Top of the Object appears at Bottom, the Right-fide on the Left, and every Part in the Place mod oppofite to its natural and true Pofition : The Lights and Shades being alfo inverted, the finking parts appear to rife, and the riling parts to fink in. To what Accident, to what Country, or to whom we are obliged for the Invention * The Word Lens properly fignifies a fmal! Glafs in figure ©f a Lentil ; but is extended to any Optic Glafa nut very thick, which either colie&s the Rays of Light into a Point in their Tallage thro' it, or difperfes them apart, according to the Laws of Re fra cl ion. If convex on both Sides, it is cdUd a Convex Lens ; but if one Side be flat, a Plano- Convex : If concave en both Sides, it is term'd a Concave L . j if flat on one Side, a Plano-Concmje ; if convex on oae Side and conc&ve on the other, a Convexs -Concave, or Concavo' L onvex. 1 of 0/ M I c R o s c o P e s in general. 3 of Microfcopes, i; not in me to determine : the Honour has been given by fome to Dkeebel a Dutchman, by others to Fox- tana a Neapolitan, su .: I y others Aill to different People. The firft Appearance of them however was about the Year 162 1 5 fince when they have been improving down to the prefent i'ime. As my Defile is to make People fenfible of the Pleafnre and Information the Micro- icope can afford, and inflruct them how to manage and undcrftand it, rather than how ; • m: ke it, I (hall take up none of their ne with the Manner of melting, griud- ing, polishing, or letting of glafles 5 a Work very few of mv Readers will ever trouble themfelves about. But, infread thereof, Khali endeavour, with all the Brevity and Clear- I am able, to explain the Effects of Glaffes on the Sightj and lead them gradu- ally into the Nature, \Jfc$ y and magnifying Powers of Microfcopes. When Obje£tS are feen through a per- fectly fiat Glafs, the Rays of Light pafs through it from them to the Eye in a (trait Direction, and parallel to each other j and, confequentlv, the Objects appear very little either niminifhed, or enlarged, or nearer, or farther off, than to the naked Eye. But if the Glafs they are feen through has any De- gree of Convexity, the Rays of Light are directed from the Circumference towards B 2 the 4 Of Microscopes in general. the Center, in an Angle proportionable to the Convexity of the Glafs, and meet in a Point, at a greater or lefs Diftance from the Glafs, as it is lefs or more convex. This Point, where the Rays meet, is called the Focus j and this Focus is nearer or farther off, according to the Convexity of the Glafs: for as a little Convexity throws it to a con- iiderable Diftance, when the Convexity is much, the Focus is very near. Its magni- fying Power is alfo in the fame Proportion to the Convexity : for as a flat Glafs magni- fies fcarce at all, the lefs a Glafs departs from Flatnefs, the lefs of courfe it magni- fies ; and the more it approaches towards a globular Figure, the nearer its Focus is, and the more its magnifying Power. People's different Length of Sight depends on the fame Principle, and arifes from a more or lefs Convexity of the Cornea and Cryjialline Humour of the Eye : the round- er thefe are, the nearer will the Focus or Point of meeting Rays be, and the nearer an Object muft be brought to fee it well. The Cafe of fhort-fighted People is only an over Roundnefs of the Eye, which makes a very near Focus ; and that of old People is a finking or flattening of the Eye, whereby the Focus is thrown to a great Diftance : ib that the former may properly be called Eyes of too fliort, and the latter Eyes of too long a Focus. Hence too, the Remedy for the Of M i c p o s c o p e s * « general. 5 the lair, is a convex Glafs, to fupply the want of Convexity in the Eye itfelf, and bring the Rays to a fhorter Focus ; whereas a concave Glafs is needful for the firit, to fcatter the Rays, and prevent their coming to a Point too foon. Nothing is more common than to obferve old People holding Objects they would ex- amine at a great Diftance from them, for the Reafon above-mentioned ; and every body knows, fhort- lighted People cannot diftinguifli any thing without bringing it very near their Eyes. Both Extremes are inconvenient j but thofe whofe Eyes are flat by Age, mould remember with Satisfaction, that they have enjoy'd the Pleafure of them for many Years ; and the fhort-iightcd may comfort themfclves, that they can difTin- gui(h much fmallcr Objects than long right- ed People; for the Object is magnify 'd in Proportion to the Roundnefs of the Eye and the Nearnefs of the Focus, and confequent- ly appears four times as big to an Eye whofe Focus is but four Inches off, as it does to one whofe focal Diftance is at eight Inches. They have alfo this farther Advantage, that Age improves their Eyes, by the fame means it impairs other People's, that is, by mak- ing them more flat. The nearer any Object can be brought to the Eye, the larger will be the Angle under which it appears, and the more it will be B 3 mag- 6 Of Microscopes in general. magnified. Now, that Diftance from the naked Eye, where the generality of People are fuppoied to fee fmall Objects bed:, is, at about eight Inches ; consequently, when fuch Objects are brought neater than eight Inches, (fuppofe to fix) they'll become iefs diftinct \ and if nearer ftili, on to four or three, they will fcarce be feen at all. But by the help of convex Glaffes we are enabled to view things clearly at much fhorter Diftances than thefe : for the Nature of a convex Lens is, to render an Object diftinctly vifrble to the Eye at the Diftance of its Focus; wherefore the fmaller a Lens is, and the more its Convexity, the nearer is its Focus, and the more its magnifying Power. As it is an eafy matter to melt a Glafs Drop or Globule of a much fmaller Dia- meter than any Lens can poiTibly be ground, and as the Focus of a Globule is no farther off than one quarter of its own Diameter, and confequently it mud: magnify to a pro- digious Degree, fome Years ago People were extremely fond of fuch Globules, and ima- gin'd no good Microfcope could be without them : but Experience has iince taught, that they admit fo little Light, can fliew fuch an exceedingly minute part only of any Ob- ject, are fo difficult to make ufe of, and itram the Eyes fo much, that their Power of magnifying, for want of due Diftinctnefs, is rather apt to produce Error than discover Truth ; Of the Kinds of Microscopes. 7 Truth : and therefore now they are very rarely employed. C II A P. II. Of the Ki?ids of Microscopes. MIcroscopf.s are either Single or Double : the Single have but one Lens ; the Double are a Combination of two or more. Each of thefe two Kinds has its particular Advantage : for a iingle Glafs mews the Object nearer at hand, and rather more diltinct ; and a Combination of Glaf- fes prefents a larger Fluid, or, in other Words, exhibits more of an Object, equally magnified, at one View. It fa difficult to determine which of thefe to recommend, frncc each affords a different Kind of Pica* fare. Each of them too can produce con- fiderable Authorities m its Favour ; for Mr. L e e u w enhcek never ufed any but * fingle * Several Writers reprefent the Glailes Mr.L.E eu wen ho ek rm-de ufe of in his Microfcopcs to be little Globules or Spheres of Glafs, which Miftake moll probably arifes from weir undertaking to defcribe what they had never feen : at iheTime f am writing this, the Cabinet of Micro- iVopcs left by that famous rvhn, at his Death, to the Royal .», as a Legacy, is Handing upon my Table ; and I can ■ the World, that every one of the twenty-fix Micro- 1 d therein is a double convexXens, and not a re 01 Globule. B 4 Micro- 8 Of the Kinds of Microscopes. Microfcopes j and, on the contrary, Mr. Hooke made all his Obfervations with double ones. The famous Microfcopes of Mr. Leeu- wenhoek are the moft fi tuple pofiible, be- ing only a fingle Lens, fet between two Plates of Silver perforated with a fmall Hole, with a moveable Pin before it to place the Object on, and adjufl: it to the Eye of the Beholder. By thefe he made thofe wonderful Difcove- ries which furprized the World fo much, and introduced a new Syftem of Philofophy andReafoning, as in theCourfe of thisTrea- tife I fhall find occafion more at large to mention. There are many pretty little Contrivances fold at the Shops for the viewing of fmall Objects, which are entertaining as far as can reafonably be expected from them : but to enumerate all thefe would be a tedious Tafk. It would alfo be a matter more of Curiofity than Profit, to defcribe the Forms and Ap- paratus of the feveral Kinds of Microfcopes that have been contrived fince the firft In- vention of them. I mail therefore confine my felf to give an account of fuch only in ufe among ourfelves at prefenr, as by having a proper Set of GlafTes, gradually magnifying one above another, are fit to make Diicove- ries of Confequence. CHAP. ( 9 ) CHAP. III. Of Mr, Wilson'j Single Pocket - Micro/cope. r l n HE fir ft: that I fliall mention, L>, Mr. Wilson's Jingle Pocket Micro- fcope; the Body whereof made either of Brafs, Ivory, or Silver, is reprefented (Plate I.) by A A. BB. CC. is a long fine-threaded male Screw, that turns into the Body of the Microfcope. D. a convex Glafs at the End of the faid Screw. * Two concave round Pieces of thin Brafs, with Holes of different Diameters in the middle of them, to cover the faid Glafs, and thereby diminifh the Aperture when the grentefl Magnifiers are employed. EE. three thin Plates of Brafs within the Body of the Microfcope, one whereof is bent icmicircularly in the middle, fo as to form an arched Cavity for the Reception of a Tube of Glafs, whereas the two flat Plates are to receive and hold the Sliders between them. F. a piece of Wood or Ivory, arched in the Manner of the femicircular Plate, and cemented thereto, G. the other End of the Body of the- Microfcope, where a hollow female Screw is adapted to receive the different Magnifiers. l H. io W i l s o n ' j jingle "Pocket Micro/cope. H. a fpiral Spring of Steel, between the faid End G and the Plates of Brafs ; intended to keep the Plates in a right Polition, and counteract againfl the long Screw CC. I. a fmall turn'd Handle, for the better holding of the Inilrument, to fcrew on or off at pleafure. To this Microfcope belong ftven different magnifying GlaiTes : fix of them are fet in Silver, Brafs, or Ivory, as in the Figure K, and marked 1.2. 3. 4. 5. 6. the [owe ft Numbers being the greateit Magnifiers. L. is the feventh Magnifier, let in the Manner of a little Barrel, to be held in the Hand for the viewing any larger Object. M. is a flat Slip of Ivory, called a Slider, with four round Holes through it, where- in to place Objects between two Glaffes or Pieces of Mujcovy Talc, as they appear d d d d. Eight fuch Ivory Sliders, and one of Brafs, are ufually fold with this Microfcope ; fome with Objects placed in them, and others empty, for viewing any thing that may of- fer : but whoever pleafes to make a large Collection of Objects, may have as many as he defires, The Brafs Slider is to confine any fmall Object, that it may be viewed without cradling; >r deftroving it. N. is a Forceps, or Pair of Plyers, for the taking up of Infects or other Objects, and adjufting them to the GlafTes. \V 1 1. s o n 's jingle Pocuct Microfcope. 1 1 O. a little Hair-Brufh or Pencil, where-' with to wipe any Dull from off the Glades, or to take up any fmall Drop of Liquid one Would examine, and put it Upon the Talcs or Ifinglafs. P. is a Tube of Gl.ifs, contrived to confine living Objects, fuch as Frogs, Fifties, £ in order to difcover the Blood, as it lire a] >ng the Veins and Arteries. All thefe Particulars are contained in a little neat Box, very convenient for carrying in tlie Pocket. When an Object is to be view'd, thru ft the Ivory Slider, in which the faid Object is placed, between the two flat Brafs Plates : obferving always to put that fide of the Slider where the Brafs Rings are, fartheir from your Eye. Then fcrew on the mag- nifying Glafs you intend to ufe, at the End of the Inflxumcnt G ; and looking through it againft the Light, turn the long Screw CC, till your Object be brought to fit your Eye; which you will know by its appearing then perfectly diltindt and clear. 'Tis bell to look at it firft through a Magnifies thai cm Ihew the Whole thereof at once, and afterward^ to iufpeel: the feveral Parts more particularly with one of the greatcil firs : for thus you will gain a true Idea of the Whole, and of all its Parts. And I the greatcfr Magnifiers can {hew but a mi- nute Portion of any Object at or.ee, iuch as trie 12 W I l s o n 's Jingle Pocket Microjcope: the Claw of a Flea, the Horn of a Loufe, or the like j yet by gently moving the Slider that contains your Object, the Eye will gra- dually overlook it all : and if any Part fhould be out of Diftance, the Screw CC will eafily bring it to the true Focus. As Objects mufr be brought very near the GlafTes when the greateit Magnifiers are ufed, be particularly careful not to fcratch them, by rubbing the Slider againft them, as you move it in or out. A few Turns of the Screw CC will eafily prevent this Mif- chief, by giving them Room enough. You may change the Objects in your Sliders, for what others you think proper, by taking out the Brafs Rings with the Point of a Pen-knife ; the Ifinplafs will then fall out, if you but turn the Sliders ; and after putting what you pleafe between them, by replacing the Brafs Rings, you will fatten them as they were before. 'Tis proper to have fome Sliders furnifhed with Talcs, but without any Objects between them, to be always in Readinefs for the Examination of Fluids, Salts, Sands, Powders, the Farina of Flowers, or any other cafual Objects of fuch fort as need only be apply'd to the Out- fide of the Talc. The Circulation of the Blood may eafieft be feen in the Tails or Fins of Fifties, in the fine Membrane between a Frog's Toes, or, beft of all, in the Tail of a Water-Newt. If ' Wilson's flngle Pocket Micro/cope. 13 If your Object be a fmall Fifh, place it with- in the Tube, and ipread its Tail or Fin a- gainit the Side thereof: if a Frog, chufe fuch an one as can but jufl be got into your Tube, and with a Pen or Stick expand the tranfparent Membrane between the Toes of the Frog's hind Foot as wide as you are able. When your Object is fo adjured, that no part thereof can intercept the Light from the Place you intend to view, unicrcw the long Screw CC, and thruft your Tube into the arched Cavity, quite thro' the Body of the Microfcope ; then (crew it to the true focal Diftance, and you'll fee the Blood pall- ing along its VelTels with a rapid Motion, and in a moft furprizing Manner. Make ufe of the third or fourth Magnifier for Frogs, or Fifties ; but for the Tails of Water-Newts, the fifth or fixth will do ; becaufe the Globules of their Blood are twice as large as thofe of Frogs or Fifh. The firft or fecond Magnifier cannot well be employ- ed to this Purpofe, for the Thicknefs of the Tube wherein the Object lies, will fcarce admit its being brought fo near as the focal Distance of the Magnifier. The Single Microfcope above defcribed, may be formed into a Double One, by fere vy- ing it to a Tube with an Eye-Glafs at the End thereof: it is alio made to anfwer nearly the Purpofes of the large Double Re- flecting Microjcope by the Contrivance fol- lowing. CHAP. 1 4 Of the Pocket Microfcope CHAP. IV. A new Invention for fixing the Pocket Mi- crofcope, and giving Light to it by a Speculum. Plate 11. IN this Plate, A is a Scroll of Brafs, nx'd upright on a round Pedeflal of Wood, B. fo as to (land perfectly tirrh and (leady, C. is a Brafs Screw, that panes through a Hole in the upper Limb of the Scroll, into the Side of the Microfcope D, and fcrcws it fa ft to the faid Scroll. E. a concave Looking-glafs or Speculum, fet in a Box of Brafs, which hangs in the Arch G, by two fmall Screws ff that fcrew into the eppofite Sides thereof. At the Bottom of the faid Arch is a Pin of the fame Metal, exactly fitted to a Hole h, in the wooden Pedeflal, made for the Reception of the faid Pin. As the Arch turns on this Pin, and the Speculum turns on the Ends of the Arch, it may, by this twofold Motion, be eahly ad- jufted, in fuch a Manner, as to reflect the Light of the Sky, the Sun, or a Candle, directly upwards, through the Microfcope that is fixed perpendicularly over i ! : ; and by fo doing, may be made to anfwer almoil all the Ends of the large Double Reflecting MitroJcope> which I {hall prefemly delcribe. The fUZ. r ' Ilijht'Jcu/p /V., A ■///. The Double RefleSting Micro /cope, ij or lower, or turn the Screw of the Magni- fier gradually, till the Object appears dif- tinct. Take notice, that the greateit Mag- nifiers have the fmalleft Apertures and the lowed Numbers. L. is a circular Plate of Brafs, fixt hori- zontally between the three Brafs Pillars, and in the Center thereof a round Hole M. is adapted to receive a proper Contrivance N. for holding Ivory Sliders wherein Objects are placed : which Contrivance confifts of a fpiral Steel Wire confined between three Brafs Circles, one whereof is moveable for the Admiffion of a Slider. O. is a round Brafs Plate, with feveral Holes for placing Objects in, fome of which are ufually furnilh'd with them at the Shops: but two Holes are commonly referved for fmall concave GlafTes, whereon to place a Drop of any Liquid, in order to view the Animalcules, &c. There is alfo a piece of white Ivory, and a piece of black Ebony, of the fame Size and Shape as the Holes for Objects : the Ivory is to put opake Objects on that are black, and the Ebony is to re- ceive fuch as are white j by which Contra- riety of Colours they will be fecn more clearly.— At the Bottom of this Object- Plate is a Button, to flip into a Slit P. that fits it, on the circular Plate of Brafs : and by turn- ing it round on this Pin, all the Objects C may 1 8 The Double RefcBing Micro/cope. may be examin'd fucceflively with very little Trouble. Q^_is a concave Looking-glafs, fet in a Box of Brafs, and turning in an Arch R. upon two fmall Screws s s. From the Bot- tom of the Arch comes a Pin, which by letting down into a Hole /. in the Center of the Pedeftal, enables it to turn vertically, or horizontally, and reflect the Light, either of a Candle, or the Sky, directly upwards on the Object to be viewed. V.- is a Plano-convex Lens, which by turning on two Screws **, when the Pin at the Bottom of it is placed in the Hole W. for its Reception in the circular Plate L. will tranfmit the Light of a Candle, to illuminate any opake Object that is put on the round Piece of Ivory, or on the Ebony, for Exami- nation : and it may be moved higher or low- er as the Light requires. This Glafs is of good fervice to point the Sunmine, or the Light of a Candle upon any opake Object; but in plain Day-light it is of no great ufe. X. a Cone of black Ivory, to fatten on a Shank underneath the Brafs circular Plate L. principally, when the firft or fecond Magni- fier is made ufe of, and the Object very tranfparent : for Experience teaches, that fuch Objects are render'd much more dif- tinctly vifible, by intercepting fome part of the oblique Rays reflected from the concave Looking-glafs. The The Double Reflecting Micro/cope. i 9 The Brafs Fifh-pan Y. is, to faften a Smelt, GudgCbfl, or any fuch fmall Filh upon, i ■ fee the Blood circulate in its Tail. 1 which purpofe, the Tail of the Fiih rnuft be fpread acrofs the oblong Hole at the fmalleft End of the Pan : then, by flipping the Button on the Eaeklide of the Pan into the Slit P. through the circular Plate L. the Spring that comes from the Button will make it fteadv, and pfefeflt it well to View. • But if it be a Frog, a Newt, or Eel, in which the Circulation is defired to be (hewn, a Glafs-Tube 1. is fitted for the purpofe. The Tail of a Newt, or Eel, or, in a Frog, the Web between the Toes of the Hind- Feet, are the Parts where it may be feen belt. When the Object is well expanded on the Infide of the Tube, Hide theTube along under the circular Brafs Plate L. (where there are two Springs and a Cavity made in the Shank to hold it) and bring your Object di- rectly under the Magnifier. There are three of thefc Glafs Tubes, fmaller one than another, and the Size of the Object: rnuft direct; which to life ; but in general, the lefs Room the Creature has' to move about in, the eafier it may be manag- ed, and the quieter it will lye to be exa- mined. The Cell 2. with a concave and a plain Glafs in it, is intended to confine Fleas, Lice, Mites, or any fmall living Objects, C 2 dklrin^ 20 'The Double Reflecting Microfcope. during pleafure ; and by placing it over the Hole M. in the middle of the circular Brafs Plate, they may be viewed with much Con- veniency. Three loofe GlafTes, viz. one plain, and two concave, belong alfo to this Microfcope, and are deflgned to confine Objects, or place them upon occafionally. The long Steel Wire 3. with a pair of Plyers at one End, and a Point at the other, to hold fail, or flick Objects on, flips back- wards or forwards in a Brafs fhort Tube, whereto a Button is fattened, which fits in- to the little Hole z y near the Edge of the Brafs Plate L : and, then, the Object may be readily brought to a right Pofition, and a Light be caff upon it, either by the Looking- glafs underneath, or, if it be opake, by the Plano-convex Lens V. 4. is a flat Piece of Ivory called a Slider, with four round Holes through it, and Ob- jects placed in them, between Mufcovy Talcs or Ifinglafs, kept in by Brafs Wires. It is proper to have a Number of thefe Sliders filled with curious Objects, always ready, as well as fome empty ones, for any new thing that offers. When made ufe of, thruft them between the Brafs Rings of the Contrivance on purpofe for them, N. which moots into the round Hole M. in the Center of the Brafs Plate L. This keeps them fteady, and at the fame time permits them 1 1 be moved to and fro for a thorough Exa- n nation. A The Double Reflecting Micro fcope. 2 r A little Ivory round Box 5. to hold pieces of Ifinglais for the Sliders. 6. a fmall Hair Brufh, to wipe any Duft off the GlafTes, or to apply a Drop of any Liquid. 7. a pair of Nippers, to take up any Ob- ject to be examined. The twoMicrofcopes I /hall defcribe next, viz. the Solar, or Camera Obfcura Micro- fcope, and the Micro/cope for Opake Objects, are of a foreign Invention, and but lately known to us. We are, indeed, obliged for them both to a Gentleman of Prufjia, the ingenious Dr. Liberkhun, who when he was in England, about two Years ago, Shew- ed an Apparatus for each of thefe Purpofes, of his own Contrivance and Workmanfhip, to feveral Gentlemen of the Royal Society, and alio to fome Opticians j amongfl whom, Mr. Cuff, againft Serjeants-Inn Gate, in Flcetjlreet, has taken great Pains to improve and bring them to Perfection : and therefore I fhall give a Defcription of them, as made and fold by him. C 3 CHAP. 22 Of the Solar y or CHAP. VI. The Solar ', or Camera Obfcura Microfcope. THIS Microfcope depends on the Sun- mine, and mult be made ufeof in a. darken'd Chamber, as its Name implies. It is compofed of a Tube, a Looking- glafs, a convex Lens, and Wilson's fingle Pocket Microfcope before defcribed, p. 9. The Tube is of Brafs, near two Inches in Diameter, fixed in a circular Collar of Mahogany : which, turning round at plea- fure, in a fquare Frame of the fame Wood a may be adjufled eafily to a circular Hole in; the Shutter of a Window whereon the Sun comes ; in fuch a manner, that no Light can pafs into the Room but through the aforefaid Tube. Fattened to the Frame, by Hinges, on the Side that goes without the Window, is a Looking-glafs : which (by means of a jointed Wire coming thro' the Frame, to- gether with a Brafs Pulley, that by the crofiing of a Cat-gut ferves to turn it round) may be moved, either vertically, or horizon- tally, as the Situation of the Sun mall re- quire, to throw its Rays through the Brafs Tube into the darken'd Room. The End of the Tube without the Window has a convex Lens, to collect the Rays, and 1 ' bring Camera Obscura Mkrq/cope. 2 3 bring them to a Focus ; and, on the End within the Room, Wilson'* Sitigle Pocket Microfcope mult be (brewed, with the Ob- ject to be examined, applied to it in a Slider. The Sun's Rays being directed by the Looking-glafs through the Tube upon the Object, the Image or Picture of the Object will be thrown, distinctly and beautifully, upon a Screen of white Paper, or a white Linen Sheet, placed at fome Diftance to receive the fame ; and may be magnified, to a Size beyond the Imagination of thofe who have not feen it : for the farther off the Screen is removed, the larger will the Ob- ject appear ; inibmuch, that a Loufe may be magnified to the Length of five or fix Feet, or even a great deal more : but it is, indeed, more diitinct, when not enlarged to above half that Size. When this Microfcope is employed, the Room mull be render'd as dark as poiTible : for on the Darknefs of the Room, and the Brightnefsof the Sunfhine, depend theSharp- nefs and Beauty of your Image. The Tube and Looking-glais mould alfo be fettled right, before you put on the Microfcope ; the way of doing which is, by turning them about, until the Light becomes reflected in a direct Line through the Tube, and forms upon the Screen a bright Spot exactly round : for the Roundneis of this Spot proves the true Po- C 4 fition 24 Of the Solar, or fition of the Inftrument, and that the Mi- crofcope and Object may be then apply'd. Within the Tube is a Aiding Drawer, that pulls out more or lefs, as the Object is able to endure the Sun's Heat. Dead Ob- jects may be brought within about an Inch of the Focus of the convex Lens at the End of the Tube without the Window j but the Diftance muft be fhorten'd for living Crea- tures, or they will foon be killed. The Body of the Microfcope (after taking out the Lens at the End thereof) muft be fcrewed to a fhort Tube of about one Inch and a half in length, made to flip over the fmall End of the Aiding Drawer ; by which means, the Objects may be brought to their true focal Diftance, which will be known by the Clearnefs and Sharpnefs of their Ap- pearance : they may alfo be turn'd round, without being at all diforder'd. The Magnifiers are to be fcrewed to the End of the Microfcope, and the Sliders ap- ply'd in the ufual manner; and, generally fpeaking, the fourth, fifth, or fixth Glafs exhibits the Object beft. This Microfcope is the moft entertaining of any, and, perhaps, the moft capable of making Difcoveries, in Objects that are not too opake: as it thews them much larger than can be done any other way. There are alfo feveral Conveniencies attending it, which no other Microfcope can have : for the Camera Obscura Microfcope. 2$ the weakeft Eyes may ufe it without the lead Straining or Fatigue : Numbers of Peo- ple may view any Object together at the fame Time, and, by pointing to the parti- cular Parts thereof, and diicourling on what lies before them, may be able better to un- derftand one another, and more likely to find out the Truth, than when, in other Microfcopes, they muft peep one after an- other, and perhaps fee the Object neither in the fame Light, nor the fame Pofition. Such too as have no Skill in Drawing, may, by this Contrivance, ealily fketch out the exact Fi- gure of any Object they have a mind to pre- ferve a Picture of ; fince they need only faft- ew a Paper upon the Screen, and trace it out thereon either with a Pen or Pencil, as it appears before them. It is worth their while, who are defirous to take many Draughts this way, to get a Frame, wherein a Sheet of Paper may be put or taken out at pleafure ; for if the Paper be fingle, the Image of an Object will be ken as plainly almoft on the back as on the fore Side, and by {landing behind the Screen, the Shade of the Hand will not ob- flruct the Light in Drawing, as it muft in fome degree when one ftands before it. I mult obferve, that Dr. Liberkhun's Solar Microfcope had no Looking-glafs be- longing to it, and therefore was of ufe a few Hours only in a Day, when the Tube could be I placed 26 • Of the Micro/cope placed directly againft the Body of the Sun, and even then not without a good deal of Trouble ; but by this lucky Contrivance of a Looking-glais, the Sun's Rays may be re- flected thro' the Tube, whatever its Height or Situation be, provided it mines at all upon the Window, and that too with much Eafe and Advantage. CHAP. VII. Of the Micro/cope for Opake Objctfs. THIS Microfcope remedies the Inconve- nience of having the dark Side of an Object next the Eye, which has hitherto been an unfurmountable Obstruction to the mak- ing Obfervations on opake Objects with any considerable Degree of Exactnefs or Satis- faction : for in all other Contrivances com- monly known, the Nearnefs of the Inftru- ment to the Object (when GlafTes that mag- nify much are uied) unavoidably overfhadows it fo much as to render its Appearance ob- fcure and undiftinct. And, notwithstanding Ways have been tried to point Light upon an Object, from the Sun, or a Candle, by a convex Glafs placed on the fide thereof : the Rays from either can be thrown upon it in luch an acute Angle only, that they ferve to give a confufed Glare, but are infugicient to afford for Opake Objects. 27 afford a clear and perfect View of the Ob- ject But In this new Microfcope, by means of a concave Speculum of Silver, highly polifh- ed, in whole Center a magnifying Lens is placed, fo direct and ttrong a Light is re- flected upon the Object, that it may be ex- amined with all imaginable Eafe and Plea- fure. The Apparatus for this Purpofe (as in the Plate, Numb. IV.) has afforded me more Delight and Satisfaction than I am able to defcribe j and whoever trys it, will I believe join in my Opinion, that he never before (aw an opake Object with fo much Clear- nefs, and in fo perfect and true a manner. The feveral Parts o( this Inttrument made cither of Brafs or Silver, are as follows. Through the firft fide, A. paffes a fine Screw B. the other End whereof is fattened to the moveable fide C. D. is a Nut adapted to the faid Screw, by the turning of which the two fides A. C. are gradually brought together. E. is a Spring of Steel, that feparates the faid two fides when the Nut is unferewed. F. a piece, of Brafs turning round in a. Socket, whence proceeds a fmall Spring Tube moving upon a Rivet, through which Tube there runs a Steel Wire, one End whereof terminates in a fharp Point G. and the other hath a pair of Flyers H. fattened to it. — The Point 28 Of the Micro/cope Point and Plyers are to thru ft into or take up and hold any Infect or Object : and either of them may be turned upwards, as fuits your Purpofe be ft, I. a Ring of Brafs with a female Screw within it, mounted on an upright piece of the fame Metal, which turns round on a Rivet, that it may be fet at a due Diftance when the leaft Magnifiers are employed. This Ring receives the Screws of all the Magnifiers. K. a concave Speculum of Silver, polim'd as bright as poffible, in the Center of which a double convex Lens is placed, with a pro- per Aperture to look through it. On the Back of this Speculum a male Screw L. is made fit to the Brafs Ring I. to fcrew into the faid Ring at pleafure. There are four of thefe concave Specula, of different Depths, adapted to four GlarTes of different magnifying Powers, to be ufed as Objects to be examined may require. The greateft Magnifiers are known by having the leaft Apertures. M. a round Obj eel:- Plate, one fide white and the other black, intended to render Ob- jects the more vifible, by placing them, if black on the white, and if white on the black fide. A Steel Spring N. turns down on each fide to make any Object faft : and iffuing from the Object-Plate is a hollow Pipe to fcrew it on the Needle's Point G. o. for Opake ObjcBs. 29 O. a fmall Box of Brafs, with a Glafs on each fide, contrived to confine any living Object, in order to examine it : this alfo has a Pipe to fcrew upon the End of the Needle G. P. a turned Handle of Wood, to fcrew into the Inftrument when it is made ufe of. Q^a pair of Brafs Plyers, to take up any Object, or manage it with Convcniency. R. a foft Hair Bruih, to clean the GlafTes or Specula, or apply a Drop of any Liquid to the Iiindafs of the Box O. in order to o view the Animalcula. S. a fmall Ivory Box for IfinglafTes, to be placed when wanted in the fmall Braf> Box O. When you would view any Object, fcrew the Speculum, with the Magnifier you think beft to ufe, into the Brafs Ring I. Place your Object either on the Needle G. in the Plyers H. on the Object-Plate M. or in the Brafs hollow Box O. as may be mod convenient, according to the Nature and Condition of it: then holding up your Inftrument by the Handle P. look again ft the Light, through the magnifying Lens, and by means of the Nut D. together with the Motion of the Needle, by managing its lower End, the Object may be turn'd about, raifed, or de- prelled, brought nearer the Glafs, or put farther from it, till you hit the true focal Distance, 30 Of the Micro/cope Diftance, and the Light be feen reflected from the Speculum flrongly upon the Ob- ject : by which means, it will be {hewn in a manner furprizingly diflinct and clear. And for this purpofe, the Light of the Sky, or of a Candle, will anfwer to your Satis- faction. This Microfcope is principally intended for opake Objects, but tranfparent ones may alio be viewed by it : obferving only, that when fuch come under Examination, it will not always be proper to throw on them the Light reflected from the Speculum : for the Light tranfmitted through them meeting the reflected Light, may together produce too great a Glare. A little Practice will teach how to regulate both thefe Lights to good Advantage. There is F^eafon to expect great Difcove- ries may be made by the Apparatus above defcribed, as Opake Objects are a large Field, but little hitherto examined, by reafon of the great Difficulty in doing it. Having given a Defcription of the feveral forts of Microfcopes in ufe amongfl us at prefent, and fhewn what particular Advan- tages may be expected from each, I fhall proceed to inftruct the Ignorant in thefe Things, with all the Clearnefs I can, to find out the magnifying Powers of the GlafTes they make ufe of, and calculate how many times > for Opa&e Objects. 3 1 times they enlarge the Diameter, the Super- ficies, and the * Cube or folid Square of anv Object under Examination. And this, I perfuade my felf, will be highly fatisfa&orv, ' and induce many People to be fond of this mod delightful and inltructive Study, when the Difficulties they imagined in it are re- moved, and they perceive it to be as eafy as it is pleafant i when they find themfelves able to judge of what they fee, not by meer random Guefs, but by certain and plain- Principles. CHAP. VIII. To find the Magnifying Power of Glajfes employed in Single Micro/copes. TH E Appearance of any Object, as to Magnitude, is according to the Angle it is feen under ; or, in other Words, ac- cording to the Nearnefs it can be brought to the Eye : for the lefs the Diftance it can be viewed at is, the more it will appear en- larged. * Some, perhaps, may diflike my fuppofing the Cube of ah Object to be magnified, fince in reality the Superficies only can be feen : but the Neceflity of fuch a Suppofuion will appear plainly in the Progrefs of this Work, when we come to confider the true Size of Microfcopical Objects, by com- paring them with larger Bodies. The 32 The Magnifying Power of Glajfes. The naked Eye is unable to diftingui/h any Object brought exceedingly near it : but looking through a convex Lens, how- ever near the Focus of that Lens be, there an Object may be diftinctly feen : and the fmaller the Lens is, the nearer will be its Focus, and in the fame Proportion the great- er mud be its magnifying Power. From thefe Principles, it is eafy to find the Reafon, why the firft or greater!: Mag- nifiers are fo extremely minute - y and alfo to calculate the magnifying Power of any con- vex Lens employed fingly in a Microfcope. For fuch as the Proportion of the natural Sight to the Focus of the Lens is, fuch will be its Power of magnifying. If the Focus of a convex Lens (for Example) be at one Inch, and the natural Sight at eight Inches, which is the common Standard, an Object may be {ten through that Lens at one Inch diftant from the Eye : and will appear, in its Diameter, eight times larger than to the naked Eye. But as the Object is magnified every way equally, in Length as well as Breadth, we muft fquare this Diameter to know really how much it appears enlarged j and we mall then find, that its Superficies is indeed magnified fixty-four times. Again : Suppofe a convex Lens whofe Focus is at one Tenth of an Inch diftant from its Center : In eight Inches there are eighty fuch Tenths of an Inch j and there- fore The magnifying Power of Glaffes. 3 3 fore an Object may be feen through this Lens eighty times nearer than it can diftinct- ly by the naked Eye. It will confequently appear eighty times longer, and eighty times broader, than it does to common Sight ; and as eighty multiplied by eighty makes fix thoufand and four hundred, fo many times it really appears magnified. To go one ftep firther : If a convex Glafs be fo fmall, 'that its Focus is no more than one twentieth of an Inch diftant j we (hall find, that eight Inches, the common Distance of Sight, contains an hundred and fixty of thefe twentieth Parts ; and, in con- fequence, the Length and Breadth of an Object, when ken through fuch Lens, will each be magnified an hundred and fixty times ; which, multiplied by an hundred and fixty, to give the Square, will amount to twenty-five thoufand fix hundred : and fo many times, it is plain, the Superficies of the Object mult appear larger than it does to the naked Eye at the Diflance of eight Inches. Therefore, in a fingle Microfcope, to learn the magnifying Power of any Glafs, no more is neceffary than to bring it to its true Focus j the exact Place whereof will be known, by an Object's appearing perfect- ly diitinct and fharp when placed there. Then with a Pair of fmall Compaffes, mea- D fure, > 4 The Magnifying Power of Glafj'es. Cure, as nearly as y )u can, the Dil ranee from the Center of the Glafs to the Object you was viewing, and afterwards applying the CompalTes to any Ruler with a Diagonal Scale of the Parts of an Inch marked on it, you will eafily find how many Parts of an Inch the faid Diftance is : When that is known, compute how many times thofe Parts of an Inch are contained in eight Inches, the common Standard of Sight, and that will give you the Number of times the Diameter is magnified : fquaring the Dia- meter will give you the Superficies ; and if it be an Object whofe Depth or whole Con- tents you would learn, multiplying the Su- perficies by the Diameter will mew the Cube or Bulk. The Superficies of one Side only of an Object can be feen at one View ; and to compute how much that is magnified is moft commonly fufficient. But fometimes it is fatisfadtory to know how many minute Objects are contained in a larger : as, fup- pofe, for Inftance, I defire to know, how many Animalcules would make up the Big- nefs of a Grain of Sand : To aniwer this, the Cube as well as the Superficies of the Animalcules muft be taken into the Ac- count ; as will be (hewn in the next Chap- ter. As To be placed after Page 34. *A TABLE of the MAGNIFYING POWERS of CONVEX GLASSES employed in Single Microscopes, according to the Diftance of their Focus : Calculated by the Scale of an Inch divided into an Hundred Parts : Shewing how many times the Diameter, the Superficies, and the Cube of an Object is magnified, when viewed through fuch Glajfes, to an Eye whofe natural Sight is at Eight Inches, or Eight Hundred of the Hundredth Parts of an Inch. Magnifies the Dia- meter , Magfiifies the Super- ficies, Magnifies the Q\xbtof anOb- r r> or so ' 16 256 4,096 X };> or 40 -hi or 3° 20 26 400 676 8,000 *7>57 6 . j, or 20 40 1,600 64,000 15 53 2,809 148,877 14 57 3> 2 49 l8 5> 1 93 *3 •3 61 3>7 21 226,981 1 2 ~ 66 4>35° 287,496 The Focus of a Glafs at ^ 1 1 io, or 10 9 •8 72 CO 80 1 88 5> l8 4 6,400 7>744 373> 2 4 8 512,000 681,472 ! > Times. 8 13 1 00 10,000 1,000,000 7 1 ,J 4- 1 2,996 1,481,544 6 K ^33 17,689 2 >35 2 > 6 37 » L X or 5 1 60 25,600 4,096,000 4 200 40,000 8,000,000 3 266 70,756 18,821,096 fo 3 or 2 400 160,000 64,000,000 ~ 1 . 8co 640,000 I 512,000,000. % The grea tell Magnifier in Mr. Leeuw en hoek's Cabinet of Microfcopes, prefented to the Royal Society, has its Focus, as nearly as can well be meafured, at one Twentieth of an Inch Diftance from its Center, and confequentl/ magnifies the Dia?neter of an Objecl 160 times, and the Superficies 25,600. But the greateft Magnifier in Mr, Wi l son's Single Microfcopes, as they are now made, has ufually its Focus at no farther Diftance than about the Fiftieth Part of «a Inch ; whereby it has a Power of enlarging the Diameter of an Object 400, and its Superficies j 60,000 times. J £ >>;* 7$ as i lent! 30 N art < ~ & J ^ ft « tf/ Society, and confe nMr, Wi he Fiftieth 5,000 tim< o TJ" r^ o O SO o o o OO o O i-n o o Microfc in Inch 5,600. t no fai 1 Objea o^ o q o o~ cm t^ LO o o o o »■* M »—i M ^- t>.o tJ- ^ ™ n « a M vO 4-. ° •«• 2 '4 ■« £, 2 ^ o ^ CO o o vO o o o t-H coo o vO o o •-I "-« *- CM CM <«- so "* EEU furcc 60 ti enla o u o 3gnifier in Mr. L can well be mea ter of an Objecl 1 as they are now it has a Power of ++ «l8 HIS, ,^ *=5 S .• • P=5 > » J The greateft Focus, as nearly a magnifies the Dia Single Microfcope est Inch ; whereb TV//// Tbe Magnifying Power o/G/affes. 35 As this Treatife is chiefly intended for thofe who underftand but little of fuch Mat- ters, it may neither be needlefs, nor unac- ceptable, to give a Table of the magnifying Powers of the convex Glades commonly ufed in fingle Microfcopes, according to their different Focus : whereby, upon meafuring what the belt. Diftance from the Glafs to view the Objecl is, its Power of magnifying the Diameter, the Superficies, and the Cube of an Object will be found in one Line. See the Table *. As this Table is given in round Num- bers, it is fo clear and eafy, that I believe whoever can but divide and multiply a few Figures will readily underftand it. I have taken no Notice of any Magnifier whole Focus is at a greater Diftance than the half of an Inch ; becaufe Glades that mag- nify lefs than that, may very eafily be calcu- lated by the Rules above laid down : Nor, when I come to the greateft Magnifiers, have I mentioned any of a fhorter Focus than the one hundredth part of an Inch j fince it is fo difficult to grind a Lens to a Smallnefs beyond, or even fo minute as this, that per- haps few of my Readers may ever meet with fuch an one. And though Globules of Glafs may be melted fo extreamly little, as to have their Focus at not half this Diftance, D 2 and 36 The Magnifying Power o/G/aJJes. and confequently their magnifying Powers prodigioufly greater ; the ufe of them is fo troublefome, and attended with fuch want of Light, fuch Undiftinclnefs and Uncertain- ty, that indeed they are of very little Ser- vice. The magnifying Powers of the Glafles employed in Wilson's Pocket Micro/cope, and alfo of thofe belonging to the opake Mi- crolcope, are to be calculated in the forego- ing Manner. And as People will, no doubt, be pleafed to know certainly what the Pow- ers of their Glafles are, and confequently what may be expected from them, it would be much better if the Micro/cope -Makers would grind their Glafles according to fome fettled Standard, and not work by guefs, as they ufually do at prefent, whereby no two Sets of Magnifiers can be fuppofed exactly alike. Such a Standard, which would afford a very ufeful Set of Glafles, magnifying one more than another in due Degrees, is, I think, as follows. %%$£ The The Magnifying Powers ofGlafes. 37 The FOCAL DISTANCES of Six Magnifiers for Mr. Wilson's Pocket Microfcopc. * Magnifies [ Magnifies the the Diam. Superficies, "\ ;" j'o» or 2 1 #\ — 400^ c > Dift. of the Fo-j t'o> or 5 •= — 160 c n t/isJ^uvme&r B. C ^ 1- H 1- -I 1- JFiM>r ti/m&f Ids tAafi £/ieJ)ia,meter<7f3f°f. • Ten tvm&f k$ t/uwi (AeJ)uwneter cfjRF.2. . viewed by Micro/copes. 43 pirft fort, 1. whofe Diameter is lefs than that of a Grain of Sand. 12 times 12 144 Of the firft fort, 1,728 in a Grain of Sand. Second fort, 2. whofe Diameter is lefs than that of the firft fort. 4 times 4 16 _4 64 in one of the firft fort. Third fort, 3. whofe Diameter is lefs than that of the fecond fort, 10 times 10 100 10 1000 in one of the 2d fort. 1728 44 ¥be Size of Objefis 1728 of the firft fort in a Gj*. of Sand. 64 of the 2d fort in one of the ift. h »i 1 — 69I2 IO368 1 10,592 of the 2d fort in a Gr. of Sand. 1000 of the 3d fort in 1 of the 2d. 1 10,592,000 of the 3d fort in a Grain of Sand. After this manner, the comparative Size of all forts of Objects may very eafily be computed, only fubftituting (for fuch as are lefs minute) a fmall Seed, or fome other Body whofe Size we are well acquainted with, in the room of a Grain of Sand. And, particularly, by the Solar Microfcope, our Calculations may be made with great Certainty ; fmce the Image of the Object enquired after, and of the Grain of Sand, the fmall Seed, or whatever elfe is thought proper to compare with it, may be really meafured by a Ruler, or a Pair of CompafTes, and the Difference of their Diameters moil exactly found. The Method Mr. Hooke made ufe of, to know how much an Object appears magni- fied, I fhall give in his own Words. tl Having (fays he) rectified the Microfcope, " to fee the defired Object through it very u diftinctly j at the fame time that I look " upon viewed by Microfcopes. 45 t( upon the Object through the Glafs with " one Eye, I look upon other Objects at " the fame Diftance with my other bare tc Eye : by which means I am able, by the " Help of a Ruler divided into Inches and il fmall Parts, and laid on the Pedeftal of " the Microfcope, to cart: as it were the t{ magnified Appearance of the Object upon " the Ruler, and thereby exactly to mea- " fure the Diameter it appears of through " the Glafs ; which being compared with " the Diameter it appears of to the naked M Eye, will eafily afford the Quantity of its 11 being magnified." — 'This, for Multitudes of Objects, is a ready and good Way ; and I can declare from my own Experience, that a little Practice will render it exceeding eafy and pleafant. Another very curious Way for this Pur- pofe,is defcribed by the ingenious Dr. Jurin, in the 45th Page of his Pbyfico-mathematical Differtations ; the Manner whereof is thus: Wind a piece of the fineil Silver Wire you can get a great many times about a Pin, or fome other fuch (lender Body, fo clofely as to leave no Interval between the Wire- Threads ; to be certain of which they mufh be carefully examined with a Glafs. Then, with the Points of a fmall Pair of CompafTes, meafure exactly what Length of the Pin the Wire covers : and applying the Companies with that Meafure to a diagonal Scale of Inches, 46 The Size of ObjeSfi Inches, you'll find how much it is : after which, by counting the Number of Wire- Rounds contain'd in that Length, you'll ea- fily difcover the real Thicknefs of the fingle Wire. This being known, cut it into very fmall Pieces, and when you examine an Object, if it be opake, ftrew fome of thefe Wires upon it ; if tranfparent, under it ; and with your Eye compare the Parts of the Object with the Thicknefs of fuch Bits of Wire as lye faired: to your View. By this Method Dr. Jur in obferved, that four Globules of human Blood would gene- rally cover the breadth of a Wire, which he had found to be T £ T th part of an Inch ; and confequently that the Diameter of a fin- ele Globule was wfestk part of an Inch. Which was alfo confirmed by Mr. Leeu- wenhoek's Obfervations upon human Blood, made with a piece of the fame Wire, fent to him by Dr. Jur in. Vide Philofoph. Tranf. N°' 377. Mr. Martin, in his Optics, gives ano- ther way, fufficiently eafy and ready on all Occafions. On a circular Piece of Glafs, let a Number of parallel Lines be drawn t carefully with the tine Point of a Diamond, at the Diftance of one fortieth Part of an Inch from each other. If this be placed in the Focus of the Eye-glafs of a Microfcope, the Image of the Object will be fctn upon thule Lines, and the Parts thereof may be compared "oieivd by Micro/copes. 47 compared with the Intervals, whereby its true Magnitude, or Dimenfions, may be ve- ry nearly known : for the Intervals of thefe Lines, though fcarce difcernible to the naked Eye, appear very large through the Micro- fcope. A Contrivance of this Kind mav alio be invented for fueh Micro fcopes, as a Glafs cannot be apply'd to in the above man- ner, by placing it under or behind the Ob- ject, which will anfwer the fame Purpofe. Hereby it will be eafy to find what pro- portion an Object, or any Part thereof, bears to an Interval between two Lines, and then determine it in Parts of an Inch : for if the Width of an Object appears juft one Inter- val, we (hall know it to be Jul! one fortieth Part of an Inch ; if half an Interval, the eightieth ; if a quarter of an Interval, the one hundred and lixtieth ; if one fifth, only the two hundredth Part of an Inch. Dr. Smith has an Invention akin to this, for taking exact Draughts of Objects, viewed in double Microfcopes : for he ad- vifes, to get a Lattice made with fmall fil- ver Wires, or fmall Squares drawn upon a plain Glafs by the Strokes of a Diamond, and to put it into the Place of the Image form'd by the Object-Glafs. Then, by transferring the Parts of the Object feen in the Squares of the Glafs or Lattice upon h- milar correfponding Squares drawn on Pa- per, the Picture thereof may be exactly taken. 1 There 48 The Area of ObjeSfs. There are fome other forts of Microme- ters, or Inventions for meafuring the fmall Objects feen in Micro fcopes ; but as they are more complex and difficult, I mall not fwell this Volume with them. CHAP. XI. Of the Area or Portion of an Otyz&feen. HPH E vifible Area, Field of View, or JL Portion of any Object feen through a Microfcope, is in Proportion to the Diame- ter and Area of the Lens made ufe of, and its Power of magnifying, and may be there- by determined : fince, if the Lens is ex- treamly fmall, it magnifies a great deal, and, confequently, a very minute Portion only of an Object can be diflinguimed through it. For which reafon the greateft Magnifiers never fhould be employed but for the moft minute Objects. This Confederation will direct how to fuit the Magnifiers to the Size of the Objects to be examined, which is of the utmoil: Confequence in Microfcopical Obfervations ; and may ferve to rectify the Miffake of abundance of People unexperi- enced in Glaffcs, who, upon feeing a Mite or a Louie greatly magnified, are apt to cry out, with much Surprize, O that we had a Cricket, I'he Area of ObjeZs. 49 Cricket, a Frog, or fome fuch Creature j how finely that would appear ! Whereas, in truth, fuch large Objects would intirely cover the Lens, and could not be feen at all. Microfcopes very happily ailifr. us when Objects are fo {mall as to evade our Sight ; but it would be trifling and unneceffary to employ theru on fuch large Things as we can fee without their Help. I mall not trouble the Unfkijful with per- plexing Calculations about the Area or Field of Objects iecn by each Magnifier, but give this fiiort Rule in general, that it differs not greatly from the Size of the Lens made ufe of, and that the Whole of any Object, much beyond that Size, cannot conveniently be viewed through it. There is fome Difference, as to the vifible Area of an Object, between fingle and dou- ble Microfcopes ; for the double /Lew a lar- ger Portion of it than the (ingle, tho' mag- nify 'd as much. Having (hewn the Structure and Towers of Microfcopes, I proceed now to defcribe the Manner of chufing, preparing, and ap- plying Objects to tnem. E C II A P. [ 5° ] C II A P. XII. Of Oh; efts In general. P Roper Objects to be examined by ML crofcopes, are, (as Mr. Hoc ice very ju- dicioufly diftinguimes) " exceeding fmall Bo- '* dies, exceeding fmall Pores, or exceeding " jmall Motions ." Exceeding fmall Bodies, muft either be the Parts of larger Bodies, or Things the Whole whereof is exceedingly Minute ; fuch as fmall Seeds, Infects, Sands, Salts, &c. Exceeding fmall Pores, are the Interfa- ces between the folid Parts of Bodies, as in Stones, Minerals, Shells, &e. or the Mouths of minute VefTels, fuch as the Air-VefTels in Vegetables, the Pores in the Skin, Bones, cV. of Animals. Exceeding fmall Motions, are the Move-" ments of the feveral Parts or Members of minute Animals, or the Motion of the Fluids contained either in animal or vegetable Bodies. Under one or other of thefe three Heads alnftof! every thing around us affords Matter of Examination, and may conduce both to our Amufement and Inftruction j as I hope more particularly to fhew. Many Of Objects in general. 5 1 Many, even of thofe who have purchas'd Microfcopes, are fo little acquainted with their general and cxtenfive LJferulnefs, and To much at a Lois for Objects to examine by them ; that after diverting thcmfelves and their Friends, fome few time?, with what they find in the Sliders bought with them, or two or three more common Things, the Microfcopes are hid alide as of little farther Value: and, a Suppofition that this mud be the Cafe, prevents many Others from buying them ; whereas, among all the Inventions that ever rppeared in the World, none can perhaps be found {o conftantly capable of en- tertaining, improving, and fatisfving the Mind of Man.— To evince this, and excite thofe whole Time and Circum fiances permit, to this delightful Study, is the Intention of my Writing ; and, as Curiofity, the univerfal Paf- fion of Mankind, may this way continually be gratified, I hope I mall not write in vain. And if I can hereby induce any to pafs thofe leifure Hours agreeably and ufefully, in con- templating the Wonders of the Creation, which otherwife would be fpent in tirefome Idlenefs, or, perhaps, fome fimionable and expenlive Vice, I ihall think thefe Sheets very happily bellowed. E 2 CHAP, [ 5^ I CHAP. XIII. Of examining Objects. A N Examination of Objects, in order to j, 1l di!cover Truth, requires a great deal of Attention, Care, and Patience, together with fome confiderable Skill and Dexterity (to be acquired by Practice chiefly) in the preparing, managing, and applying them to the Microfcope. What little Knowledge in thefe Matters I may have gained, either from the Accounts of others, or my own Experience, after being converfant many Years therein, I (hall readily communicate : in hopes my Pains may clear the Way to Dil'coveries that will prove of Confequence to the World, and render this Study both deiirable and eafy. When any Object comes to be examined, the Size, the Contexture, and Nature of it fhould be duly confidered j in order to apply it to fuch GlafTes and in fuch a Manner as may fhew it beft. The nrfl Step towards this, conrtanvly mould be, to view it through a Magnifier that can take in the Whole at once : for by oblerving how the Parts lie as to one another, we (hall find it much eafier to examine and judge of them feparately, if there be occaiion.— - After having made our- felves acquainted with the Form of the Whole, we Of examining Objects. 53 wc may divide it as we pleafe, and the fmaller the Parts into which it is divided, the greater muft be the Magnifiers where- with to view them. The Traniparency or Opakencfs of an Object mull: alio be well regarded, and the GlafTes made ufe of, mud be accordingly fuited thereto ; for a tranfparent Object wiil bear a much greater Magnifier than one that is opake ; iince the Nearnefs a Glafs that magnifies much mud: be placed at, una- voidably darkens an opake Object, and pre- vents its being feen, unlets by the Microlcopc on Purpofeforfuch Subjects, defcribedpag. 26. IV loft Objects, however, become tranfparent by being divided into extrcamly thin or mi- nute Parts. Contrivance therefore is necef- fary, to reduce them into fuch Thinnefs or Smallnefs, as may render them molt fit for Examination. The Nature of the Object, whether it be alive or dead, a Solid or a Fluid, an Ani- mal, a Vegetable, or a mineral Subftance, mull likewife be confidered, and all the Circumftances of it attended to, that we may apply it in the mod: convenient Manner. If it be a living Animal, care mult be taken to fqueeze, hurt, or difcompofe it as little as pofTible, that its right Form, Pofture and Temper may be difcovered. If a Fluid, and too thick, it muft be thinned with Water : if too thin, we fhould let lbme of its watery E 3 Parts ^4 Of examining Objects. Parts evaporate. Some Subftances are fitted: for Qbfervation when dry, others ae;ain when moiftened •, ibme when frefh, and ibme after being kept a while. Light is the next Thing to be taken care of, for on this the Truth of all our Exami- nation depends ; and a very little Experience will fhew, how different Objects appear in one Polition and Kind of it, to what they do in another. So that we mould turn them every Way, and view them in every Degree of Light, from Brightnefs even to Obfcurity; and in all Pofitions to each Degree ; till we are certain of their true Form, and that we are not deceived. For, as Mr. Hooke fays, in many Objects it is very difficult to diftinguifh between a Prominency and a Depreffion ; between a Shadow and a black Stain ; and in Colour, between a Reflection and a Whitenefs. The Eye of a Fiy, for Example, in one kind of Light appears like a Lattice drilled through with Abundance of Holes: in the Sun-fhine, like a Surface covered with golden Nails : in one Pofuion, like a Surface covered with Pyramids, in another with Cones, and in other Poikions of quite other Shapes. The Degree of Light mud be duly fuit- ed to the Object ; which, if dark, will be feen Deft in a full and ftrong Light ; but if very tranfparent, the Light ihould be prop-or- tionably weak : for which ReaJbn there's a Contri- Of examining Objects. 55 Contrivance, both in the fingle and double Microlcope, to cut off abundance of its Rays, when fuch transparent Objects are examin'd by the greateft Magnifiers. The Light of a Candle, for many Objects, and efpecially fuch as are exceedingly minute and tranfparent, is preferable to Day-light ■> and for others Day-light is beft : I mean the Light of a bright Cloud. As for $uh-{hine. DO [ it is reflected from Objects with fo much Glare, and exhibits fuch gaudy Colours, that nothing can be determined by it with Certainty : and therefore it's to be account- ed the worll: Light that can be had. This Opinion of Sun-ihine muft nor, however, be extended to the Solar Micro- lcope, which cannot be ufed to Advantage without its brighteft Light ; for, in that Way, we fee not the Object itielf whereon the Sun-fhine is cait, but only the Image or Shadow of it exhibited upon a Skreen ; and, therefore, no Confufion can arife by the glaring Reflection of the Sun's Rays from the Object to the Eve, which is the Cwic 1:1 other Microfcopes. But then, in that So- lar Way, we muft reft contented with view- ing the true Form and Shape of an Object, without expecting to find its natural Colour, fmee no Shadow can pofiibly wear the Co- ]'Mir< of the Body it reprefents. E 4 C H A P [ 56 ] CHAP. XIV. Of preparing and applying Objects. MOST Objects require fome Manage- ment, in order to bring them proper- ly before the GlaiTes. If they are flat and transparent, and fuch as will not be injured by Prefllire, the belt. Method is to inclofe them in Sliders, between two Mufcovy Talcs or Ifiu^lafs. This Way the Feathers of Butterflies, the Scales of Fifties, the Farina; of Flowers, &c. the feveral Parts, and even whole Bodies of minute Infects, and a thoufand other Things, may very conveni- ently be preferv'd. Every curious Obferver will therefore have them always ready to receive any accidental Object, and fecure it for future Examination ; and a Dozen or two of thefe Sliders, judiciouily furnimed, are a fine natural Hiflory, where we may read delightful LefTons of the high Perfecti- on of God's Works, and his Wifdom in their Contrivance. In making a Collection of Objects, the Sliders fhoulcl not be filled promifcuoufly, but Care taken to fort the Objects according to their Size and Tranfparency: in fuch man- ner, that none be put together in the fame Slider, but what may properly be ex- amined by the fame Magnifier: and then 2 the Of preparing and applying Objects. 57 the Slider mould be mark'd with the Num- ber of the Magnifier its Objects are fitteft for : that is, the moft tranfparent, or mi- nuted Objects of all, which require the firft Magnifier to view them by, mould be pla- ced in a Slider, or Sliders mark'd with Num- ber I. Thofe of the next Degree in Sliders mark'd with Number II. and fo of the reft. This Method will lave abundance of Time and Trouble in (Lifting the Magnifiers, which, without fuch Sortment, muft perhaps be done two or three Times in overlooking a fingle Slider*. The Numbers mark'd up- on the Sliders will likewife prevent our be- ing at any Lofs what Glafs to apply to each. Small living objects, fuch as Lice, Fleas, Gnats, fmall Bugs, minute Spiders, Mites, &c. may be placed between thefe Talcs, without killing or hurting them, if care be taken not to prefs down the brafs Rings that keep in the Talcs : and will remain a- live even Weeks in this Manner. But if they are larger than to be treated thus, either put them in a Slider with concave GlafTes, intended for that ufe, and defcribed pag. 10. or in the Cell pag. 19. or elfe examine them * In placing your Objects in Sliders, a convex Glafs of about an Inch Focus, to hold in the Hand, and thereby .adjull them properly between the Talcs, before you fefteh them down with the B.afs Rings will be found very con- venient. fluck 58 Of preparing and applying Objects. ftuck on the Pin, or held between the Ply- ers; either of which Ways they may be view'd at Dleafure. If Fluids come under Examination, to difcover the Animalcules that may be in them, take up a fmall Drop with your Pen or Hair- pencil, and place it on a iingle Ifinglafs, (which you fhould have in a Slider ready) or elfe in one of the little concave GlalTes, and fo apply it. But in cafe, upon viewing it, you find, as often happens, the Animal- cules fwarming together, and lb exceedingly numerous, that running continually over one another, their Kinds and real Form cannot be known ; fome part of the Drop muft be taken off the Glafs, and then a little fair Water put to the reft, will make them fe- parate, and ihew them diilinct and well. And this Mixture of Water is particularly requifite in viewing the Semen Mafcnlinwn of all Creatures : for the Animalcules therein contained are fo unconceiveably minute, and yet crowded together in fuch infinite Num- bers, that unlefs it be diluted a great deal, they cannot be fufficiently feparated to di- ftinguifh their true Shape. But, if we view a Fluid, to find what Salts it may have in it, a Method quite con- trary to the foregoing muft be employed : for, then, the Fluid muft be fuffer'd to e- vaporate, that the Salts being left behind up- on the Glafs, may more eafily be examined. Another, Of preparing and applying Objects. 59 Another, and indeed the moil curious Way of examining Fluids, is, by applying them to the Microfcope, in exceedingly fmall capillary Tubes made of the thinned Glafs poiiible. This was Mr. L e e u w e n - hoek's Method for difcovering the Shapes of Salts floating in Vinegar, Wine, and fe- veral other Liquors ; and fuch Tubes (hou'd be always ready to ufe as occaMon requires. For the Circulation of the Blood, Frogs, Newts, or Fifhes are commonly made ufe of; and there are Glafs Tubes in the fingle Microfcope, and a FinVpan as well as Tubes in the double one, on purpofe to confine thefe Creatures, and bring the proper Parts of them to view : which, in Newts and Fidics, are the Tails, and in Frogs the tine filmy Membrane between the Toes of the hinder Legs. Though, if we can contrive to fallen down the Creature, and bring our Object to the Magnifier, the Circulation can- not poffibly be (ten fo plainly any where, as in the Mefentery, or thin transparent Mem- brane that joins the Guts together ; and this Part, by pulling out the Gut a little, may eafily be adjutled to the Magnifier. To diffect minute Infects, as Fleas, Lice, Gnats, Mites, &c. and view their internal Structure, requires a great deal of Patience and Dexterity : yet even this may be done, in a very iatisfactory Manner, by means of a fine Lancet and Needle, if they are placed in 6o Of preparing and afphing Objects. in a Drop of Water : for their Parts will then be feparated with Eafe, and lie fair be- fore the Microfcope, fo that the Stomach and other Bowels may plainly be diftinguifli- ed and examined. We fhould always have ready for this Purpofe little Slips of Glafs about the Big- nefs of a Slider, to place Objects on, oc- cafionally j fome of which Slips fhou'd be made of green, blew, and other different co- lour'd Glafs ; many Objects being much more diftinguifriable when placed on one Colour than on another. We fhould like- wife be provided with Glafs-Tubes, of all Sizes, from the fined Capillaries that can be blown, to a Bore of half an Inch Diameter. I believe there is no better Way of pre- fcrving tranfparent Objects iri general, than by placing them between clear Ifinglafs in Sliders: But opake Bodies, fuch as Seeds, Sands, Woods, &c. require different Ma- nagement -, and a Collection of them mould be pre ared in the following Manner. Cut Cards into fmall Slips, about half an Inch in Length, and the Tenth of an Inch broad : wet them half their Length with a itrong but very tranfparent Gum-water, and with that flick on your Object. As the Spots of Cards are red and black, by making your Slips of fuch Spots you will obtain a Contran: to Objects ofalmoft any Colour: and by fixing black Things on the white, white on the J> i - 'i - CHAP [ 62] CHAP. XV. Cautions in viewing Objecls. Tl Eware of determining and declaring your ■*-* Opinion fuddenly on any Object ; for Imagination often gets the Start of Judg- ment, and makes People believe they fee Things, which better Obfervations will con- vince them could not pofllbly befeen : there- fore affert nothing till after repeated Experi- ments and Examinations in all Lights and in all Portions. When you employ the Microfcopc, (hake off all Prejudice, nor harbour any favourite Opinions j for, if you do, 'tis not unlikely Fancv will betray you into Error, and make you think you lee what you would wifh to fee. Remember that Truth alone is the Mat- ter you are in fearch after ; and if you have been miftaken, let not Vanity ieduce you to perliit in your Miftake. Pafs no Judgment upon Things over-ex- tended by Force, or contracted by Drynefs, or in any Manner out of their natural State, without making fuitable Allowances. There is no Advantage in examining any Object with a greater Magnifier, than what fhews the fame diftinclly ; and therefore, if you can fee it well with the third or fourth Glafs, Cautions in viewing Objects. 63 Glafs, never ufe tl:e firft or fecond; for the lefs a Glafs magnifies, the better Ligiit you'll have, the eailer yon can manage the Object, and the clearer it will appear. It is much to be doubted, whether the true Colours of Objects are to be judged of, when feen through the greatefr. Magnifier? : for as the Pores or Interilices of an Object mud be enlarged according to the magnify- ing Power of the Glafs made ufe of, and the component Particles of Matter muft by the fame means appear feparated many Thou- lands of times farther afunder than they do to the naked Eye, their Reflections of the Rays of Light will probably be different, and exhibit different Colours. And, indeed, the Variety of Colouring fome Objects appear dreft in, may ferve as a Proof of this. The Motions of living Creatures them- fclves, or of the Fluids contained within them, as feen through the Microfcope, are likewife not to be determined without due Conlideration : for as the moving Body and the Space wherein it moves are magnified, the Motion mult probably be fo too. And there- fore, that Rapidity, wherewith the Blood feems to pafs along through the VefTels of fmall Animals, muft be judged of according- ly. Suppofe, for Inftance, a Horfe and a Moule move their Limbs exactly at the fame Moment of Time : if the Horfe runs a Mile while the Moule runs fifty Yards (tho* the 1 Number 64 Cautions in viewing Objects. Number of Steps are in both the fame) we mall readily, I believe, allow the Horfe's Mo- tion to be lwiftefl. The Motion of a Mite viewed through a Microfcope, or feen by the naked Eye, is, perhaps, not much lefs dif- ferent. 6ome People have made falfe Pretences and ridiculous Boafts, of feeing, by their GlaiTes, the Atoms of Epicurus, the fubtile Mat- ter of Des Cartes, the * Effluvia of Bodies, the Emanations from the Stars, and other fuch like Imporlibilities : But let no ingeni- ous and honeft Obferver give Credit to thefe romantic Stories, or mifpend his Time, and bewilder his Brains, in following fuch idle Imaginations, when there lyes before him an Infinity of real Objects, that may be examin'd with Eafe, Profit, and Delight. * Dr. Hichmore pretends, that the Effluvia of the Loadftone have been feen by GlafTes, iffuing from it in the Form of a Mift : And all the reft of the above Extravagan- ces have been boaftcd of by other?. Fid. Leeuwen. Arc. Nat. Tom. ii. P. ii. pag. 54b'. . Me 7j&£ Microscope /##;/UuW. Fc 9 .I77 V vi ■■' v -^ y Fy.TF. F-77- f-77- / Tu/. TUT. / 77, JX. J\j7\f< Fu/. 27. Fif.jur. — <^o Fy.XI. Fu?. JQII. a.. -^V- 7X771. 6. p. 20S. Pepper-Water. 73 the Water often, and fhew both Back and Belly, as 1.2. Their Edges are fringed, as it were, with a great Number of exceeding- ly minute Feet, which are chiefly feen about the two Extremities : At one End there are likewife fome Briftles longer than the Feet, refembling a Tail. Their Motion is fwift, and by their Turns, Returns, and fudden Stops, they feem continually to be hunting about for Prey. They can employ their Feet in running as well as fwimming ; for upon putting a Hair amongft them, they'll often creep along it from End to End, bend- ing in feveral odd Poltures. Secondly^ A pretty common fort, whofe Length is about one Third of a Hair's Breadth, with Tails five or iix times as long, and fometimes more. Fig. II. 1 . exhibits one of them with the Tail extended. 2. repre- fents another with its Tail in a Screw-like Form, as they appear very frequently. Some- times, when they lye (till, they thruft out and pull back again a fringed or bearded Tongue ; and a Current runs constantly to- wards them, which is caufed probably by the nimble Motion of fome minute Fins or Legs too fine to be difcerned. Thirdly, a Sort about the Size of the laft, but without Tails, appearing fometimes in an oval Shape, as Fig. III. 1 . and fometimes a little longer, refembling a Flounder, in the Manner of 2. Their little Feet may be feen plainly j± Pepper-Water. plainly when the Water is juft evaporating, for then they move them nimbly. Now and then two of them are ittw conjoyned, as 3. Fourthly, Another fort appear like (lender Worms, about fifty times as long as broad, and whole Thicknefs is about the one hun- dredth Part of a Hair. Their Motion is equable and (low, waving their Bodies ge- nerally but little in their Progreflion. They fwim with the fame Facility backwards or forwards, and being every where of the fame Thicknefs, it is difficult to di- ftin^uifh which End the Head is placed at. See Fig. IV. A fifth Sort, is fo amazingly fmall, that an Hundred of them in a Row would not equal the Diameter of a Grain of Sand, and, confequently, a Million of them are but equal to a Grain of Sand in bignefs : their Shape is almoft round. A fixth Sort , are about the Thicknefs of the foregoing, but almoft twice as long : and, befides thefe, there are doubtlefs other Sorts which have not duely been attended to. It is agreeable enough, while thefe little Creatures are before theMicrofcope,to obferve the different Effects feveral kinds of Mix- tures produce among them. For Example, putting to them the fmalleft Drop imagina- ble of Spirit of Vitriol upon the Point of a Pin, Tepper -Water. jr Pin, they immediately fpread themfelves, and appear to tumble down dead. DifTolv- ed Salt kills them, but with this Difference, that inftead of becoming flat as in the for- mer Cafe, they (hrink into oval Forms. Tincture of Salt of Tartar throws them in- to convulfive Motions, after which they foon grow faint and languid, and then dye without any change of Shape. Ink kills them as foon as Spirit of Vitriol, but feems to contract: them feveral Ways. Frefh Blood, Urine, and Spittle kill them in a little while. Sugar dif- folved does the fame; but thereby fome dye flat and others round*. If the Water be permitted to dry away without any Mixture, fome Sorts of the Ani- malcules will burfl, but others not : and if a frefh. Drop of Water be put to them, in a 'little while many of them will revive and fwim about again. Philofoph. Tranfaft. N°. 203. CHAP, ( 76 ) CHAP. III. Of Hay -Water, 6cc. HA Y, Straw, Grafs, Oats, Wheat, Bar- ley, or any other vegetable Production, being infufed in Water, in the Manner ad- vifed before, after fome Days a fort of whitifh Scum or Motherinefs will appear upon the Surface, which, examined by a Microfcope, will be found to contain inex- premble Numbers of minute living Crea- tures of various Sizes, Forms, and Kinds. And of thefe fome are the fame exactly as were juft now defcribed in Pepper-Water: for it is to be obferved, that certain Kinds of thefe Animalcules are met with, univer- fally, in all Waters that have flood any con- liderable Time expo fed to the open Air. The mofl general among them is an oval fort of Animalcule, fomewhat in the Shape of an Emmet's Egg (See Fig. V. Plate VII.) They are extreamly nimble, and in a conti- nual fwift Motion backwards and forwards : but fometimes they ftop on a fudden, and turn round on their own Axis numberlefs times with furprizing Velocity, firft one way, and afterwards the contrary *. This Gyra- * The Solar Microfcope has difcover'd, that this ftrange Motion is produced by the Aftion of a great Number of Legs or Fins, placed in a circular Order. 2 tion, Hay-Water, Sec. 77 tion, or twirling round as it were on a Point, J have taken notice of in other Kinds alfo of the Animalcules found in Fluids. Another pretty common Sort, and in Shape fomewhat refembling the foregoing, js fhewn (Fig. VI.) Their Motion is very fwift, and always with the (harp End fore- mod, whence one may reafonably fuppofe it to be the Head. Some of them are clear from End to End, but curioufly ribbed in the Manner of a Melon : Others are tranf^ parent at their fmall Extremity only, but have their Bottle-End opake. No Legs or Fins can be difcerned in either. We find another fort, as long almoft as the largeft in Pepper-Water ', which are very brifk and active, and have a Power of con- tracting or extending themfelves as they fwim along. At the End that feems to be the Fore-part, feveral Feet are vifible j but efpecially when the Water is almoft evapo- rated : for then they fhrink into a Globular Form, and their Feet {landing out may be perceived to move very nimbly. Fig. VII. 1 . reprefents one of thefe Animalcules at its full Length ; 2. fhews another of them when contracted. There's likewife a Species of Animalcules whofe Bodies are Spherical, but pointed fomewhat like a Pear, and refembling Blad- ders fill'd with Water, wherein a vafl Num- ber of dark Particles fecm in a continual Agita- j 8 Hay-Water, &c. Agitation. Their Motion is chiefly a revolv- ing one, turning round perhaps ahove an hundred times in a Minute, firft one way, and then the contrary : and all this without moving a Hair's Breadth out of their Place. But fometimes they move forward very brifkly, turn, return, and fetch a large Com- pafs with feveral Deviations : keeping how- ever, throughout their whole Progrefiion, their pointed End always foremoft. See Fig. VIII. I once difcovered in the Scum on the Sur- face of Hay -Water a kind of minute Ser- pents ; for fo I call them from their Motion, which was like that of a Serpent, and from their coiling up themfelves in the manner Serpents do. I kept this Water fome Weeks, and fhewed them to leveral of my Friends, but fince that time have never met with them in any Infufion of the fame fort, or in any other Fluid. Their manner of moving forward, and alfo of coiling themfelves up, is fhewn Fig. IX. 1.2. They were larger than any of the Eel-kinds of Animalcules,, their Motion very different, and not near fo quick. The End that feemed to be the Head was thicker and fomewhat more opake than the other. Animalcules in the Shape of Eels are fre- quently met with in many of the Infufions I am now mentioning, and likewife in fe- veral other Liquors. The Bignefs of them 1 is Hay-Water, See. 79 is very different, fome being an hundred times larger than others, and probably they may differ alio very much in Kind. They have in general a nimble wriggling Motion, but fome Sorts of them are more aclive and vigorous than others. Vinegar after ftanding a few Days imco- ver'd, and efpecially in the SummerSeafon, will frequently abound with a kind of theie Eels y large enough to be difcerned by the naked Eye : which has encouraged fome People erroneoufly to affert, that the Sharp- nefs of Vinegar is owing to nothing elfe but the ftriking of thefe Creatures upon the Tongue and Palate with their acute Tails : Whereas it is very certain, that many times none of them can be difcovered even in the foureft Vinegar ; and befides, MlLeeuwen- hoeck has demonitrated, that its Sharpnefs preceeds only from the pointed and penetra- ing Figure of the Salts floating in it, as I (hall find occafion to obferve more fully by and by. The Shape of thefe Eel-like Animalcules is delineated Fig. X. Dr. Power tells us, * That if Vinegar wherein Eels abound, be but moderately heated at the Fire, they will all be killed, and fink down to the Bottom j but that Cold does them no Injury. For after fuch Vine- * Power's Micro/. Obferv. pag. 35. gar 80 Hay-Water, &c. gar had been expofed a whole Night to the fevereft Froft, and was frozen, and thawed, and frozen again, and fo feveral times over, they were as brifk as ever. He likewife in- forms- us, that, in cold Weather, he put fome Vinegar full of thefe Eels into a Glafs, and poured thereon about the fame Quantity of Oyl, which floating on the Vinegar, all the Eels would conftantly creep up into the Oyl when the Vinegar began to freeze ; but, upon thawing the Vinegar, they as conftant- ly return 'd to it again. Thefe are pretty and curious Experiments. A Drop of Oyl of Vitriol mixed with the Vinegar kills them in the fame manner as Fire does. If fome Grains of Sand be put among the Eels before the Microfcope, it will be high- ly entertaining to fee them ftruggling and ernbarrafTed, as it were, amongft large Stones. CHAP. [Si ] CHAP. IV. (y Eels in Past e. WHoever is defirous to be furnifh'd with minute Eels always ready for the Microfcope, needs only boil together a little Flour and Water, and make fuch Parte there- of as Bookbinders commonly uib; or it may be bought of them. It fhould neither be very rtifi; nor very watery, but of a mode- rate Confidence. Expofe it to the Air in an open Veflelj and prevent its hardening or becoming mouldy on the Surface, by beat- ing it well together when you find any Tendency that way ; for if it grows hard or mouldy, your Expectation will be difap- pointcd. After fome Days it will turn four, and then if examined attentively, you'll dif- cern Multitudes of exceedingly fmall, long, flender, wriggling Animalcules, which grow larger daily, till you'll be able to fee them with the naked Eye. To promote their coming forward, pour every now and then a Drop of Vinegar on your Parte : and after they are once produ- ced you may keep them all the Year, by putting to them fometimes a little Vinegar, or Water, if the Parte becomes too dry, and fometimes a little Supply of other four Parte ; taking care continually to prelerve G the 82 Eels in Pa/le. the Surface in a right Condition, which will eafily be done when it is well ftock'd with thefe Animalcules : the continual Motion of them preventing any Mouldinefs thereon. A Water-Glals, cr fome other Glafs Vef- fel, is the moil convenient to keep your Pafte in ; for by holding it up againft the Light, you'll oftentimes perceive the Eels wriggling thcmfelves above the Surface of the Pafte upon the Sides of the Glafs, and may be able to take feveral of them with a Pen or Hair- Pencil, much more difengaged from the Pafte, and confequently fitter for View, than if you are obliged to examine the Pafte itfelf in order to find them in it. Apply them to your Microfcope upon a fingleTalc or Iiinglafs, after having firft put on it a very fmall Spot of Water for them to fwim about in. The thicker your Pafte is, and the more they are invelop'd in it, the greater Proportion of Water will be requifite to dilute it, that they may difentangle them- felves, and be rendcr'd diftinclly vifible. They are very entertaining Objects, exa- min'd by any kind of Microicope, but par- ticularly the Solar one, by which I have magnified them fometimes to an Inch and half, or two Inches in Diameter, with a Length proportionable, and have found 'em anfwer exactly the Appearance of fuch fiz'd Eels. The internal Motion of their Bowels may very plainly be diftinguifh'd, and when the Of Rain-Water, 8ic. 2$ the Water is dry'd almoft away, and they are near expiring, their Mouths may be feen opening to a confiderable Width. CHAP. V. Of Rain- Water and other Waters. MR . Le e u w e n H o e k fays, that at fir ft he could difcern no living Creatures in Rain- Water ; but after (landing fome Days, he difcover'd innumerable Animalcules many thoufands of times lefs than a Grain of Sand, and in Proportion to a Mite as a Bee is to a Horfe. In other Rain-Water, which had likewife flood fome time, he found the fmalleft fort he had ever feen ; and in a few Days more, met with others eight times as big as thefe, and almoft round. In another Quantity of Rain-Water, that had been expofed like the former, he difco- ver'd a kind of Animalcules with two little Horns, In continual Motion. The Space be- tween the Horns was flat, tho' the Body was roundiib, but tapering a little towards the End, where a Tail appear'd, four times as long as the Body, and the Thicknefs of a Spider's Web. He obferved feveral Hun- dreds of thefe within the Space a Grain of Sand would occupy. If thev happened on G 2 the 84 Of Rain-Water the leaft Filament or Stringency were en-tang.* led in it, and then would extend their Bodies into an oblong Round, and ftruggle hard to difengage their Tails. He obferved a fecond Sort of an Oval Figure, and imagin'd the Head to ftand at the fharpeft End. The Body was flat, with feveral fmall Feet mov- ing exceeding quick, but not difceroable without a great deal of Attention. Some- times they changed their Shape into a per- fect Round, efpecially when the Water be- gan to dry away. He met alfo with a third Sort, twice as long as broad, and eight times fmaller than the tirft : yet in thefe he dif- cerned little Feet, whereby they moved very nimbly. He perceived likewife a fourth Sort, a thoufand times fmaller than a Loufe's Eye, and which exceeded all the reft in Brifknefs : he found thefe turning them- felves round, as it were upon a Point, with the Celerity of a Top. And he fays, there were feveral other Sorts. It is common, in Sum-mer-time, for the Water that ftands in Ditches to appear fome- times of a * greenim and fometimes of a reddifli Colour, which upon Examination with * The Infects that melt commonly difcolour the Waters are of the Shrimp- Kind, called by Swammerdam Pultx aquaticus arborefcens, from the branching out of their little Horns : they are often fo numerous in ftagnating Waters, in May or June, at which time they -copulate, as to make them and other Waters. 85 with the Microfcope is found in ti rely owing to infinite Millions of Animalcules crowded together on the Surface of it, and giving it fuch Appearance. Their Bodies are oval, and transparent at both Ends, but the Mid- dle either green or red, according to the Co- lour of the Water they are fwimming in. This middle Part, viewed with the firft or fecond Magnifier, feems coinpofed of Glo- bules, and bears (o near a Refemblance to the Rows or Spawn of Fifties, that 'tis rea- fonable to believe it really may be the fame: and the more fo flill, as they are found after fome time perfectly clear and colourlefs, and therefore may be prefumed to have ihed their Spawn. The Water that drains from Dunghills, and looks of a deep brown Colour, is fo thronged with Animalcules, that it fcems to be all alive j and muft be diluted with Water before they can be iufriciently feparated to diftinguifh their various Kinds. Amongft thefe one Sort is found, which I don't re- member to have feen elfe where, and there- fore give a Draught of (Plate VII. Fig. XI.) Their middle Part appears dark, and befet with Hairs, but both Ends of them trail f- them appear of a pale or deep Red, and fometimes of a Yellow Co'our, according to the Colour of themfelves. The green Scum fo commonly feen on the top of Handing Wa- ters in Summer-time, is nothing but innumerable green Ani- malcules. Vkk Der ham's Pbjfic. Thiol, pag. 178. G 3 parent : 86 Animalcules in Waters. parent : their Tails are tapering with a long Sprig at the Extremity, and their Motion is flow and waddling. This Dunghill- Water abounds alfo with a fort of capillary Eels, that are extreamly active. An Infufion of any Her/?, Grain, Fruit, or Flower^ made in common Water, will be found after a few Days to contain fome Kinds of Animalcules peculiar to itfelf ; and this, tho' aftoniiiiing, may be accounted for in a very reafonable manner ; for a little Ob- fervaticn will mew, that every Fieri?, Grain, Fruit, or Flower is allotted by Providence to be the Food of fome particular fort of Bird, Bcaft, or In feci of the vifible and larger Kinds; and we may iuppofe it, in like manner, when infufed in Water, to afford alfo a pro- per Nourimment for fome or other of thofe numberlefs Species of minute Creatures, which are iircifible to the naked Eye, and not to be difcovered without a good Micro- fcope. And as to this Particularity of Ani- malcules, I refer the Curious (who have not yet been convinced by Trials of their own) to the Obfervations of Monfieur Job lot, (ProfeJJ'or Royal of the Mathematicks, and of the Royal Academy of Painting and Scul- pture at Paris) on the various Kinds difco- ver'd by him in the fevcral Infufions follow- ing : the Pictures of which Animalcules he has given, as well as a Defcription o[ them. He examined the Infe lions of Pepper, black, i white Animalcules in Waters. %j white and long : of Senna, of Pinks, of Cyanus or Blewbottle, of Ro/es, Jeffamin, Rasberry- Stalks, Tea, Barberries, Fennel, and Sage, Marigold- Flowers, four G 'rapes , and Melon-Rind, and found different Ani- malcules in them all. Hay, new and old, abounded with many Kinds ; Rhubarb, MuJJjrocms, facet Bafil, • Gtron- Flowers, had their particular Animalcules. The Ane- mony afforded ibme very wonderful % ; Ce- lery produced many Kinds : JFheat-Ears and Straw, many Kinds : Straw of Barley, Rye, Oats, and Turki/l: Corn, many Kinds : Oak- Bark, new and old, afforded great Variety. Some of thefe Infufions he kept a whole Year round, and obferved, not only that each Infufion had Animalcules of Shapes quite different from thofe in others ; but, likewife, that in the fame Infufion different Kinds of Animalcules appear'd at different times. N. B. It is highly probable, that the Place where Infufions are made, in a City, or in the Country, expofed to the open Air, or fhut up within a Houfe, as alio the Seafon of the Year, and its Temper as to Heat or Cold, may occafion great Differences in the * Mr. Joblot's Draught of the Animalcules in this In- fufion reprefents an exaft Satyr's Face upon their Backs : I jecommend the Tryal to the Curious. Kinds 88 Animalcules in Waters. Kinds of Animalcules to be found in the fame Infufions. We fometimes find in our Infufions of vegetable Productions, and in other Waters that have ftood a while uncover'd, an Ani- mal much larger than any before defcribed, ' of a very (insular and furprizing Form, as pictured 'Plate VII. Fig. XII. This little Creature is in its middle State ; it lately was a Worm, and will foon become a Gnat. For X Gnats depofit their Eggs in a kind of flimy Matter on the Surface of the Water, and fatten them to fomething that may pre- vent their being waflied away or feparated too foon. From thefe Eggs proceed a num- ber of minute Worms, which finking to the Bottom of the Water, make for themfelves Cafes or Coverings of fine Sand or Earth ce- mented together with a fort of Glew, but open at both Ends, for them to come out of or retire into, as they find occafion. After a time, quitting thefe Habitations, and the Figure of Worms, they re-afcend to the top of the Water in the Shape now before us, /helled all over, with a large Flead and Mouth, a Couple of black Eyes, two Horns, feveral Tufts of Hairs or Briftles on different Parts of the Body, and a Tail with a Brum of Hair at the End of it, which being + Spe&acle de la Nature, Engl ft Edit. i:mo, pag. 123. Hooke's Microg. p. 1 86. fmeared Animalcules in Waters. 89 fmeared over with an oily Fluid, ferves like a Cork to keep them above Water ; their Heads being fometimes lifted into the Air, and fometimes plunged into the Water, while the Tail Hides along the Surface. And if the Oil on the Tail begins to dry, they fhed from their Mouth a new Supply upon it, which reftores its Ability of fleering where they pleafe, without being wetted or preju- diced by the Water. After living in this manner the Time appointed by Providence, a ftranger Change fucceeds : for refigning their Eyes, Horns, and Tail, and carting oft their whole Skin, there ilTues forth a Race of Infects of a quite different Element : the molt beautiful and delicate Plumage adorn* their Heads ; their Limbs are conftituted with the fineft Texture •> they have Wings curiouily fringed and ornamented ; their whole Bodies are inverted with Scales and Hair, and they are actuated by a furpriz- ing Agility : in lhort, they become Gnats, and lpring into the Air. And, what is moil amazing, a Creature that but a Minute fince was an Inhabitant of the Water, would now be drowned if it were plunged therein. I have been the more particular in my Account of this Mctamorphofis, as I appre- hend many forts of the Animalcules in Flu- ids undergo Changes in fomewhat a like manner. I fhall only add here, that the little Creature, whole Picture I have given, I ii go Animalcules in Waters. is a delightful Object for the Micro/cope, its white Heart beating diftinctly, and the Mo- tion of all its Inteftines being perfectly vifi- ble and extraordinary. Of the Gnat I (hall fpeak farther in its proper Place. The Waters every where abound with Life, and are an endlefs Subject of Employ- ment for the Micro/cope : Seas, Rivers, Ponds, Ditches, and almoft every Puddle can by its Affi fiance prefent us with living Wonders never before difcover'd : for fuch Examinations have as yet been but little at- tended to, even by People that have got thefe Inftruments, and alfo a Genius to ufe them. But I am in hopes this Treatife may excite them to be more induftrious, and not fuffer a little Difficulty, or a few Difappoint- ments, to difcourage them from a Study that can fo amply reward their Pains. In feveral of * Mr. Leeuwenhoek's Letters to the Royal Society, we meet with an Account of fome furprizing Animalcules found adhering to the Roots of the hens Palujlris^ov Duck-Weed, (which in Summer- time floats plentifully on the Surface of Ponds and Ditches) as examined by him in a Glafs Tube filled with Water. One Sort * Vid. PkiL Trwrf. Numb. 2 S3, 29;, 357. of / ./can. AW. Tom. II. Epift. 121. Pbilc/oph. TranfaSi. Numb. 7 88. ture) 94 Animalcules in Waters. ture) fcatter'd about the Water. There is alio a third Sort, as beautiful as the fore- going, but not near fo large ; its Shape more refembfes a Shrimp, and it carries its Spawn as the Shrimp does. Thefe three Species of Animalcules appear to have only one Eye, and that placed in the middle of the Fore- i, without fo much as the leaft Trace of even n dividing Line. They are often to be tnd fo tranfparent, that the Motion of eii Bowels is ictn diftinctly by the Micro- be, together with a regular Pulfation in a le Part, which therefore we may fuppofe to be the Heart. I fhall finifh this Head, with defcribing a very wonderful Kind of minute Animal \ tlie extraordinary Form whereof (about thrice the Bignefs it appeared to the naked Eye) whilft in the Water and fattened to the Root of a Weed, is given Fig. III. This was a large one of the Sort, and had eight Horns ; whereas the fmaller ones have fel- dom more than fix. It is likewife fhewn here as extended to its full Length, but when contracted is not a fourth Part fo long. It fixes by the Tail to the Roots or Stalks of Water- Plants. On the upper Side a very fmall Animalcule (a) is reprefented coming out of the other's Body. This was fuppol- ed at firil to have fattened itfelf there by fome Accident 3 but by obferving it nar- row lv, Ity.j3' TL^JX. Fuf.ir.f.yi, I&K; Animalcules in Water. 95 rowly, it was difcovcr'd to be a young one in the Birth : for though it had but four very irnall Horns when rirft feen, after fix- teen Hours its Horns and Body were grown much larger j and in four Hours more it was quite excluded its Mother's Body. Again ft this, on the under fide, appeared a little round Knob which gradually increafed in Bigneis, and in a few Hours became pointed as at (b). Thirteen or fourteen Hours after, it was grown much larger, and alfo had two Horns. In twenty-four Hours four Horns were (cen upon it, one whereof was fmall, the fecond larger, and the other two very large, extending and contracting more vigorouily than their Fellows. Three Hours afterwards this Animalcule likewife fell off from its Mother, and fhifted for itfelf. The above Account is the Subftance of Mr. Leeuwenhoek's Letter to the Royal Society, Phil Tran/l Numb. 283.— And in Numb. 288. we meet with a farther De- fcription of the fame Animalcule by an En- glijh Gentleman, whom Mr. Leeuwen- hoek's Relation had put upon hunting after it. He favs, he difcovered one of them in iome clear Water taken out of a Ditch, but with the utmoft Attention could find no more therein. It appeared the firft Day as in (Fig. IV.) but he tells us, it varied every Moment, 9 6 Animalcules in Waters. Moment^ and the Knob (a) which looked like the Gut Ca?cum, was fometimes a little longer. Two or three Days after he per- ceived fome white Fibres at the Extremity of the Knob, and on the fourth Day it lay extended at full Length, and appeared as in Fig. V. and he was then convinced, that what he imagin'd an Excrefcence, was in Reality a young Animalcule of the fame Species, ifiuing from the old one, and hav- ing fix Horns. Next Day he found it in the Water entirely feparated, and about a Third of its Parent's Length. The Horns come out like Radii, not from the lixtremity, but quite round a fmall Knob, which pro- bably is the Head : They have a vermicular Motion, and can extend or contract them- felves either fingly or altogether. The other End is flat, and by that it often fattened to the Bottom or Side of the Glafs wherein he kept it. It alfo contracts and dilates its Body, and can bring both Bodv and Horns into a fmall Compafs, as in Fig. VI. and Fig. VII. The Horns are perfectly white, the Body yellowifh, and not eafily difcern- ab!e by the naked Eye ; being, when ex- tended, no thicker than a large Horfe-Hair. Monf. Buffon in a Letter to Martin Folkes, Efq; now President of the Royal Society ', dated at the Garden of Ver- failles, iSth July 174 1, fends an Account (as Animalcules in Wafers. 97 (as a new Difcovery in natural Hiitory) of a Creature called * Polype, found adhering to the Lens Paluflris, which, being cut through the Middle, from the upper Half a Tail proceeds, and from the lower Haifa Head: fo that one Animal becomes two. If it be divided into three, the middle Part moots forth a Head and Tail, the upper Part a Tail, and the lower Part a Head j and all three become as perfect Animals as the firit. Whence he concludes, that in the boundlefs Variety of the Works of Providence, every Thing that can be, is. Another Letter to the fame Gentleman, dated at the Ha? ue, Sept. 15. 1 74 1 . from the Honourable — Bentinck, Efqj fays, That a young Man of Geneva, looking for fmall In feds in Water, few fome little Things which he took for Plants, but examining them carefully he perceived fome Motion in them, and found them contract when touch'd. It was a long while, however, be- fore he could determine whether they were Plants or Animals : for he fiw feveral young Shoots coming out upon them, and that as far as four Generations, hanging to one ano- ther. But he has fince found them to eat * The Name Pol -pus, or Ma 'Feet, is given to feveral Fifties of the Star-Tijb and Cut . Kind, feme whereof, befides feveral Claws, hav-j two long Trunk?, which they can extend to a great Diftanci :<• feize th r Prey : and this Animalcule, I fuppofe, is called Polype from fomewhat of a Jike form. H Infects, oS Animalcules in Waters. Infedts, and even raw Meat. They faften themfelves by one Extremity to fome Plant, or the Side of a Glafs, and have at the other End fix or eight Horns, wherewith they hold their Prey. Fig. VIII. is taken from a Drawing fent with this Account. He cut one of thefe Creatures to fee what would become of it, and fome Days after found new Arms growing out where others had been cut away. Since that, he has di- vided them the long way, the broad way, obliquely, and every way poflible, all with the fame Succefs. He has alfo gone on fubdividing them, and has not found them propagate any other Way than by Shoots, and without Copulation. Both thefe Letters feem to mean the fame Animalcule Mr. Leeuwenhoek defcribes, though with farther extraordinary Particulars, which I believe the Curious will judge it worth their while carefully to examine into. Upon the Whole, this Animalcule appears to be fome what of the Star-Fifo Kind, or between that and the Sea-Muflroom y or Anemone : which is a little Animal found frequently on the Coafts of Normandy *. They are feen fticking on the Declivity of Rocks ; fome red, fome green, and fome * Vid. Speaacle de la Nat. Part II. Dial. 22. Of Animalcules in Waters. 99 of other Colours : where they look like Mufhrooms while fhut and folded up, but like Anemonies when they open and difpky thcmfelves. There is no opening them by Force without destroying them ; but on Preflure they fomctimes eject feveral young ones of different Sizes, which feems to prove them both Male and Female, and alfo to be viviparous. If you loofen their Hold, carry them away, and keep them in Water, they will fix themfelvcs to the firft convenient Place they find. When the $>ea-Mu(l?room is about to open, it raifes itfelf, and thru lis out two little white and ftriped Bodies like Bladders, round which appears a great Variety of Points or Trunks of different Sizes and Colours ; whence fome Naturalifts have called it the Sea- Anemone. This Opening, not unlike the Blowing of a Flower, has inclined others to look upon it as a fort of Plant, or elie as partaking both of the Ani- mal and Vegetable Nature. But as all thefe little Points or Studs are not Leaves, but a fort of Snouts or Trunk?, through which this Creature fucks in its Nourishment, as the Sea-Urchin and Slar-Fijh do through their fine Reeds or Prickles, we can't denv it a Place in the Rank of Animals ; and efpecially after lb remarkable aCircumftance (confirmed by ocular Teiiimony) as that of three or four young ones ilTuing from the Parent upon fqueezing it. H 2 There i go Animalcules in Waters. There is a fort of Star-Fifl\ called by Rondeletius pag. i2i. Stella Arbor efc ens y which from a Body fomewhat like the Sea- Urchin, fends out five Branches in Form of a Star : thefe five divide into ten, thofe ten again into twenty ; the twenty into forty, the forty into eighty, the eighty into one hundred and fixty : the one hundred and fixty into three hundred twenty j the three hundred twenty into fix hundred forty ; the fix hundred forty into one thoufand two hundred eighty 3 the one thoufand two hun- dred eighty into two thoufand five hun- dred fixty y the two thoufand five hundred fixty into five thoufand one hundred twenty ; the five thoufand one hundred twenty into ten thoufand two hundred forty ; the ten thoufand two hundred forty into twenty thoufand four hundred eighty , the twenty thoufand four hundred eighty into forty thoufand nine hundred fixty ; and thofe again into eighty one thoufand nine hundred twenty. The farther Divifions could not certainly be traced ; tho' probably, when the Fifh was alive, they might have been diftinguim'd much beyond this Number -j-. All thefe flender Threads, thro' their whole Length, have minute Clafpers iffuing from them, and appear very amazing when exa- min'd by the Micro/cope. t Fid. Philofoph. Tranfaft. N°. 57. To Animalcules in Waters. 101 To conclude this Chapter. If the fmall- eft living Creatures that have heen yet dif- cover'd are produced in the Waters, in them we find alio the largeft and moft monftrous. No Bird or Bead comes near the Size ofmany Kinds of Fillies, nor can the Elephant itfelf be brought in Comparifon with the Whale. Joannes Faber Lynceus allures us, that in the Year 1624 he faw himfelf a Whale, that was caft upon the Shore ncaL- Silnta Severa, about thirty Miles from Rome, ninety one Palms in Length, and fifty in Thicknefs : its Mouth was fixteen Palms long and ten high, and being opened and kept gaping, a Man on Horieback might therein find Room enough. Its Tongue was twenty Palms, that is, about fifteen Foot in Length. He adds, that four Years before, ano- ther Whale was caft near the Ifland oWor/ica, not fir from the Coaft of Italy s which, be- ing a Female, was found big with a Cub thirty Foot long, and fifteen hundred Pounds in Weight. He fays, the Carnea Pinguedo [Lard or Fat] only of the Parent Whale, weighed one hundred and thirty five thou- fand Pounds. Let us now refled: how amazing the Dis- parity between fuch a Fifh as this, and a minute Animalcule lefs than the thousandth Part of a Grain of Sand in Bignefs ! How innumerable mud the Kinds of Creatures be, H 3 that 102 An Examination of that form the Progreflions from one Size to the other ! And how equally wonderful does the Hand of Providence appear, whether it actuates an enormous Mountain of Matter, or enlivens an Atom ! CHAP. VI. An Examination of the Blood in Animals. WE cannot employ the Microfcope to any more uie-ful Purpofe, than to view the natural Courfe of the Blood within its VefTels, or examine 'the Contexture of it when extracted from them : for the Prefer- vation or Reftoration of the Health of Man may be greatly advantaged by fuch Enqui- ries. By feeing it within the VefTels, we may judge of the Situation, Dimenfions, Arrange- ment, and Ramifications of the Arteries and Veins through which it paries, together with the general State of the Fluid, the Degree of its Impulfe, Progreffion, or Motion, and the Tendency or Direction of its Current pafTing through them. When taken from the VefTels, we can examine it more minutely, and obferve all the little Alterations that may happen in the Mixture, Size, Form, and Quality of the 2 Particles the Blood of Animals. 1 03 Particles compofing its more folid or more fluid Parts. I mall now (hew how the Microfcope may be employed in both thefe Ways 3 but think proper topremife a fliort Account of the Blood itfelf, fince our Knowledge of that will the better enable us to make a right Judgment when we come to fee it circulate. CHAP. VII. Some Account of the Blood, as examined by the Microscope. HUman Blood, and the Blood of Land- Animals, is found by the Microfcope to confifl of round red Globules floating in a tranf parent Water or Serum. Each red Globule is made up of fix fmaller and more tranfparent ones : and Mr. Leeuwenhoek has diicover'd,that each of thefe again is com- pofed of fix Globules ftill more minute and colourlefs : fo that every common red Glo- bule is compounded of at lead; thirty-fix fmaller ones ; and perhaps the Divilion may itill go on much farther *. * Vid. Leeuwen. Arc. Nat. Tom. IV. pag. 12. H 4 The 1 04. Some Account of the Blood, The fpecific Gravity of thefe Globules is fomewhat more than of the Serum wherein they float, as is fhewn by their fubfiding in Blood extracted from the Veins and at reft : They have alio a considerable Attraction to each other, and when brought in Contact, cohere fo ftrongly ( unlefs foon feparated again by Motion) as to form a Subftance re- fembling foft Fled). 'Tis not difficult to imagine, how fix foft and flexible Globules, eafily compreflible in- to any Shape, may compofe one larger Glo- bule : but to make it the better underftood, I (hall borrow two Draughts from Mr. Leeuwenhoek. Fig. I. Plate X. (hews one fuch large Globule, wherein five of the fmaller fort that compofe it appear in Contact, the fixth lying behind. Fig. II. mews, how by their mutual At- traction to, or PrefTure againft each other, they readily unite to form a perfectly round Body. It is alfo eafy to conceive, that thefe fix Globules, and even the more minute ones flill whereof they are compounded, may occafionally be feparated, in order to pafs thro' fuch extreamly minute VefTels as with- out Separation they cannot poflibly enter ; and may re-unite when they meet again in VefTels where they have more Room. And we are very certain, that fometimes they 2 cohere ■■:'■ '*+ fuj.I./i.aoj. J '<<7 -K./t ■■*<•+ J>/afrX. Fy.M./i.uiy Tirj IIIL/1.JJ.0 Fty- V./i. 13 j. Some Account cf the Bloc J. 105 cohere in greater Numbers, and form larger Mafles than are confident with a free and healthy Circulation. Mr. Leeuwcnhofk and Dr. Jurin af- ter the mod: accurate Admcafurement, by the Way dcfcribcd pag. 3 Jth, agreed, that the Diameter of a common red Globule of hu- man Blood is equal to the * one thou fond nine hundred and fortieth Part of the Length of an Inch. Mr. Leeuwenhoi k before this had computed that -J- twenty-five thou- fand of them were but equal to a Grain of Sand. Suppofing, then, the Blood, in People of found Health, to confift of Globules of fuch Size and Compolition as before mentioned, foft, flexile, and cafily feparable ; it mult neceffarily happen, that a coniiderablc Alte- ration in any of thefe Particulars will occa- fion a morbid State. — Should the Globules for Inftance, be divided too minutely, and not readily again cohere j mould they be- come rigid and unflexible, either when fepa- rated or united \ or fhould they coagulate and *Vide Philofopb. Tranfafi. Numb. ic6. f If the Diameter or' one thoufand nine hundred and forty Blood-Globules be equal to the Length of one Inch ; and if, as Geometricians demonftrate, Spheres be to each other as the Cubes of their Diameters, it mud neceffarily follow, that a Sphere whofe Axis is one Inch in Length, mult be equal to feven thoufand three hundred and one mil- lions, three hundred and eighty four thoufand fuch Globules. become ic6 Some Account of the Blood. become infeparable, bad Confequences mult enfue. The great Boerhaave fays, that Health confiilsinan equal Motion of the Fluids, and an equal Refiftance of the Solids. Now the Fluids move equally when their Force is no greater in one Part than another : and the Refiftance of the Solids is equal, when they comprefs the Fluids every where fo equally that no Senfe of Pain arifes. But when the Globules of the Blood co- here in MafTes too large, and will not eafi- ly be fo feparated as to pafs freely thro' the minuteft VefTels, the Force of the Fluid muft there be greater, and confequently un- equal j the Refiftance of the Solids muft al- fo be thereby increafed, and rendered like- wife unequal : whence fome Diftemper muft arife. If, on the other hand, the Globules are broken, or feparated into fmaller MafTes than the natural Standard Size, they will take up more Room than they did before ; and, being crowded too abundantly into the capillary VefTels, will occafion Diftenfion, Uneafinefs, and perhaps a partial Stagnation there ; whilft, in the larger VefTels, the Cur- rent rolls along with too great Rapidity, the Force of the Fluids, and the Refiftance of the VefTels are both rendered unequal, and the Ballance between the Solids and Fluids is entirely overturned. None of the Secre- tions in this State can duely be performed, and Some Account of the Blood. 107 and unlefs fome means be found to reftore the Equilibrium, the Event rand foon be fatal. I believe it will be allowed, that where one Perfon dies from a Diforder in the con- taining VeiTels, Twenty mifcarry by fomc unnatural Alteration in the Fluids that pais through them : and therefore if we can find what their natural State is, the Means where- by it may be preferved in fuch State, by what Accidents it may be prejudiced, and how it may be reflored, our Pains will be well em- ployed. In order to obtain this ufeful Knowledge, it will be necefTary to examine the human Blood and other Juices, frequently, with the Microfcopejn every Condition,and under eve- ry Dillemper, as well as in a State of Health: by which we mall have ocular Demonftration of its different Appearances in each State, and of the Changes it undergoes ; and by Expe- riments of various Mixtures with it,* may poffibly difcover by what means it can be al- tered from one Condition to another; as from a thin and broken to a more firm and con- fident State, and fo on the contrary. Would our learned Phyficians, who are beft able to judge of fuch Matters, be in- duced to take this Method into their Prac- tice, it is reafonable to believe, that in a few Years io8 Some Account of the Blood. Years the Caufes of Difeafes would be bet- ter known, and the Art of Healing brought to a much greater Certainty than it is at prefent. An Obfervation of Mr. Leeu- wenhoek is very well worth regarding : he took notice, that when he was greatly difor- dered, the Globules of his Blood appeared hard and rigid, but grew fofter and more pliable as his Health returned : whence he infers, that in an healthy Body it is requi- fite they mould be foft and flexible, that they may be capable of parting through the ca- pillary Veins and Arteries, by eafily chang- ing their round Figures into Ovals, and alfo of re-aflli mine their former Roundnefs when o they come into VefTels where they find lar- ger Room. Changes are produced in Fluids furprizing- ly and fuddenly, as a very few chymical Experiments will demonftrate : the Bite of Venomous Creatures, and Inoculating for the Small Pox, mew likewife, how minute a Proportion of poifonous Matter will conta- minate the whole Mais of human Blood -, which can no otherwife be effected but by altering the Solidity, Figure, Size, or Motion of its component Parts or Globules. And it is probable, that in many Cafes, it may be changed from a morbid to a healthy State, by ways not lefs eafy, could we be fo happy as to find them out 5 for we cannot reafon- ably Some Account of the Blood. icy ably fuppofe, that the beneficent Author of Nature has given more certain and ready Means of doing Mifchief than of doing Good. Many Diilempers might perhaps be cured by an immediate Admiflion of fome Medi- cines into the Veins, which elude the Power of all that can be taken by the Mouth. For the Stomach, by its Heat, its Action, and a Mixture of its Juices, works fuch an Alte- ration in things, before they can be admit- ted into the Blood, that they are unable to produce the fame Effects as if they were re- ceived into it fimply and unchanged. Some Trials that have been made already may ferve in a great meafure towards con- firming the above Supposition. Dr. Fabri- cius injected with a Syphon into the Me- dian Vein of a Soldier's Right Arm, in the Hofpital at Dantzick *, about two Drams of a certain purgative Medicine, which in about four Hours began to operate, and gave the Patient five Stools. His Cafe was Ve- nereal, and in fo terrible a Manner, that there were Nodes on the Bones of his Arm. But by this iingle Injection, and without any other Medicine, the Protuberances gra- dually difappeared, and the Difeafe was quite cured. He likewife injected into the Vein Philofjph. Tranfaftions, N" 1 - 30 0( 1 1 o Some Account of the Blood. of a married Woman, thirty-five Years old, and troubled from her Birth with Epileptic Fits, a fmall Quantity of a purging Rozin dif- folved in an Anti- Epileptic Spirit: this oc- cafioned a few gentle Stools - } after which the Fits were lefs violent every time than other, and in a fhort Time returned no more at all. Dr. Smith "f-, of the fame City, injected Alteratives into the Veins of three Patients ; one was lame with the Gout, another ex- ceedingly Apoplectic, the third afflicted with that ftrange Diftemper, called the Plica Polonica ; and they were all cured by the faid Injections. S. Fracassati in]ed:edAqiia Fortis'mto the jugular and crural Veins of a Dog, which died immediately. The Blood was found fixed in the fmaller VefTels, and the larger Veffels burft. Whereupon he remarks, that as an Apo- plexy is caufed bv a Coagulation of the Blood, it may probably be cured by fome Dijjohent injected Another Dog, in whofe Veins Oil of Vitriol was injected,complained a great while, foamed like Epileptics, breathed fhort, and died. His BIcod was fixed and gru- mous, refembling Soot. Oil of Tartar was injected into a third Dog, who after much bemoaning, appeared fwell'd, and died. •f- Philofoph. Tranfa£tions, Numb. 39. His Some Account of the Blood. 1 1 1 His Blood was not in the leaft curdled, but thinner and more florid than common. This proves too great a Separation as well as a Coagulation mortal. Mr. Boyle found, that by putting a little Aqua Fortisy Oil of Vitriol \ or Spirit of Salt into warm Blood, it did not only loie its pure Colour and become dirty, but in a Moment was coagulated ; whereas urinous Spirits abounding in volatile Salts, fuch as Spirit of Sal Armoniac, mingled with it, did not curdle it, or debafe its Colour, but made it redder, kept it fluid, and preferv- ed it a long while from Putrefaction. As the Microfcope has informed us of the Structure oftheBlood, which without its Help could never have been difcovered, and as its continual AfTifiance is needful to examine and diftinguifh minutely any Changes that may be wrought therein, either for the bet- ter or the worfe, by Accident or by Medi- cine ; I hope this Diicourfe will not be judg'd too long, or foreign to my Subject, fince Hints of this Kind may prove highly bene- ficial to Mankind, if they fhould be fo for- tunate to fall into the Hands of thofe who are inclinable to purfue and improve upon them. I come now to defcribe the Manner of bringing the Blood to a ftridt Examination before H2 Of 'viewing the Blood before the Micro/cope, and (hall offer fuch Ways as I have myfelf experienced,not doubt- ing but the Ingenious will contrive others, as they may find Occalion. CHAP. VIII. Of viewing the Blood with the Microscope. TAKE (with the Tip of a Feather, or a foft hair Pencil) a fmall Drop of warm Blood immediately from the Vein, fpread it, as thin as poflible, on the cleared fingle Ifin- glafs placed in a Slider on purpofe, and ap- ply it to the firft or fecond Magnifier : the Globules will then be feen diftinctly, and a little Practice will enable to form a judg- ment of any Alteration that may happen in the Size, Figure, Colour, or Appearance of them. We may alfo examine the Blood ex- treamly well, by taking up a little of it in a very fmall capillary Tube of the thinneft Glafs, and then placing the Tube before the Magnifier. If a Drop of the fame Blood be diluted with warm Water, and applied in either of the above Ways, fome of the larger Globules will appear more afunder, and a great many of them will be feen divided into the fmaller ones which compofe them. If with the Mlcrvfcopc. j 1 2 If fome of the fameB'ood be mixed with a little warm Milk, feyeral red unbroken Globules will be ken diftincllv; but thofe that are again feparated into their fmaller ones will be confounded with the Milk it- felf, of which the greateft Part is nothing elfe but Heaps of fuch like-liz'd minute Globules. If we defire to try by Experiment what Alteration any Liquor, either poifonous or meiicinal, can produce on the Contexture of the Blood, the Liquor ihould be blended with it at the very Inftant of its iffuing from the Vein : for if the Blood be in the leaft coagulated before huh Mixture, no certain Conclufions can be formed. Putting the Veflel into which we receive it into a Balbn of Water a little hotter than the Blood, will preserve it longer fluid, and make our Ex- periment by any Mixture with it fucceed the better. 1 would alio adviie, to s^et vour Infrrument in perfect Readinefs, by adjur- ing the Magnifier before the Vein is opened ; and likewile to make your Observations in a warm Place, left the Blood become con- gealed before you can finifh your Enquiry. In all Enquiries of Confequence, it is beft to draw the Blood from a large Vein : be- caufe what we can gain (by the Prick of a Pin or Needle) from the Finger or any fuch Part, ifiues from feme extreamly minute ca- pillary Veflels only, and perhaps is not fo I good 1 1 4 Cf viewing the Blood good a Sample of the Contexture of the whole Mafs. Some Trials on both may however not be amifs, to difcover what Dif- ference there is between them. Bv mingling with the Blood the lead ima- ginable Quantity cf the poifojious'J 'nice which iflites from the Teeth of a Viper when enra- ged, or from any other Animal^ Vegetable^ or Mineral, we mail difcover its immediate Effect upon the Globules ; and by conlider- ing, that the Alteration we obferve is wrought in it, tho' at reft, we mail be able to judge and calculate what Confequences mull enfue from fuch a Mixture with the Blood, as it circulates through the Veins of a living Creature. Mr. William Cowper examining a Solution of Opium with the Micro/cope, found its diffolved Particles in the Shape of fringed Globules : whence he concludes, that fuch Particles circulating in the Mafs of Blood, may be fo entangled in its Serum, or thicken it in fuch a Manner, as to retard its Veloci- ty when over-violent, and render its Motion calm and equal; whereby all painful Senfa- tions will be taken off. And from the fame Principles it is eafy to account for all its o- ther Effects, and how too great a Number of fuch fringed Globules rnuft caufe a total Stagnation of the Blood, and confequently kill. Vid. Philoj: Tranf. Numb. 222. Spirits, with the Micro fcope. 115 Spirits, Oils, i Suits, Ti:i5lnrcs y Effences, and all other chymical Preparations fbrnifh us with numberlefs Subjects of periment; and are certainly capable ol pro- ducing the moil: fudden and amazing Ef- fects, either good or bad, if injected mto the Blood- Veifels of living Animals : theCaufes of which Effects may in a great Degree be discovered and accounted for, by microfcopi- cal Obfervations on Mixtures of them v. the Blood when extracted from the Veins. A little Blood beins: mixed with about four Times its Quantity of *ScU Volatile Oleofum, and viewed through a M:cro/ccpe y there appeared an immediate Separation of the Globules. In about the eighth Part of a Minute fome of them w^re much dimi- nim'd, and in a quarter of a Minute many of them were much diiTolved and entirely difappeared. Sometimes twenty Globules were ictn near together, which foon lelTen'd to eighteen, then to iixteen, and became fewer and fewer till only two or three were left. Whence it is probable, that Sal Vo- latile Oleofum taken with the Food, and fo carried into the Lacteals and Blood Veffels, may retain its Power of preventing fuch Co- agulations as would otherwise happen. * Arc. Nat. Tom. IV. page 36. I 2 The 1 1 6 Of viewing the Blood, Sec. The Urine, Saliva, Semen, Sweat, Faces Afoi, and all other Animal Juices, are like- wile Objects for the Microlcope j to be ex- amined either alone, or mixed with the afore- faid Liquors : whence much ufeful Know- ledge may be acquired. . As to Colour in the Blood, a Blacknefs a- rifes in it from a Deficiency of Serum, as Palenefs does from too great an Abundance of it : for it will be always found, that when Globules cohere together in too great Numbers they give a black Appearance. When this therefore is the Cafe, means of diluting fhould be found out, and made ufe of j fince it is abfolutely requisite to Health, that the Globules of the Blood mould float in a due Quantity of Serum, and be there- by circulated freely through the minuted Veflels, a contrary State to which has prov'd the Death of thoufands. Mr. Leeu- we-nhoek tell us, that whenever he found his Blood too deep colour'd, his Way was to drink four Difhes of Coffee in a Morning, in the Room of his ufual two ; and fix Dimes of Tea in the Afternoon, inftead of three. He drank it as hot as poffible, and went on in this Mariner, till he perceived his Blood grow paler, and confequently its Globules farther feparated. CHAP. t "7 ] C II A P. IX. The Circulation of the Blood. IN order to view the Blood circulating through its Vtffcls, we muff make uie cf fuch /mail Creatures as bv their Tranfpa- rency permit us to look within them, and fee what paries there : for, in a Man, or any of the large Animals, the Skin is fo opake, that we cannot difcern even the fine Blood- VefTels themfelves, and much lefs the Cur- rent that runs along them. Our Informa- tion, however, will not be greatly different ; for the whole Animal Creation is ellablifhed on one and the fame Plan, and the Circu- lations in the meaneft living Creature are carried on through Veffels of a like Structure (in the general) and are accelerated, or re- tarded, by the fame Caufes as in the noblefr. And, in Truth, as to the Circulations of the Fluids, and the Motions of the Bowels, the Brain, or any of the internal Parts, more Knowledge may be gained by infpect- ing Life 3s and Jma U Animals with the Mi- cro/copi\ than by the molt (kilful and curious Diffe&ions, or anatomical Experiments on larger Subjects. For the Skins of fome of thefe little. Creatures are fo tranfparent, that we may fee plainly through them the Order and Diipoiition of the Veffels underneath; I 3 and 1 1 8 'The Circulation of the Blood. and the Coats of thefe Veflels are, again, of fiich an amazing Thinnefs and Delicacy oF Contexture, that they are little or no Im- pediment to our View of the fccrer, tho' re- gular, Operations of Nature, and the Laws ihe ads by, when undifturb'd and quiet: whereas our DiiTtctions of larger Animals, whil'. alive, may {hew her at work, indeed, but in fuch Confufidn, by breaking in upon her violently, that all her Motions, then, muff, be in great Difordcr, andconfequently uncapable oi~ affording any fatisfactory Infor- mation as to the Circulations. In this Sort of Creatures too, after view- ing, as long as we think fit, the natural and regular Current of the Blood, as it is carried on in a State of Health ; we may by Pref- fure, and feveral other Ways, impede, di- fhirb, and divert its Cotorfe ; and may find Means, by various Mixtures with it, of in- ducing a morbid State ; and at laft, by let- ting the Creature dye before our Glafs, we may perceive all the Changes it undergoes, and what occafions the intermitting, vibra- ting, trembling Pulfe of expiring People. In feveral of thefe little Creatures we can not only fee the general Courfe of the Blood, but are able perfectly to diftinguifh the Fi- gure and Circumftances of the Globules whereof it is compounded, and the Altera- tions they naffer, when they pafs out of the larger into the more minute Veflels. For i many The Circulation of the Blood. 1 1 9 many of the Veflels are lb fmall, that even fingle Globules cannot pofTibly find a Pailige thro' them without being compreifed into oval Shapes : and yet thefe Veflels arc large in companion of the fined: Vefiels of all, to pais through which, (he Globules muft be divided and fubdivided into their f nail- eft and moil minute component Globules. 'Tis amazing to obferve, how careful Providence has been to prevent the Blood from coagulating, or cohering in Mafles dan- gerous to Life, by the very Difpofition of the Veflels it runs through : which, whether feparating, or uniting, are ib contrived as to caufe the Globules to come frequently toge- ther with a brifk Collision, or finking a- gairift each other. The Arteries, for Ex- ample, which convey the Blood from the Heart to the Extremities of the Animal, and in their Progrefs continually leffen their Diameters, and divide into fmaller Branches almofl ad Infinitum: in thefe Arteries, I fay, at every fuch Divificn, many of the Globules of the Blood muft rum, with a confiderable Force, againft an Angle direct- ly in their Way j whence recoiling back on thofe immediately behind, they muft ftrike upon one another, and caufe a Kind of Commotion, e'er the Current can divide readily into the two fmaller Branches. See Fig III. Plate X. In the Feins, which, I 4 on I 20 Of viewing t!:e Current on the contrary, return back the Blood from the Extremities to the Heart,* whole Diame- ters enlarge as the Tide rolls along, and Whole fmali Brandies arc continually uni- ting and making larger VeiTels, till at laft all their Streams fall into one j here, at every Conjunction of two Branches, their Currents rufh againft each other with Violence: by which Concuffion unnatural Cohefions are broken, or prevented j and of this the Mi- crcfiope can afford us ocular Demonftration. Vide Fig. IV. CHAP. X. Of viewing the Current and the Circulation of the Blood. "pY the Current of the Blood, I mean, its ■*- J> ft reaming or puffing on either from or towards the Heart , through any Feffe/ y whe- ther \t be a Fein or Artery. By the Circulation I would be underftood to intend, the Courfe or Current of it, from the Heart along the Arteries to the Extre- mities of ih.^ Body : together with its Return by the Feins from the Extremities back again towards the Heart. Both thefe the Micro fcopc can bring to View i but the latter is fomewhat more dif- I ficult and Circulation of- the Blood. 121 ficult to be allured of than the former ; for when the Veuels before us are extreamly lmail, it is not always eaiy to diftinguiflU which of them are Veins and which arc Arteries. ^ The larger Arteries are indeed diftinguifli- able by a Protrufion of the Blood at each Contraction of the Heart, then a Stop, and then a new Protrufion, which may plainly be ken continually fucceeding one another : whereas the Current pafles through the Veins with an equal and unintermitting Stream. But in the more line and extreme Branches of the Arteries this Difference is not per- ceivable. The tranfparent Membrane between a Frog's hind-foot Toes is the Object molt commonly employed for viewing the Current and Circulation of the Blood - y and, in this, if well expanded, it may be fecn fairly and diftinctly, both in the Veins and Arteries, id the manner reprefented Plate XI. Fig. I. A. A. two Toes of a Frog's hinder Foot. B. the thin Membrane between the Toes > extended. C. C. C. the Trunks of the Arteries. D. D. the Trunk of a Vein. E. E. E. Arteries and Veins in the fine Membrane, with the Blood-Globules circu- lating through them. The 122 Of viewing the Current The Way of applying it to the Microfcope was defcribed Page 1 3 ; and therefore needs not be repeated here. The Tuils or Fins of fmr.ll Fi-'hes may likewife be ufed very commodio'jfly to this Purpofe, and prefent to View great Num- bers of Veins and Arteries with the Blood pafling different Ways through them. It is difficult here in London to meet with any Fifties alive and proper for this In- fpection, except Eels and Flounders : either of thefe will ferve however exceeding well ; but the fmailer they are the better. Put your Eel into a GlafsTube fill'd with Water, after wiping off its Slime, which would ob- fcure your Glafs. Then having flopped both Ends, to prevent the Water's running out, apply the Tail or Fin to your Micro- fcope, and you'll fee the Circulation in a very agreeable Manner. If you put not Water in your Tube, the Sliminefs of the Eel will immediately foul the Glafs and prevent your Pleafure. The flat Figure of the Flounder will not permit us to put it in a Tube as we do the Eel, or view it by every. Kind of Micro- fcope : but if a plain Piece of thin Glafs be placed over the Hole, where Objects are ap- plied to the Double Reflecting Microfcope, its Tail may be fpread advantagioufly upon the faid Glafs: and by fetting a Book, or fome- / ha. /-'/. A. Ti^.JI.v. 124. ffi:l jFu/.JII.p./43 and Circulation of the Blood. 123 fomething elfe of a proper Height to flip- port the Body of the Fim, it will lye in a very good Pofition for View, and the Circu- lation may be ilen ditlinctly. Eels and Flounders live a long while out of Water, and are therefore molt ufeful for this Service here at London; but in the Country many Sorts of other fmall Fidies may be found much more tranfparcnt. Mr. Le e u w e n 11 o e k informs us * that he {d\v, with great Admiration, in the ut- most Extremities of a very minute Fifli's Tail, how the larger Arteries were there di- vided into the mofl fine or evanefcent ones ; and how many of the fmallefl Veins, re- turning from the (aid Extremities, met to- gether at la ft in fome larger Vein. There appeared alfo in fome Veficls, fuch an Agi- tation of that Blood (which was protruded from the larger Arteries towards the eva- nefcent Ones at the very Extremity of the Tail, and returned afterwards through ma- ny minute Veins into a large One) as hardly can be conceived. In the larger Arteries he could perceive a continual new Protrulion, or Acceleration of the Blood's Courfe, received from the Heart ; but in the fmaller Arteries the Motion feemed equable, without any Ai can. Nat. Tom. IV. Epift. 65. fuch 124 Of viewing the Cur twit fuch repeated Propulfion : and though in the minuteft VefTels there appeared no Colour, yet in the larger Vein or Artery, though near the End of the Tail, the Blood was plainly red. We cannot properly call any VefTe! an Artery farther than the Puliation reaches ; beyond that, and returning towards the Heart, it muft be accounted a Vein : for Veins are onl^ r Arteries elongated; but as they frequently divide into Branches that evade Difcovery, it is, perhaps, impo fable to determine exactly where the Arteries end, and where the Veins begin. They do not always, however, branch out fo extrearnly fine before their Inofculati- on or Communication with the Veins ; for the fame curious Obferver tells us, that on each Side the little Grilles, which gave a Stiffnefs to the Tail of the Filh abovemen- tion'd, he could fee a very open Communi- cation of the Veins and Arteries : the Blood running towards the Extremities through Arteries, and returning back again thro' Veins that were evidently a Continuation of thofe Arteries, and of the fame Diameter with them : And this he law in thirty-four different Places, in as many Arteries, and as many Veins. The Manner whereof, as by him delineated, is (hewn, Tab. XI. Fig. II. A. A. and Circulation of the Blood. 125 A. A. Reprefent two Arteries, one of which runs on each Side a minute Griftle. B. B. Their open Communication with the two Veins C. C. As this whole Fim was not half an Inch in Length, how fmall mutt the Tail there- of be, in which, notwithstanding, the Cir- culation of the Blood was vifible in thirty- four Places, and the Current of it in lixty- cight Veflcls ! * and yet thefe Veffels were very far from being the moit minute of all. How inconceivable then mull be the Num- ber of its Circulations in an human Body! Nor need we wonder to behold it iifuing forth at everv Prick of a Pin or Needle. Upon conlidering this, Mr. Leeu wen- hoe k adds, that he is fully perfuaded, a thoufand different Circulations of the Blood are continually carried round in every Part of a Man's Body that is not larger than the Breadth of his Fore-finger Nail *. The Tail of a Newt, or Water-Lizard, applied in a Glafs Tube, after the Manner directed for the Eel, affords an entertaining Profpedt of the Circulation through Num- bers of fmall Veffels. But nothing can mew it finer, than an exceeding fmall -j- Newt of * Leeuwenh. Arcan. Nat. Tom. IV. p. 169. f Phil. Tranjail. Numb. 2SS. this 126 Of viewing the Current this Water-Kind, which fometimes may be found lefs than an Inch long, and i"o tranipa* rent, that the Blood may be feen running in all Directions, not only through theVeflels of the Tail, but throughout the whole Body : And it is particularly delightful, to behold, in the little Toes, the Stream thereof running to the Extremity in one Channel, and return- ing back again by another. J ml below the Head are on either Side three*Fins, or fome- what like them, which, in fwimming, the Creature makes Ufe of to poife and guide its Body : each of thefe appears by the Micro- fcope divided, like Polypody, into many point- ed Branches ; in any one whereof, as in the Toes, the Blood is feen coming along an Ar- tery to the Extremity, and then immedi- ately returning towards the Heart again, through a Vein that lies parallel, and almoft clofe thereto, and with which its Commu- nication is very apparent. — As thirty or forty of thefe Branchings prefent themfclves be- fore the Eye fometimes at once, with the Blood diftinctly circulating in all, they afford a charming Sight : and they may be viewed by the third or fourth Magnilier j for the Globules of the Blood in Newts are larger than in any other Creature I have examin'd, and are fewer in Proportion to the Serum or Water they float along in. To which I may alfo add, that the Figure of them, as they are carried and Circulation cf the Blood. 127 carried along the Veffels, changes in a mofl furprizing Manner. In Spring-time, if a little Frogs Spawn be kept fome Days in a fmall Quantity of the Ditch Water wherein you found it, you'll be furnifhedwith a Number of exceedingly fmall Tadpoles, which, when firft they be- gin to fwim are almolt wholly tranfparent: and if placed before the Miciofcope, in a Tube proportionably fmall, with fome Water in it, you'll eafily difcern the Heart and its Puliation, together with the Blood circulat- ing in every Part of the Body ; and, particu- larly, in the Tail, more than fifty VefTels prefent themfelves at one View. Thefe Tadpoles become lefs clear every Hour, and in a Day or two their Skin grows fo opake, that the Circulation of the Blood can be feen no longer, unlefs it be in the Tail, or better mil in the Fins, at the joining on of the Head. A fmall Mujcle taken carefully from its Shell, and placed before the Microfcope on an Ifinglafs, affords a View of many Arte- ries and Veins, through which the Circula- tion of the Blood may be very clearly fecn : and one great Advantage in this Object is, that it lies always quiet ; whereas molt other Creatures are difficult to be kept (till long enough for Obfervatioh. The Motion of the Blood 128 Of viewing the Current Blood continues in it fix or feven Hours with little Alteration : and, by moiftening it now and then with fait Water, may probably be continued much longer. I can alio allure you, from my own re- peated Experiments, that if a large Mufcle be carefully opened, and a Piece of the, thin tranfparcnt Membrane adhering to the Shell be fnipped off with a Pair of (harp Scillars, and applied to the Microfcope, the Blood will be {ten palling through Numbers of Veins and Arteries ; and if the Extremity of the Membrane be viewed, the true Circula- tion, or the Return of the Blood from the Arteries through the Veins, will be fhewn in a delightful and fatisfa&ory manner, and continue for a long Time. There are like- wife other tranfparcnt Parts of the Mufcle, where the Paffage of the Blood is very dd- cernable : And, as MuJ'cles are to be got mod times of the Year in London, the Knowledge hereof will, I hope, oblige the Curious. We are told by Mr. Leeuwenhoek, that in the farther! Joints of the hinder Legs of little * Crabs, he beheld the Blood circu- late through the Arteries and Veins, with greater Rapidity than he had ever obferved it in any other Creature ; and, moreover, that the red Globules thereof were twenty-five * Leeuw. Arc. Nat. Tom. IV. Ep. 84. Again, Ep. 86. times atid Circulation of the Blood. 129 times fewer in Proportion to its Serum than in any other Land or Water-Animal he had ever before examin'd. At the proper Time of Year, exceeding fmall Crabs may be found, in great Abun- dance, under Stones and Brick-bats on the Shores of the River Thames, when the Tide is out : and as many of them are not larger than a little Spider, it is highly probable iuch may be tranfparent in many Places of the Limbs and Body ; notwithstanding Mr. LeeuwEiNHoek: found his, which were an Inch broad, opake every where but in the extreameft Joints of the hinder Legs. Per- haps too, they may appear more tranfparent, if thev are applied to the Microfcope in a little Tube filled with Water, than if they are viewed dry ; for 'tis obfervable, that many Objects acquire a Tranfparency by be- ing wetted, in the fame manner as Paper becomes clear by being rubbed with Oil. The Blood may be feen circulating in the Legs and Taib of Shrimps, especially if view- ed in Water ; but then the Water mult have a little Salt put thereto, or elfe they will foon expire. In Shrimps the Blood is not red ; which has given Occafion to call them as well as many odier Iniacls exangues f or bloodlefs : tho' in reality no living Crea- ture is without Blood ; for animal Life con- filts in a Circulation of fome Fluid through K Arte,- 130 Of viewing the Current Arteries and Veins, and that Fluid, what- ever Colour it may be of, is properly to be accounted Blood. In GraJJjoppers the Glo- bules (which may be feen pafling through the Vellels in their Wings) are green, and yet I am apt to think, no body that views them will hefitate to call them, with the Serum wherein they fwim, Blood. In the tranfparent Legs and Feet of feve- ral fmall Spiders, the Current of the Blood may plainly be diftinguiuYd both in the Veins and Arteries : alfo in the Legs of very fmall ~P unices or Bugs it is remarkably vifi- ble, together with an extraordinary Vibra- tion of the VefTels, which I never have ob- ferved in any other Creature. In thefe too, if clear, as they may fometimes be found, the wonderful Motions of all the internal Parts will afford an agreeable Entertainment to the Curious, and may be examin'd as long and as often as they pleafe. For I have kept a Bug alive in a Slider between two Pieces of Innglafs at leaft fix Weeks together, not- withfianding it was confined fo clofe as to be uncapable of ftirring : and al'ho' during that time it often feem'd dead and motion- lels, when I placed it before the Microfcope a little Warmth would fet the Bowels at work rgain, and renew the Current of the Blood as brifkly as ever. After and Circulation of the Blood. 131 After many Obfervations made by Mr* Leeuwenhoek on the Blood of Cofks* Sparrows, Frogs, Trout, Perch, Cod, Salmon, &c. he affirms, that the red Particles in the Blood of Birds, Fijl:es } and Water- Aii .. are confhntly * flat and of an oval Figure, that is, they are longer than their Breadth, and appear as in Plate X. Fig. V. The fe- rous Part of the Blood in Fijles and Aquatic Animals is alio greatly more, in Proportion to the red Particles, than it is in Beafls or Men, and the Particles themfelves are larger : ib that, by being bigger, and iwimming far- ther afunder, they may be iQcn much better. Mr. Leeuwenhoek obferved the Blood circulating in the filmy Wings of a -J- Bat, and likewise in its Ears, and found the Glo- bules thereof perfectly round : Wherefore, al- lowing his Allertion, that in Filhes and Birds they are always flat and oval, we need no longer heikate how to clais this odd Creature; but, notwithstanding its flying, fhall pro- nounce it to be a Beafl. He tells us, that Bats can fee as well by Day as Night : but he fuppofes the Keat and Drynefs of the Day- Air would ihrivel up the thin Membranes of their Wings, and confequently flop the Circulations there: * drr. Nat. Tom. I. P TI. p. 51. Aglin, Tern ;8. Again, Tern. IV. Epijl. 65. i Arc. Net. Tom. IV. Epitl .67. K 2 whereas 132 Of viewing the Current whereas the cool Dews of the Evening ren- der them moift and pliable ; which makes them chufe that time to come abroad. In viewing feveral of the Objects here mentioned, one fhall often obferve the Blood palling through VefTels fo minute, that the Globules of it cannot glide along otherwife than Tingle, and fqueezed into oblong Forms: yet an hundred of the red Globules of fuch Blood, if placed clofe to one another in a Row, would not equal the Length of the Diameter of a large Grain of Sand j and confequently a Million of them exceeds not a Grain of Sand in Bignefs *. The Effects of Heat and Cold upon the Blood are well worth taking notice of: for as Heat relaxes the VefTels, the Blood finds more Room to move in, its Globules float at greater Diftances, and it circulates more freely ; whereas Cold fo contracts the Vef- fels, that the Globules are* compreft toge- ther, and the Blood is impeded, and in fome Degree coagulated in the minute Capillary Veins and Arteries of the extream Parts j as is evident from the Swelling and Blacknefs of the Hands and Feet when expofed to fe- vere Cold. Leeuwen. Arc, Nat. Tom. I. Par. I. pag. 35. Before and Circulation of the Blood. 1 3 3 Before I clofe this Chapter, I mail briefly communicate feme Experiments, I had the Pleafure of making laft Summer, with mv molt ingenious and valuable Friend Doctor Alexander STUART,Phyfichn to her late Majefty, in order to view the Circulation of the Blood by the Solar or Camera Obfcura Micro- fcopc, which has the Advantage of magnifying Objects beyond any other fort of Microicope : but muit refer the Curious to a more full Account thereof laid by this Gentleman be- fore the Royal Society, and which will be published in the Pbilofophical Traiifaclions. I mud firft defcribe a particular Apparatus, invented by the DoBor, for examining the Circulation of the Blood in Frogs, Mice, Bats, or any Creatures of the like Size. In this Contrivance, the Looking-glafs, Tube, and convex Lens are juft the fame, and placed in the Hole of a Window-Shutter in the fame manner as defcribed Pag. 22. But here, inftead of ufing Wilson's little Pocket Micro/cope, he has got the Belly-Part of a large Reflecting one fixed horizontally on a Pedeftal, at a Height exactly equal to the Tube. This frauds on a little Shelf made to fupport it j and to the Snout thereof, which lies on a Level with the Tube, the Magnifiers are fcrewed. The Object being extended and fattened with Strings and Pins on a Frame convenient for the Purpofe, is applied between the Tube and the Magni- K 3 fier : 134 Of viewing the Current fier : whereby the Sun's Rays reflected from the Looking-ghfs, through the Tube, upon the Object, pafs on through the Magnifier, and exhibit upon the Screen an Image of the Object mod prodigiou fly enlarged. This I hope may give fome "Idea of our Inflru- ment: and now I come to the Application. Our Object was a Frog, whole Limbs being extended and fattened on the Frame, we opened the Skin of the Belly from near the Anus to the Throat: then giving it a little Snip fide ways both at the Top and Bottom, by flicking a Fifb-Hook in each Corner of the Skin, it was eafily firetched out before the Micro/cope, and preiented on the Screen a mo if beautiful Picture of the Veins and Arteries in the Skin, with the Blood circulating through them. In the Arteries we could plainly perceive the Blood flopping, and as it were receding a little, at each Dilatation of the Heart, and then im- mediately ruming forwards again at each Contraction ; whilit in the Veins it rolled on in a continual Current with inexprefiibJe Rapidity *. After considering this as long as we thought needful, we opened the Abdomen, and extending the Mufcles before the Micro- * When the Arteries were magnified very much, by re- moving the Screen to a confiderable Diftance, the alternate Expansion and Contraction of their Sides were very vifible and remarkable. Z fcope* and Circulation of the Blood. 1 3 5 fcope, by the fame Means as we had done the Skin, we had the Pleature of viewing their Structure, which we found to confiit of Bundles of tranfparent Strings or Fibres, lying parallel to one another, and joined to- gether by a common Membrane. Thefe Strings or Fibres appeared through their whole Length made up of minute roundifh Veficles, or, in other Words, feemed like Rufhes divided the long Way, We could not be certain of any Circulation throu ;b the Mufcles, though fometimes we imagined we faw a very flow Motion of fome tranfpa- rent Fluid : but the Object growing dry and rigid, obliged us to leave that Enquiry to a farther Examination. We then proceeded to our lafl Experi- ment, which was to draw out gently a Part of the Frog's Gut, in order to apply the Mc- fentery to the Micro/cope: and herein we fucceeded fo happily, that I believe the Cir- culation of the Blood was never before feen in fo dillinct and fine a Manner. No Words can defcribe the wonderful Scene thnt was prefented before our Eyes ! We beheld the Blood pafling through numberlefs Veifels at one and the fame Inftant, in lome one Way, in others the quite contrary. Sever?! of the Veifels were magnified to above an Inch in Diameter, and the Globules of the Blood rolling through them feem'd near as large as Pepper-Corns ; whilft in many 01 the mi- K 4 nuteft 1 3 6 Of viewing the Current, 6cc. nuteft Veffels only finglc Globules were able to find a PafTage, and that too not without changing their Figure into that of oblong Spheroids. We faw here likewife, much better than we had done before, the Pulfa- tion and Acceleration of the Blood in the Arteries, in the Manner before defcribed, and could clearly dillinguiih two or three Veffels lying over one another, with Cur- rents running different Ways. In fhort, it appeared like a beauteous Landfcape, where Rivers, Streams., and Rills of running Water are every where diipeifed. During this Examination, we took notice of a Veffel extreamly minute, iffuing from the Side of a larger, and turning backwards from it in a curve Line. We perceived, at unequal Intervals, fomctimes one, fometimes two, and fometimes three colourlefs Glo- bules, dropt or fqueez'd out of the larger VefTel into this minute one, and gliding through it fingly and very ilowly ; which made the Doctor imagine it might be &Je- cretory Duel. We obferved likewife, that as the Animal grew languid and near ex- piring, the Blood in the Arteries would flop on a fudden, feem as it were coagulating, and then run backwards for fome time; after which, it would again recover its na- tural Courfe with a great deal of Rapidity. -— A dueConfideration of thefe Appearances might poffibly account foi the Intermiflions, 2 Starts, The Pulfation of the Heart. 137 Starts, and Irregularities in the Pulfe of Per- fons near the Point of Death. CHAP. XI. The Pulfation of the Heart. 'Hp HIS wonderful Phenomenon mav be ■* fecn diftinctly in feveral fmall Infects, fome whereof I mall here mention, with fliort Directions how to find it. Divide a * Bee, particularly an Humble- Bee, near the Neck : and its Heart, which is a white pulfing Particle, may be feen beating brifkly. The Head of the J Horfe-Fly being cut off, juft at the fetting on of the Neck, a little Particle (which is the Heart) will ap- pear with a Pulfation in it for half an Hour. The -J- Grafshopper has a green Film or Plate over its Neck and Shoulders, which being raifed with a Pin, its Heart may be feen, beating very orderly, for a long while together. Cut off the Head of that little flying Bee- tle, known to every Child by the Name of § Lady-Bird, or Cow-Lady : erect it per- * Dr. Power's Microfccp. Objh-v. p. 4. J Ibid. 7, f Ibid. 24. } Ibid. 30. pen die u- 138 The Pulfation of the Heart. pendicularly, and you'll fee two fmall black Eyes, each fet between three white Plates like poliuYd Ivory, on one fide two fmall ones, and a large one on the other. Pull off both the cruftaceous and filmy Wings, which cover a tender black Skin, and, re- moving that Skin, the Pulfation of the Heart may be feen beating vigoroufly for twelve or fourteen Hours. The Heart of a * Snail is to be found exactly againfr. the round Hole near its Neck, of a white Colour, + and may be feen beating a quarter of an Hour after DhTeclion. It may alfo be feen in a Loufe, as I mall mew when I come to defcribe that Crea- ture j and I make no doubt the curious and diligent Enquirer will be able to difcover it in Multitudes of other little Animals. The periftaltic Motion of the Stomach and Bowels may be feen very diftinctly in Lice, Gnats, Flies, &c. and a Multitude of other Infects. * Dr. Power's Micro/cop. Obfer-vat. p. 36. •J-SwAMMERp. Hiji. Generate des Infeflei, p. 77. CHAP. [ 139 ] CHAP. XII. Of the mufcular or fleftiy Fibres of Animals. THE flefljy Fibres of the Mufclcs (ac- cording to the Obfervations of Monficur Muvs) are compofed of other fmaller Fi- bres or Fibrils, the Size of a (lender Hair ; five or fix hundred of which Fibrils go to the making up of one flcfiy Fibre, whole Diameter is no more than the twenty-fourth part of an Inch. Each of thefe Fibrils is again compofed of more than three hundred fmall transparent Tubu/i, fo extreamly lien- der, that were one of thofe Blood- Globules (which Mr. Leeuwenhoek fuppofes but the Millionth Part of a Grain of Sand) di- vided into twenty- four Parts, even thefe minute Parts could hardly enter and pafs through fuch exceedingly fmall Tubes. And yet, that they do enter and pafs through them is evident by the Rednefs of the Flefh of Animals. We mull: therefore infer, that the Tubuli forming a Fibril are really hol- low : that the Extremities of the Arteries open into them, and empty there a Part of their Liquor, which is carried back again by the Veins to the Heart : and that the Glo- bules of the Blood are, for this Purpofe, di- vided into Parts inconceivably fmall. * * Fid, Phil.Tranf. Numb- 339. Mr. 1 40 Of the Mafcular Fibres of Animals. Mr. Leeuwenhoek fays, each Mufcular Fibre is compofed of many (mailer Filaments or Fibrils ; which, however minute, he could plainly diftinguim to be vafcular : for, if he cut acrofs their Length, the Light ap- peared through the Mouths of the VefTels ; but if he cut them ever fo little obliquely no Light was to be feen *f\ He found alio, that each Fibril is inverted with a * minute Membrane, which is only a Congeries of Blood- VefTels conveying Juices and Nou- rishment thereto, tho' their Finenefs renders them invifible. It is not, however, to be imagined, that each Fibril has its peculiar Membrane : but that all the Membranes to- gether are like a Net finely fpread, with a Fibril ifluing through each of its Mefhes. This Structure of the Fibres he obferved in the Flefh of an Ox, and of a Whale ; but more plainly in that of a Whale, the Beef-Fibres lying more compact and clofe. He alfo found that the Fibres of a Moufe were of the fame Thicknefs as thofe of an Ox, though thirty thoufand Mice are not equal to one Ox in Bignefs : whence he concludes, that the different Size of Ani- mals is intirely owing to the greater or lefs Number and Length of the Fibres J. + Phil. Tranf. Numb. 367. * Gorter. Medic. Compend. p. 58. eg. Leeuw. Arc Nat. Tom. III. p. 58. % Ibid. 61. ' Thefc Of the Mufcuhir Fibres of Animals. 141 Thefe flejby Fibres appear through their whole Length encompalTed with circular Wrinkles. If a Thread were twifted about a fine Needle in a Screw-like Form, with fpiral Circumvolutions, lb that each Thread be diftant from another the Diameter of the Needle, it would naturally reprefent the Manner of thefe circular T witlings. And this Difpofition is wonderfully contrived for the ready Dijlenfwn or Contraction of the Fibres : for as a Cord will be diftended or contracted quicker, or Jloiver, in proportion to its Length, the fame muft alio be the Cafe in Animal Fibres ; and, therefore, o;i thefe Principles we may calculate how much more nimbly the Leg of a Moufe can move than the Leg of an Ox. The Method of viewing the Mufcular Fibres is, to cut carefully, and with a very lharp Razor or Pen-knife, a Slice ofdryed Flem or Fifh, as thin as poflible. Lay it on a Piece of Glafs, and moiften it with warm Water ; which, drying foon away, will leave the Veflels open and diftinguiih- able. It is obfervable that the Fibres of Fifh are larger than thofe of Flem. That the Mufcular Fibres are vafcular, or made up of little hollow VerTels, is fuppofed by Malpighius, Borelli, GoRTER,our own Countryman Mr. Hooke, who fays, they 142 Of the Mufcular Fibres of Animals. they appeared to him like Strings of Pearls; and, very lately, by Dr. Alex. Stuart, in his learned and ingenious Treatife de Mo- tu Mufculorum ; where, from fuch a Struc- ture, and Sy the Influx of the nervous Fluid, he accounts, very reafonably, for the elaftic Force, the Contraction, the Diftenfion, and all the Actions of the Mufcles *. But as thefe Gentlemen differ fomewhat in the Fi- gure of the little Veficles fuppofed to make up the mufcular Fibres, the Curious will do well to examine, with the Microfcope y into this Matter, as carefully as pomble ; and that, by contriving all the Ways they can think of to view the Fibres in living Ani- mals. For, whatever Form the VefTels may have when replete with a nervous or other Fluid, I am afraid, when the Fibres have been dried, or the VefTels collapfe together by not being fupplyed with fuch Fluid, the true Form and Structure of them can never be fully known. Our Obfervations, 'tis probable, may be made with moft Succefs on LifeBs, their fleihy Fibres, as Mr. Leeuwenhoek tells us, being no lefs vifible than thofe of larger Creatures : which he fouud, by cutting off and examining the flefhy Parts of the Legs of -\- Flies, Gnats 3 Ants, &c. in all which he * Vid. Go rter de Fabrica & Motu Mufculor. Stuart , deMotu Miilc, p, 49. f Arc. Nat. Tom. III. p. 108. could Of Bones. 143 could plainly diftinguifh the circular Wrin- kles or Circumvolutions encompafhng the Fibres, as they are pictur'd Plate XI. Fig. III. CHAP. XIII. Of Bones. FT PON examining of Bones with a Mi- ^ crofcopc\ their fuperficial Part is found to confift of a great many fmall VerTels, and fome few of a larger Size : which laft, when they come to the Surface of the Bone, ap- pear inverted with either a Membrane or bony Subfbnce perfectly tranfparent. The Infide of the Bone has a fpongy or cellular Subftance, confiding of long Particles clofe- ly united, which are compofed of number- lefs fmall Veffcls, fome running length-ways, and others taking their Courie towards the Sides of the bony Particles, which, not- withstanding their great Number of Aper- tures, are extreamly hard, and lye fome pa- rallel, and others perpendicular to the Length of the Bone. Mr. Leeuwenhof.k difcover'd, once, in a fmall Bit of a Shin- Bone, four or five Vef- fels, with Apertures large enough for a Silk, to pafs through ; each whereof feem'd fur- nim'd with a Valve, difpofed in fuch a Man- ner 144 Of Bon 2 s. ner as to let out what was contained in the VefTel, but fuffer nothing to return into it *. " It may pofTibly be conceived by fome, " fays Dr. Grew, that the Bones, at lead " fome of them, are hard at the firfl: : as " Salts and other cryftallizing Bodies are as " hard upon the very firfl Inftant of their w Shooting, as they are when grown into " large Cryftuls. But it is fo far evident " that all the Bones are foft at the firfl, that " I am of Opinion, they are originally a " Congeries of as true Fibres ov fibrous Vef- " fels as any other in the Body j which by * c Degrees harden into Bones, in like Man- " ner as the inmoft VefTels of a Plant do in " time harden into Wood. And as in a " Plant there are fucceffive Additions of " Rings or Tubes of Wood, made out of " VefTels : fo in an Animal, it feems plain, (< that there are Additions fucceilively made " to the Bones out of the fibrous Parts of " theMufcles : efpecially thofe whitefl Fibres " which run tranfverfly, and make the Sta- " men or Warp of every Mufcle. So that, " as in the Bark of a Plant, part of the Vef- ** fels are fucceilively derived outward to the " Rind, and part inward to the Sap, which " afterwards becomes hard Wood j fo, in the " Flefh of an Animal, Part of the white " tranfverfe Fibres are fuccefTively derived * PhilofoDh. Tranfaa. Namb. 366. " to Of the Nerves. 145 f< to the Skin (of which it chiefly confifts) " and Part of them inwardly, making ftill " new Periofteums one after another, as the " old Ones become fo many Additions to " the Bones." * Whoever would examine the Bones, muft fhave off, with a (harp Pen- knife, very thin Pieces lengthways, crofsways, and obliquely, and that from the Infide, Outiide, and Mid- dle of the Bone. Apply to the Micro/cope fome of thefe Shavings dry, and Others moi- ftened with warm Water, and thus the Vef- fels will be (ccn in all Directions. But the bell Way of (hewing the bony Structure is, by putting the Bones in a very clear Fire till they are red hot ; then taking them out carefully, you'll find the bony Cells, though tender, perfect and entire : And being now quite empty, they may be viewed with great Eafe and Plea fu re. CHAP. XIV. Of the Nerves. MR. Lf.euwenhoek endeavoured to difcover, by his Mkrofcope i the Struc- ture ot the Nerves, in the Spinal Marrow Crew's Rarities q£ Gre/tam College, p. 6. L of 146 Of the Ne r ves. of an Ox j and faw, with great Delight, that minute hollow VeiTels, of an unconceivable Finenefs, inverted with their proper Mem- branes, and running out in Length parallel to one another, make up their Compofition. And though fome Hundreds of thefe VefTels go to the Formation of the leaft Nerve that can pofiibly be examined, he did not only diicern the Cavities of them, which he com- puted to be three times lefs than their Dia- meters, but, in fome, perceived the Ori- fices, as plainly, as the Holes in a pricked Paper are to be feen when looked at againft the Sun. It requires however great Dexte- rity and Expedition to make this Examina- tion with Succefs j for after a thin Slice of the Spinal Marrow is placed before the Mi- crofcope, in lefs than a Minute's Time it be- comes dry, and the whole Appearance va- nishes *. The fame ingenious Enquirer into Nature examined likewife the Brain of feveral Crea- tures, fuch as an Indian Hen, a Sheep, an Ox, a Sparrow, &c. and could there diftin- guifli Multitudes of VefTeis, fo extreamly fmall, that if a -j- Globule of the Blood (a Million whereof exceed not a Grain of Sand in Bignefs) were divided into five hun- dred Parts, thofe Parts would be too large * Arc Nat. Tom. III. p. 310. 355. 440. •f Ibid. Tom. I. Part I. p. 30. to Of the Nerve s. 147 to pafs into fuch VelTels. He obferved far- ther, % that the VelTels in the Brain of a Sparrow are not finaller than in an Ox ; and argues from thence, that there really is no other Difference between the Brain of a large Animal and that of a fmall one, but only a greater or fmaller Number of VelTels ; and that the Globules of the Fluid pairing through them are in both of the fame Size. Though it does not directly relate to Mi- croft opes, I hope I may be excufed for tak- ing Notice here, that in the Year 171 1, Dr. Alex. Stuart made a Dileoverv, that the Nerves are not elaitic, contrary to the O- pinion of all preceding Authors ; and proved it by the following Experiment ; " Laying a Piece of Twine, about four Inches in Length, parallel to the Nerve, Artery and Vein of the Infide of the Thigh in an hu- man Subject, and tying thefe together above and below, as foon as they were cut out of the Body, and laid on a Board ; the Artery and Vein were ieen to contract equally, to the Lofs of a quarter Part of the Length they had in the Body before Exciilon ; but the Nerve continued of the fame Length with the Twine, as in the Bodv." % Arc. Nat. Tom. I. Part 1. p. 38. Vid. Stuart's Leftures or. Mufcular Motion in tbt Vem 1738. p. 3. L 2 CHAP. 1 148 ] CHAP. XV. Of the Generation of 'Animals and Vegetables. TjQuivocal or fpontaneous Generation^ that -*-"' is, a Production of Plants without Seeds, and of living Creatures without any other Parents but Accident and Putrefaction, how- ever abfurd it may feem to us, was an Opi- nion that prevailed, almoft univerfally, till Micro/copes overturn'd it -, by demonftrating that all Plants have their Seeds, and all Ani- mals their Eggs : whence other Plants and other Animals, exactly of the fame Species, are perpetually and unalterably produced. Nothing feems now more contrary to Reafon, than that Chance and Najiine/s mould give a Being to Uniformity, Regula- rity, and Beauty : That two fuch unlikely Principles mould produce in different Places Millions of Vegetables of the fame Kinds, and alike, exactly, even in the mod minute Particularities ; or, what is yet more amaz- ing, that dead corrupting Manner, and blind uncertain Chance mould create living Ani- mals, fabricate a Bruin, constitute Nerves iffuing from it, compofe a Contrail: of Muf- cles, furnifa out Eyes, Lungs, a Heart, a Stomach, Bowels, and all other Parts ufeful to fuch Creatures : and that too not after an awkard, flovenly, variable, undefigning and unfinifh'd of Animals and Vegetables . 149 nnfinifh'd manner; but with a Contrivance, Dexterity, Elegance, Perfection and Con- ftnncy beyond the utmoft Power of Art to imitate. This, however, was the Opinion, not onlv of the Ignorant and Illiterate, but of the mod learned grave Philofophers of preceding Ages ; and would, probab'y, ftill have been taught and believed, had not Mi- cro/copes difcovcred the manner how all thefe Things are generated, and reflor'd to God the Glory of his own amazing Works J. The Eye, aflifted by a good Micro/cope y can diitinguifti plainly in the Semen majculi- num of Animals, Myriads of Animalcule* alive and vigorous, though ib exceedingly minute, that, it is computed, three thou- fand millions of them are not equal to a Grain of Sand, whofe Diameter is but the one hundredth Part of an Inch -j- : And the fame Initrument will inform us beyond all Doubt, that the Farina of Vegetables, are nothing elfe but a Congeries of minute Granula, whofe Shapes are conftant and uniform as the Plants they are taken from. \ I would ns foon fay, that Rocks and Woods engender St. gs and Elephants, as affirm, that a Piece of Checie ge- nerates Mites. Stags are born and live in Woods, and Mites in Cheefe; but they both owe their Being to that of other Animals. SpeSi.dc la Nat. Eng. Edit. xzmo. Vol. II. p. ... f V id. Keil's Anat. 5th Edit. p. 116. L 3 And 1 50 Of the Generation And as the Seeds of Plants are proved, by repeated Experiments, to be unprolific, if the Farina be not permitted to (lied, it has been fuppofed, that all its Granula contain feminal Plants of their own Kind. The Growth of Animals and Vegetables feems to be nothing elfe but a gradual Un- folding and Expansion of their VefTels, by a flow and progreffive Infinuation of Fluids adapted to their Diameters ; untill, being flretch'd to the utmoil Bounds appointed them by Providence at their Formation, they attain their State of Perfection, or, in other Words, arrive at their full Growth. 'Tis thought probable, according to this Theory, that, in Animals (of the larger and more perfect Kinds at leaf!:) the Semen of the Male being received into the Matrix of ^the Female, fome of the Animalcules it con- tains in fuch Abundance, find an Entrance into the Ovaria, and lodge themfelves in fome of the Ova placed there by Providence as a proper Nidus for them. An Ovum becoming thus inhabited by an Animalcule, gets loofen'd in due Time from its Ovarium, and pafTes into the Matrix through one of the Fallopian Tubes. The Veins and Arteries that fattened it to the Ovary, and were broken when it dropp'd from thence, unite with the Veflels it finds here, and compofe the Placenta. The Coats of the Ovum being fwell'd and dilated by % the of Animals and Vegetables. 151 the Juices of the Matrix form the other In- teguments needful to the Prefervation of the little Animal, which receiving continually a kindly Nourishment from the fame Juices, gradually ilreiches and enlarges its Dimen- iions, becoming then quickly vifible with all the Parts peculiar to its Species, and is called a Foetus. In Plants, which are uncapable of re- moving from Place to Place as Animals can, it was requilite a Repofitory for their Farina fhould be near at Hand, to prevent its being loft : And accordingly we rind, that every Flower producing a Farina, has likewife in i tie If a proper Uterus for the Reception of it : Where the Ova thereby impregnated, are expanded by the Juices of the Parent Plant to a certain Form and Bulk, and then becoming what we call ripe Seeds, they fall to the Earth, which is the natural Matrix for them. According to the above Suppofition, a ripe Seed falling to the Earth, is in the Condition of the Ovum of an Animal getting loofe from its Ovary, and falling into the Uterus : And, to go on with the Analogy, the Juices of the Earth fwell and expand the VelTels of the Seed, as the Juices of the Uterus do thofe of the Ovum, till the feminal Leaves unfold, and perform the Office of a Placen- ta to the Infant included Plant, which im- bibing iuitable and futhcient Moifture, gra- L 4 dually 152 Of the Animalcules dually extends its Parts, fixes its own Root, ihoots above the Ground, and may be faid to be born. As Difcoveries made by the Microfcope y of infinite Numbers of Animalcules in the Semen Mafculinum. of all living Creatures, and likewife of a Regularity and Conftancy in the Farina of each Species of Vegetables, analogous to the faid Animalcules in the Ani- mal Semen, have been the principal Means of convincing us that all Things are pro- duced by Parents of their own Kind, accord- ing to the eternal and unalterable Laws efta- bliihed at their firft Creation ; I hope this fhort Account of Generation, before my en- tering upon thofe Subjects, will not be iudg'd improper. CHAP. XVI. Of the Animalcules in Semine Mafculino. T the Beginning of the Year 1678, Mr. Nicholas Hartsoeker, of Rot- terdam, declared in a Treatife of Dioptrics^ by him then published, that it was twenty Years fince he firft began to examine the Semen Mafculinum of ieveral living Crea- tures by the Help of Micro/copes : that, as z far in Semine Mafculino. 153 far as he knew, he was the firfr Perfon who had ever done (6 ; that he had found in fuch Semen infinite Numbers of Animalcules, moft exceedingly minute, almoft in the Shape of Tadpoles or young Frogs ; and that he had made this Difcoverv known to all the World in the 30th of the Epk < Eruditorumj primed at Paris, in the fame Year 1678. Mr. Leeuwenhoek, in the 1 1 3th of his Epiftles, 1 dated January 1678.) is very angry at this Claim ; and aiferts, that he bimfelf firft difcovered the Animalcules in Semine, and fent an Account thereof to the Royal Society in November 1677, as he proves by the Philojophical Trail factions, published in December 1677, and in January and February 1678 : nay, he further affirms, that Letters hud pail between him and Mr. Oldenburg on this Subject in 1674. This Difpute concerns us no farther than as it ihevvs about what Time the Exillence of thefe Animalcules was firtt difcovered, which fome of my curious Readers may perhaps he inquifitive to know. The general Appearance or Figure of the Animalcules in the Semen Mafculinum of different Kinds or living Creatures is very much the fame : that is, the Bodies of them all feem of an oblong oval Form, with long tapering flender Tails ifluing therefrom •, and as by this Shape they fome what re- femble 154 Of the Animalcules femble Tadpoles, they have frequently been called by that Name ; tho' the Tails of them, in Proportion to their Bodies, are much longer than the Tails of Tadpoles are : and it is ob- fervable, that the Animalcules in the Semen of Fifties have Tails much longer and flen- derer than the Tails of thofe in other Ani- mals, infomuch that the Extremity of them is not to be difcerned without the beft GlafTes and theutmoft Attention : their Bo- dies are alfo much fmaller. The general Appearance of them as above defcribed, isfhewn Plate XII. Fig. I. In the Spring Seafon, at the Time that Frogs engender, upon opening the Tefticles of a Male, and applying fome of the Jeminal Matter before the Microfcope, Multitudes of Animalcules appeared therein, about * one thoufandth Part of the Thicknefs of the Hair of a Man's Head, as nearly as could be com- puted: whence it follows, that a thoufand millions of them would be but equal to a Globe whofe Diameter is the Thicknefs of the Hair of a Man's Head. And there feemed to be ten thoufand of them at leaft for each one of the female Ova. The Shape of them is given in the fame Plate, Fig. II. * Leeuwenh. Arcan. Nat. Tom. I. P. J. p. 51. Upon JFur.I. /'. is< >'7< .#?^%, Fy.ZI.//. t 5 f. llttt 1 ^ J 7 Wr.f/I./t.z6o -Ffy.7Fin.itfo F/, r . TT./x if* -Fy.TTT./i i£ 3 Fcq. V.fj. 101 -P/ati- XH. in Semine Mafculino. 155 Upon viewing the Milt or Semen Mafcu- linum of a living Cod-Fifh with a Micro- Jcope, fuch Numbers of Animalcules with long Tails were found therein, that at leair. ten thousand of them were fuppofed to exift in the Quantity of a Grain of S.uid. Whence Mr. Lee u wen hoe k argues, that the Mile of that finale Cod-Fiih contained more living Animalcules^ than there are People alive upon the Face of the whole Earth at one and the fame Time : * for he computes, that one hundred Grains of Sand make the Dia- meter of an Inch ; wherefore in a cubic Inch there will be a million of fuch Sands. And as he found the Milt of the Cod-Fiih to be about fifteen cubic Inches, it muft contain fifteen Millions of Quantities as big as a Grain of Sand. Now, if each of thefe Quan- tities contains ten thoufand Animalcules, there muft be in the whole one hundred and fifty thoufand Millions. Then, to find out, in a probable manner, the Number of People living upon the whole Earth at one Time ; he reckons, that in a great Circle there are five thoufand four hundred Dutch fquare Miles ; whence he cal- culates the Surface of the Earth to contain nine Millions, two hundred feventy fix Thou- Jrc Nat. Tom. I. P. II. p. 9. fand, 156 Of the Animalcules fand, two hundred and eighteen fuchfquarc Miles: and fuppofing one Third of the Whole, or three Millions, ninety twoThou- iand and feventy two Miles to he dry Lanr 1 . and of this, two Thirds, or two Millions, fixty one Thoufand, three Hundred and eighty two Miles to he inhabited; and fup- pofing farther, that Holland and Weft-'Frief- land are twenty -two Miles long and feven broad, which make one Hundred and fifty four fquare Miles ; the habitable Part of the World is thirteen Thoufand, three Hundred and eighty five times the Bignefs of Holland and Weft-t'riejland. Now, if the People in thefe two Provinces be fuppofed a Million ; and if all the other inhabited Parts of the World were as po- pulous as thefe, (which is highly impro- bable) there would be thirteen Thoufand, three hundred and eighty five Millions of People on the Face of the whole Earth : but the Milt of thisCod-Filh contained one hun- dred and fifty thoufand Millions of Animal- cules ', which is ten tunes more than the Number of all Mankind. The Number of thefe Animalcules may be computed another Way : for the ingenious Author of Speclacle de la Nature fays *, that * Vid. $pe8. de la Nat. Eng. !2mo Edit. Vol.1, p. 231. three in Semine Mafculina 157 three curious People counted, with all the Cure they were able, as ninny of the Eggs or Row of a female Cod-Fifh a> weighed a Dram, and agreed pretty well in the Num- ber, which they wrote down. They then weighed the whole Mais, and letting down eight times the Sum of one Dram for every Ounce, which contains eight Drams, all the Sums together produced a Total of nine Millions, three hundred and thirty four Thou- fand Eggs. * Now iuppo ling (as Mr. Leeuwenhoek does of the Semen Mafculinum of Frogs) that there are ten Thou land Animalcules in the Milt for each One of the female Ova in the Row, it will follow, that fince the female Row is found to have nine Millions, three hundred thirty four Thousand Eggs, the whole Milt of the Male may be reckoned to contain ninety three thoufand four hundred and forty millions o 1 " Animalcules : which, tho" greatly fhort of the full Calculation, is al- most (even times as many as the whole hu- man Species. To find the comparative Size of thefe Animalcules, Mr. Leeuwenhoek placed a * Four Millions and ninety fixthoufind Fggs were com- puted in the Row of a Crab* each of which received it.^Nou- nfhment by a Rope from the Crmft Cod)-. Fid. Art. Nat. Tom. I. P. II. p. 2 !'.'- J'/ found about uncleanly People, which from its Shape is called the Crab-Loufe. The Ver- min adhering to and feeding on the Bo- dies of different Animals, though much un- 2 like Of the Loufc. 183 like in Form and Size, are alfo commonly called Lice. Of theie there are numberlefs Species, feveral whereof we are obliged to Seignior Rkdi for giving us the Draw- ings of, at the End of his Treatife de Gene- ratione Jnfccloriun, whence Mr. Albin has taken them, into his Book of Spiders : but few of thefe have been fumciently examined by the Micro/cope, and there arc great Va- rieties of other Kinds that are yet quite un- known. Even Infects are infefted with Vermin that feed on them and torment them. A Sort of Beetle known by the Name of the Loufy Beetle, is remarkable for Numbers of little Creatures that run about it nimbly from Place to Place, but will not be fhaken off. Some other Beetles have Lice alfo, but of different Kinds. The Earwig is troubled frequently with minute Infects, efpecially juft under the fet- ting on its Head. They are white and min- ing like Mites, but much (mailer : they are round-backed, flat-belly'd, and have long Legs, particularly the two foremoH:. The fame has not been obferved on any other Animal. Snails of all Kinds, but chiefly the large ones without Shells, have many little Infects, extreamly nimble, that live and feed upon them. Numbers of little red Lice, with a very final! Head, and in Shape refembling a Tor- N 4 toifc, 184 Of the Loufe. toife, are often to be feen about the Legs of Spiders. Wbilil the Spider lives they cling clofely to it, but if it dies they leave it. Whitifli Lice are frequently to be difco- vered running very nimbly on Humble- Bees : I have feen them frequently on Ants : many Kinds are difcoverable on Fifhes jKircher lays, he has found Lice on Fleas j and, pro- bably, very few Creatures are free from them. As fome may be defirous to know what Kinds of Lice * Seignior Redi has ob- ferved and given Drawings of, the following Lift is inferted to iatisfy their Curiolity. Lice found on the Hawk three Sorts : on the large Pigeon, the Turtle- Dove, the Hen, the Starling, the Crane. On the Moor- Hen three Sorts. On the Magpye, the Heron, the leiler Heron, theSwan, theTurkifh Duck, the Sea-Mew, the fmaller Swan : on the wild Goofe two Sorts: on the Teal, the Kaftrel, the Peacock, the white Peacock, the Capon, the Crow, the white Starling : on Sweet-meats and Drugs : on Men, two Sorts, viz. the common Loufe and the Crab- Loufe : on the Goat, the Camel, the -f Afs, the African Ram, the African Hen ; on the Stag two Sorts, and on the J Tiger. CHAP. * Redi calls the Vermin on Beafts Fediculi or Lice, thofe on Birds Puttees or Fleas. He fays every Kind of Bird has its particular Sort of Fleas, different from thofe of other Birds : That all when fiift hatch'd are white, but gradually acquire a Colour like the Feathers they live among : yet remain tranfpareni [ 1*5 ] CHAP. XXII. Of the Wood-Loufc. 'Tp < JIERE's a little Animal, in Shape and ■^ Colour like a Loufe, that runs hviftlv by Starts or Stops, and is commonly found on the Leaves and Covers of Books, or a- mongft rotten Wood: 'tis called a Wood- Loufe or Wood-Mite \ and is known almolr to every Body. The Eyes of this Creature are of a golden Colour, and can be drawn in or thrult out at Pleafure; the periitaltic Motion of the Bowels appears in it diilincl- ly, and what is (till more wonderful, a Mo- tion of the Brain is feen. I take this to be the Animal Mr. Deru am calls the Pcdiculus pulfatorius or Death- Watch, (in Phil. Tra?ijacl. Numb. 291.) where he fays, the Pediculus Pulfatorius, and the Scar abacus Jbnicephalus are the only two Infects that make regular clicking Noifes like the Beat of a Pocket Watch. tranfparent enough for a good Micro/cope to difcover the Mo- tions of their Intellines : That the Crane has a white Sort, mark'd as it were with Arabic Characters : nnd that their £ize is not proportioned to the Birds they breed upon, for the little Black-bird has Fleas as large as the Snvan. •f A r 1 s tot L e in his Hi/?o>y of Animals , and Pliny, on his Authority, aflerts, that Jffit and Sb'ecp are free from Ver- min : but Red 1 proves they are both miilaken r.s to the A is ; and as to Sheep every Shepherd Eoy is able to confute them. X The Loufe of the Lion refembles that of the Tige, in Shape, but is larger, and of a brighter red. Vid.jk.BOi Experim. circa Gener. InfeQ. pag. 31 z. &feq. CHAR B [ 186] CHAP. XXIII. Of Mi tes. ;Y Mites are commonly underftood the minute Creatures found in great Abun- dance on Cheefe that is decaying. To the naked Eye they appear like moving Par- ticles of Dud ; but the Micro/cope difcovers them to be Animals, perfect in all their Members, having as regular a Figure, and performing all the neceflary Offices of Life, in as orderly a Manner, as Creatures that ex- ceed them many Millions of times in Bulk. They are cruftaceous * Animals, and ufually tranfparent. The principal Parts of them are, the Head, the Neck, and Body. The Head is fmall in Proportion to the Body, with a (harp Snout, and a Mouth that opens and fhuts like a Mole's. They have two little Eyes, and are extremely quick-lighted ; for if you touch them once with a Pin or other Inftrument, you'll perceive how rea- dily they avoid a fecond Touch. Some have fix Leg?, and others eight j which proves them of different Sorts, tho' in every Refpedt befides they appear alike. lEach Leg has fix joints, furrounded with Hairs, and two little * Vid. Power's Obferv. Hook's *Microgr p. 214. Claws Of Mites. 187 Claws at the Extremity thereof, which can eafily take up any Thing. The hinder Part of the Body is plump and bulky, and ends in an oval Form j with a few exceeding long Hairs hTuing therefrom. Other Parts of the Body and Head are alfo thinly befet with long Hair?, Thefe Creatures are Male and Female, The Female lays Eggs j whence (as in Lice and Spiders) the young ones iiTue forth with all their Members perfect, though mod ex- ceedingly minute: but, notwithstanding their Shape does not alter, they call their Skins feveral times before they attain their full Growth. They may be kept alive many Months between two concave GlaiTes, and applied to the Microfcope at Pleafure , and by often looking at them many curious Particulars will be difcovered. They may thus frequent- ly be feen -J- in coitu y conjoined Tail to Tail ; for though the Penis of the Male be in the Middle of the Belly, it turns backwards like that of the Rhinoceros. The Coitus is per- formed with an incredibly fwift Motion. Their Eggs, in warm Weather, hatch in twelve or fourteen Days j but in Winter- time and cold Weather not under feveral f Vid. Arc Nat. Tom. IV. p. 360. Weeks. 3 83 Of Mites. Weeks. 'Tis not uncommon to fee the young Ones ftruggling to get clear of the Egg-fhell, which fometimes they are a Day about. The Diameter of a Mite?, Egg feems equal to the % Diameter of the Hair of a Man's Head ; and fix hundred fuch Hairs are a- bout equal to the Length of an Inch. Sup- poiing, then, a Pigeons Egg is three quarters of an Inch in Diameter : four hundred and iifty Diameters of a Mites Egg are but equal to the Diameter of the Egg of a Pigeon: and, confequently, if their Figures be alike, we muft conclude, that ninety one Millions, an hundred and twenty Thoufand Eggs of a Mite are not larger than one Pigeon\ Egg. Mites are moft voracious Animals: for they devour not only Cheele, but likewife all Sorts of dryed Fifn or Flefh, dryed Fruits, Grain of all Sorts, and almofr. every Thing befide that has a certain Degree of Moifture without being over wet : nay, they may often be observed preying upon one another. In eating they thruft one Jaw forewards and the other backwards alternately, whereby they appear to grind their Food ; and after they have done feeding, they feem to munch and chew the Cud. \ Vid. Philofoph. Tranfa&ions, Numb. 333. & 284. Thefe Of Mites. 189 Thefe are the Vermin that find a Way into the Cabinets of the Curious, and eat up their fine Butterflies and other choice Infecls, leaving nothing in their ftead but Duit and Ruins. The only Way of preventing this, is, to keep the Drawers or Boxes continually fupply'd with Cawpbire, whole hot and dry Effluvia penetrate, lhrivel up, and deftroy the tender Bodies of thefe little mifchievous Plunderers. It mull however be remembered, that there are feveral Species of Mites, which differ in fome Particulars, though their ge- neral Figure and the Nature of them be the lame. For Inftance, * the Mites in Malt- Dud: and Oatmcal-Dufl are nimbler than Cheefe-Mites^ and have more and longer Hairs. The Mites among Figs refemble Scarabs, have two Feelers at the Snout, and two very long Horns over them, with three Legs only on each Side, and are more flug- gilh than thofe in Malt. Mr. Leejjwen- hof. k obferved fome Mites on Figs to have longer Flairs than he had feen on any other Sorts ; and upon Examination found thofe Hairs were fpicated, or had other little Hairs uTuing from their Sides : whence he ima- gin'd they might be jointed at the little Dis- tances where thefe Hairs came forth. He Yid Power's Obfcrv. p. 20. had j go Of Mites. had alfo feen the like Hairs on other Miies, tho' very feldom. Mr. Hook delcribes a Sort of thefe Animals, which he terms -f which " were always dry, while the Spider bit, but " that a (hort white Probofcis «ras at the fame " time thruit out of the Mouth, which inftiil- <{ ed a Liquor into the Wo. ind." And he farther obferves, "that the Quantity of Li- " quor emitted by our common Spiders w " they kill their Prey, is viiibly to great, " and the wounding Weapons io m: nitc, lt that they could contain but a very incon- " fiderable Portion thereof, if it were to be " diicharged that way." Spiders frequently caft their Skins, w r hich maybe found in Cobwebs, perfectly dry and tranfparent ; and from ilich Skins the For- ceps or Claws (for they are always filed with the Skin) may eafier be feparated, and exa- min'd with more Exactnefs than in a living Spider : for they commonly appear fpread out fairly to view, and, by their Transpa- rency every minute Part is iccn with much Diftindtncfs. But neither this Way, nor any other, have I been ever able to difcern the Aperture Mr. Leeuwenhoek fpeaks of. The Contexture of the Webs of Spiders, and their Manner of Weaving them, are far- ther Difcoveries of the Micro/cope -, for that informs us, that the Spider has live little O 4 Teats 200 Of Spiders. Teats or Nipples near the Extremity of the Tail, whence a gummy Liquor proceeds, which adheres to any thing it is prefTed a-' gainft, and being drawn out, hardens in- iiantly in die Air, and becomes a String or Thread, ftrong enough to bear five or fix times the Weight of the Spider 's Body. This Thread is compofed of feveral finer ones that are drawn out feparatelv, but unite together two or three Hairs Breadth dirt-ant from the Body of the Spider. The Threads are finer or coarfer according to the Bignefs of the Spider that fpins them. Mr. Leeuwen- hoek computes, that an hundred of the fineil: Threads of a full-grown Spider are not equal to the Diameter of the Hair of his Beard ; and, confequently, if the Threads and the Flair be round, ten thoufand fuch Threads are not bigger than fuch an Hair. He calculates' farther, that when young Spi- ders firft begin to fpin, four hundred of them are not larger than One that is full grown; and, therefore, the Thread of fuch a little Spider is fmaller by four hundred times than the Thread of a full-grown One : allowing which, four Millions of a young Spider s Threads are not fo big as the fingle Hair of a Man's Beard *. Fid. Phil. Tranf. Numb. 272. The Of Spiders. 2.01 The Eggs of fome Spiders are very pleafant Objects, being round at one End and rlattifh at the other, with a Depretfion in the Center of the flattilh End, and a yellowiih Circle round it. Their Colour is a blewiih White like counterfeited Pearl ; and when they hatch, the little Spiders come out perfectly formed, and run about very nimbly. The Female depofits her Eggs, to the Number of five or fix hundred, in a Bag ltrongly compofed of her own Web, which fhe ei- ther carries under her Belly and guards with the greateft Care, or elfe hides in fome lafe Recefs. As foon as the Eggs are hatch'd, the minute Spiders appear very agreeable in the Micro/cope. It has been before obferved, that the Cur- rent of the Blood may be feen in the Legs and Body of this Creature ; and the judicious Obferver will difcover many other Wonders in the Direction and Examination of its fe- veral Parts, which it would be tireiome for me to dwell on here. I cannot, however, conclude this Head, without pointing out two or three Kinds of Spiders as particularly worth Notice. There is a little white Field Spider with fhort Legs, found plentifully among new Hay, whofe Body appears like white Am- ber, with black Knobs, out of each where- of 202 Of Spiders. of grow Prickles like Whin- Pricks. Some have fix, fome eight Eyes, that may be dis- tinctly feen, quick and lively : each Eye has a Violet-blew Pupil, clear and admirable, furrounded by a pale yellow Circle *. The wandring or -J- hunting Spider, who fpins no Web, but runs and leaps by Fits, has two Tufts of Feathers fixt to its fore Paws, which well deferve being placed be- fore the Micro/cope : the Variety and Beauty of Colouring all over this little Creature af- ford likewife a moft delightful View. % The Long-Legs, Field, or Shepherd- Spider is a molt wonderful Creature : It has two Fore-Claws at a great Diftance from the Head, tip'd with black like a Crab's, that open and {hut in the Manner of a Scor- pion's, and are Saw-like, or indented, on the Infide. Cut all the Legs from this Spider, and place it before the Micro/cope, and you'll difcover, that the Protuberance on the top of the Back is furniuYd with two fine Jet-black Eyes. The little red Spider that creeps on the Barks of Trees mould alfo not be neglect- ed. * Dr. Pow er's Micro/cop. Olferv. p. 13. + Hook's Microer. pag. 200. ± Ibid. 14. CHAP. [ 2o 3 ] C II A P. XXVI. Of the Gnat. ' J 1 H E Production of this Creature is from JL an Eggi depofited by its Parent upon the Waters, which firft becomes a Worm or Maggot, then a very odd aquatic Animal, (deicribed pag. 88.) and afterwards ixGnat. The particular Beauties of it cannot potli- bly be difcover'd without a Microfcope •, but by the Affiftancc of that Inftrument, it ap- pears to be adorned by Nature in a more ex- traordinary Manner than moil other living Creatures are. Its Tail-part is covered over with Feathers, moft exquifitely difpofed in Rows: of different Colours, but yet perfect- ly tranfparent. The * Bread: (which is cruf- faceous) is bedeck'd with little ftift Hairs or Briftles, inilcad of Feathers ; and from thence fix hairy Legs proceed, with fix Joints to each, and at the End two little Claws. The Feet are all over feather'd in a Manner refembling the Scales of Fiflies, with abun- dance of little black Hairs amongft them appearing ftubborn like Hogs Briflles. Its Wings are encompafled with a Furbelow of long Feathers : and the Veins or Ribs that * Swammerd. Hift. general, des Infeft. p. 108. (ervc 204 Of the Gnat, ferve to ftrengthen them are alfo either fea- thered or fcaled. Between thefe Ribs an ex- ceeding thin tranfparent Membrane is ex- tended, full of little black fharp pointed Hairs, that are ranged every where with the utmoft Regularity. But as there are -f diffe- rent Sorts of Gnats, their Wings are alfo very different, fome having a Border of long Feathers, others of fhort ones, and others none at all : the Rib-work of the Wings, likewife, in fome is feather'd, in fome fcaled, and in fome befet with Prickles. But the moft wonderful Part of this Crea- ture is its Head : as it contains the Horns, the Sting or Sucker, and the Eyes. The Horns of the brufh-horii d or Male Gnat are a moft charming Object : it has two Pair, one whereof is furrounded, at little Diftances, with long Hairs, iffuing out circularly : each Circle leffening more than other as it ftands near the Extremity of the Horns : and the whole together exactly reprefenting the Fi- gure of the Plant called Equifetum or Horfe- TaiL The other Pair are longer and much thicker than the foregoing, and hairy from End to End. In the great belly' 'd or Female Qnat, the firft Pair of Horns, though of the f Mr. Derham obferved near forty different Species of Gnats about the Place where he lived,, which was Upminfter , jn EJfex. Vid. PhsfiM-fbcolpg. p. 378. fame Of the Gnat. 205 fame Figure as the Male's, has Hairs not near fo long, and the fecond Pair is (horter than the firft by at lcaft three Parts in four. The Piercer, Sting, or Sucker is a Cafe covered with long Scales, that lies concealed under the * Gnafs Throat when not made Ufa of. The Side onens, and four Darts are thruft out thence, occafionally ; one where- of, (minute as it is) ferves for a Sheath to the other three. The Sides of them are ex- treamly (harp, and they are barbed or in- dented towards the Point, whofe Finenefs is inexprefiible, and fcarcely to be difcerned by the greateft Magnifier. When thefe Dans are thruft into the FleiTi of Animals, either fuccefiively, or in Conjunction, the Blood and Humours of the adjacent Parts muft flow to and caufe a Tumour about the Wound, whofe little Orifice being clofed up by the Compreilion of the external Air, can afford them no Outlet. When a Gnat finds any tender juicy Fruits, or Liquors, (he fucks up what (he likes, through the outer Cafe, without ufing the Darts at all : but if it is Fled), that refills her Efforts, (he flings very feverely, then (heaths her Weapons in their Scabbard, and through them fucks up the Juices the finds there. The Pain they caufe * Vid. Hill, of Nat. Eng. \z Q . Edit. Vol. I. p. 124. is 2o6 Of the Gnat. is only while they are entering, and conti- nues not when the Gnat is lucking: nor is its Stinging out of Revenge, but from mere Neceihty, to obtain a proper Suftenance. The Gnat's four Darts are fhewn Plate XIII. Fig. IX. a. b. c. d. A Gnat's Eyes, which form the greatefl Part of its Head, are pearled, or compofed of many Rows of little femicircular Protu- berances ranged with the utmoft Exactitude. What thefe Protuberances are, and the Pur- pofes whereto they ferve, will be explained when we come to treat of the Eyes of 2/z- Jetls. The Motion of the Inteftines may be feen in the tranfparent Parts of this Animal, and upon Diffeclion many curious Difcoveries may be made. Mr. Leeuwenhoek fays, he found in the * Semen of the Male num- berlefs Animalcules fmaller than thofe in Fleas, and in the Female a furprizing Quan- tity of Eggs. And, indeed, the Spawn of this Infect is amazingly great, in proportion to its Size, being feen floating on the Waters (though always fattened to fomething to pre- vent its fwimming away) fometimes above an Inch in Length, and half a quarter in Dia- meter ; the Eggs (each of which has a little * Leeuwenh. Arcea, Nat. Tom. IV. p. 22. black Of the Ox-Fly, or Cad- Bee. 207 black Speck) being placed in exact Order, and kept together by a Sort of Gelly or glewy Matter, which the minute Maggots, when hatched, carry down with them to the Bot- tom, and thereby cement together the imall Particles of Earth or Sand that form their Cells or Cafes. CHAP. XXVII. Of the Ox-Fly, or Gad-Bee. ANOTHER Creature that undergoes a **> like Change, is the Ox-Fly, Dun-Fly, or Gad-Bee, an Infect very troublefome to Cows and Horfes. This, like the Gnat, has a long Probofcis, with a fharp Dart or Darts fheathed therein. The Ufe of thefe Darts is to penetrate the Fleili of Animals and feed on their Blood : whereas the Probofcis can only ferve to fuck the Juices, Honies, or Dews, from Fruits, Flowers, or the Leaves of Plants : and Pro- vidence feems to have kindly furnifhed it with this twofold Inftrument, that if one Sort of Provifion fails, it may be able to fub- fift on the other. It is worth Enquiry whe- ther Lice, Fleas, Houfe-Bugs, &c. are not alfo provided for the lame Purpofes. The 2o8 Of the Ox-Fly, or Gad-Bee. The Eggs of this Infect are depoiited in the Waters, and produce an extraordinary Kind of little Worm or Maggot, the Extre- mity of whole Tail is incircled with move- able Hairs, which, being expanded on the Surface of the Water, enable it to float along, * as in Plate VII. Fie. XIII. a. When it would defcend towards the Bottom, thefe Hairs are made to approach each other in an oval Form, and indole a little Bubble of Air; by means whereof it is able to rife again : and if this Bubble efcapes, as fometimes it will, the Infect immediately fqueezes out of its own Body another like Bubble to fupply the Place thereof. The Maggot, as defcending, is fhewn, Fig. XIII. b. Its Snout has three Divifions, whence three little pointed Bodies are thruft out, in continual Motion, like the Tongues of Serpents. Thefe Maggots are frequently to be met with in Water taken from the Surface of Ditches. The Motion of their Inteft ines are perfectly fingular and diflinguiihable, and they are Objects well deierving our particu- lar Obfervation. * Vid. Swammer.. Hijl. Generate des Infeft. p. 148. CHAP. [ 2o 9 ] CHAP. XXVIII. Of the Stings of Infetts. ' I 'HE fl:arp and penetrating Inftruments ** wherewith the Tails of Bees, Wafps, Hornets, Ants, and fome other IniVdts are armed, I diftinguifh by the Name of Stings : being Weapons given them by Nature to de- fend themfelves and offend their Enemies ; whereas the Trunk or Probofcis which Gnats, Fleas, Lice, and many other Kinds carry in their Mouth, though it may be equally fharp, is not intended as an Inflrument of Revenue, but for procuring and fucking in their Food ; and, therefore, when fuch Creatures bite or iling us, as we term it, we muft not ima- gine they do fo out of Anger, but from Ne- ceffity. Squeeze or ftrike a Bee or Wafp, it inftantly puts forth its Sting, but no Pro- Vocation can urge a Gnat or Flea to bite: on the contrary, when difturbed or hurt they draw in their Probofcis infteadof thrufling it out, and never make Ufe of it but when they think themfelves perfectly fafe and quiet. There is belides this farther Difference ; a Sting injecls a venomous Liquor into the Wound it makes, but a Probojcis fucks or draws out the Blood and Humours from it. As 210 Of a Bee'i Sting. As the Structure and Contrivance of mod Stings are nearly alike, bydefcribing one the reft will be underftood : I (hall, therefore, give a brief Account of the Sting of a Bee, as difcovered by the Micro/cope. CHAP. XXIX. Of a Bee's St big. / T^HE Sting of a Bee is a horny Sheath or ■** Scabbard that includes two bearded Darts. This Sheath ends in a (harp Point : near the Extremity whereof a Slit opens, through which, at the Time of flinging, two bearded Darts are protruded beyond the End of the Sheath ; one whereof being a little longer than the other, fixes its Beard nrft *, but the other inftantly following, they pene- trate, alternately, deeper and deeper, taking hold of the Flefh with their Hooks, till the whole Sting becomes buried in the Wound ; and then a venomous Juice is injected, thro* the fame Sheath, from a little Bag at the Root of the Sting, which occafions an acute Pain, and a Swelling of the Part, continu- ing fometimes feveral Days. This is beft prevented, by enlarging the Wound imme- diately to give it fome Difcharge. The Of a BeeV Sting. 2 1 1 The two Darts lye within the Sting as in Plate XIII. Fig. X. a. When thruft out they appear as in Fig. X. b. Mr. Derham fays, he counted, in the Sting of a JValp, eight Beards on the Side of each Dart, fbmewhat like the Beards of Fiih- Hooks, and I have obferved the fame Num- ber in that of a Bee. When thefc Beards are ftruck deep in the Fleih, if the wounded Perfon ftarts before the Bee can dilengage them, me leaves her Sting behind flicking in the Wound : but if he has Patience to ftand quiet, till (lie brings the Hooks dole down to the Side of the Darts, me withdraws her Weapon, and the Wound becomes much lefs painful. A Wafp is not lb liable as a Bee to leave its Sting behind, the Beards of it be- ing rather fborter, and the Animal ftronger and more nimble. * To view the Sting of a Bee by the Mi- cro/cope, cut off the End of its Tail, and then touching it with a Pin or Needle, it will thruft out the Sting and Darts, which may be fnipt off with a Pair of Sciffars and kept for Obfervation. Alfo, if you catch a Bee in a Leather Glove, its Sting will be * Vid. DERHAM'sPJnf. Theol.p. 241. Sped, de la Nat. Dial. VI P 2 left 212 Of the Sting of a Scorpion. left therein, being unable to difengage its Hooks from Leather : and when it is quite dead, which it will not be till after feveral Hours, you may by Care and Gentlenefs ex- tract it with its Darts and Hooks. By fqueezing the Tail, pulling out the Sting, and prefiing it at the Bottom, you may like- wife force up the Darts ; but without fome Practice this will be a little difficult. The Bag containing the poifonous Juice may eafiiy be found at the Bottom of the Sting, and examin'd, being commonly pul- led out with it : and, by letting the Bee ftrike its Sting upon fome hard Body, enough of the faid juice may be obtained to put upon a Slip of Glafs, in order to view the Salts, floating therein at firft, and afterwards lliooting into Cryftals. CHAP. XXX. Of the Sting of a Scorpion. OW far the Sting of a Scorpio?! is of a like Structure with that of a Bee I ne- ver had the Opportunity of examining, as none of them are brought alive to England ; but the Curious that go abroad into hot Coun- tries, where they are produced, would do well to obferve, particularly, whether a Dart 2 or Of the Sting of a Scorpion. 213 or Darts are not Ihcathed in the horny Sting at the Extremity of their Tail. The Opinions of Authors are very diffe- rent as to this Creature's having or not hav- ing any opening in its Sting, through which a Poifon iilues into the Wound it makes. Galen fays, there is none : Pliny, Ter- tulli an, Elian, Aldrovand and others affert, on the contrary, that there is. But I think this Matter is let in the trued Light by Seignior Redi, that diligent Natura- lift, who took the Pains to examine Scorpions brought from Tunis, from Egypt, and from Italy, in order to difcoverthis Aper- ture, with two of the beft Micro/copes in the Mufaum of the Grand Duke of Tus- cany, one whereof was made at Rome, and the other in England: but, though thefe GlafTes were excellent, he was unable to difcern the lealt Perforation. However, not iatisfied with only viewing them, he en- deavoured, by Preffure, to fqueeze from the Cavity of the Sting any Liquor it might con- tain ; but he found it fo hard and horny, . that Squeezing could have no Effect. He, moreover, caufed a Scorpio?i to ftrike on a Plate of Iron, but no Moifture appeared thereon ; fo that he began to conclude Ga- len's Opinion right ; when he difcovered, accidentally, an exceeding fmall and almoft invifible Drop of white Liquor upon the P 3 Sting i 214 Of the Sting of a Scorpion. Sting * j which convinced him that Elian fays true, where he afTerts, that the Perfo- ration in a Scorpions Sting is fmall beyond the PoiTibility of being feen. And fuch a Drop he frequently faw afterwards, in the Progrcfs of his Experiments, on the Stings of fevei al Scorpions, at the Time of their Striking : which Drop, entering the Wound, produced the mofl fatal Effects -j-. What a virulent and furprizing Poifon mud this be ! that, in fo very minute a Quantity, can contaminate the whole Mafs of the Fluids, and bring on fudden Death, not only in Man and other fmaller Creatures, but even in Lions, Camels and Elephants, as we are aflured it will ! How fubtile, how penetrating, how divifible, mult the com- ponent Particles of this little Speck of Ve- nom be ! and how ftrong a Proof it affords, that the greater! Changes imaginable may be wrought in the human Body, by the Ad- mixture of different Liquors with the Blood, even in the fmaliefl Quantities ! * Vid. Red i de Gener. Jnfeft. p. 127. f Mr. Leeuwenhoek difcovered an Opening on each Side of the Sting for the Emiffion of this Poifon; which he fuppofes is not difcharged till the Sting is buried in the Wound. Vid. Arc. Nat. Tom. II. p. 167. CHAP. [2i 5 J CHAP. XXXI. Of tie Poifon of a Viper. / T A HE Mifchief done by the Viper \ or any ■** other Serpent, is not effected by means of a Sting, (for what is darted out of its Mouth, and by the vulgar fuppofed a Sting, is nothing but the Tongue of the Animal, and perfectly harmlefs:) but its Teeth arc the dreadful Weapons wherein the Poifon lies, and its Bite is all we need to' fear. Dr. Mead, in his molt valuable EfTay on the Poifon of the Viper ; has defcribed thefe Teeth and their Poiion lb much better than it is poffible for me to do, that I fhall beg Leave to borrow the chief I have to fay from him. The poifonous Fangs or great Teeth are crooked and bent : they are hollow from the Root a confiderable Way up, not to the very Point, (which is folid and (harp to pe- netrate the better) but to within a little Dif- tanceof it: as may be feen by fplitting a Tooth through the Middle. This Cavity ends in a vifible Slit refembling a Nip or Cut of a Pen. See Plate XIII. Fig. XI. The Poifon is ejected through this Slit from a Bag at the Root of the Teeth, into which it is difcharg'd by a Du6r jult behind the Orbit of the Eye, P 4 from 216 Of the Poifon of a Viper. from a conglomerated Gland that feparates it from the Blood. The venomous Juice of the Viper may be got by enraging it till it bites on fomething folid. This Juice the Doctor put carefully on a Glafs Plate, and examined it by the Mi- crofcope. Upon the firft Sight he could dif- cover nothing but a Parcel of fmall Salts nim- bly floating in the Liquor : but in a very fhort Time the Appearance was changed, and thofe faline Particles were now fhot out as it were into Cryftals of an incredible Tenuity ox Sharpnefs, with fomething like Knots r here and there, from which they feemed to proceed : fo that the whole Tex- ture did in a manner reprefent a Spider's Web, though infinitely finer and more mi- nute; and yet withal, fo rigid were thefe pellucid Spicula or Darts, that they remain'd unaltered upon his Glafs for feveral Months. And^ by confidering the necefTary Effects of fuch Spicula in the Blood, this learned Phy- fician accounts very reafonably for all the Symptoms ufually fucceeding the Bite of this Animal. Galen fays, the Mountebanks of his Time ufed, with fome kind of Parte, to flop the Perforations in the Teeth of Vipers , whereby they kept in the Venom ; and then would fiiffer themfelves to be bit, pretending their Antidotes prevented any ill Effects. CHAR [ 2 *7 ] CHAP. XXXII. Of the Snail. THE * Snail ha& four Eye.-, at the End of optic Nerves, (heathed in her Horns, which the can draw in, or thrufl out, turn, or direct, as fhe finds moft convenient. When the Horns are out, cut off nimbly the Extremity of one of them, and, placing it before the Micro/cope, you may difcover the black Spot at the End to be really a Scmiglobular Eye. The Diflcction of this Animal is very cu- rious ; for the Micro/cope does not only fhew the Heart, beating, jufi: againft a round Hole near the Neck, which feems the Place of Refpiration ; but alfo the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, Veins, Arteries, Guts, Mouth and Teeth. The Guts are green, from the Crea- ture's eating Herbs, and branched all over with fine capillary white Veins. The Mouth is like a Hare's or Rabbet's, with four or fix Needle-Teeth refembling thofe of Leeches , and of a Subftance like Horn. Snails are all Hermaphrodites, having both Sexes united in each Individual. They lay their Eggs with great Care in the Earth ; * Vide Power's Oijh-v. p. 38. Lister Exerc. Ana- torn. Cocbl. — Speft. de la Nature, Dial. XI. and 2 1 8 Of the Snail. and the young ones come out, when hatch- ed, with Shells compleatly formed, and of a Minutenefs proportionable to their own Size. Thefe little Shells enlarge, as the Snails advance in Growth, by the Addition of new Circles, of which Circles they always continue to be the Center. Cutting oft* a Snail's Head, a little Stone appears, -f- which from fts diuretic Quality is offineul i Sei vice in gravelly Diforders. Im- mediately under this Stone the beating Heart is feen, with its Auricles, which are mem- branous ; all of a white Colour, as are alio the Veflels iffuing therefrom. This, little Stone feems intended to ferve inftead of a Breaft-Bone, which moft other Creatures have. It is very remarkable that Snails dis- charge their Excrements at an Opening in the Neck, that they breathe there, and that both their male and female Parts of Genera- tion are fituated near the fame Place. The male Part is very long, and in Shape refem- bles the Penis of a Whale. j[Vide Swammerdam Hift. Gener . des Infe&es. p. 77. CHAP. t 219 ] CHAP. XXXIII. Of the common Fly. ^T^HE common Fly is adorn'd with Beau- **- ties not to be conceived without -iMi- crofcope. It is ftudded from Head to Tail with Silver and Black, and its Body is all over befet with Briitles pointing towards the* Tail. The Head of it contains two large Eyes, encircled with Borders of Silver Hairs ; a wide Mouth, with an hairy Trunk or In- ftrument to take in its Food : a Pair of fhort Horns, fcveral ftiff black Briitles, and many other Particulars difcoverable by the Micro- fcope*. Its Trunk confifts of two Parts, fold- ing over one another, and ihcathed in the Mouth. The Extremity thereof is lharp like a Knife, for the Separation of any thing. The two Parts can alfo be form'd, occasion- ally, into a Pair of Lips for taking up pro- per Quantities of Food, and by the F/y's fucking in the Air, they become a kind of Pump, to draw up the Juices of Fruits or other Liquors. Some Flies are much lighter coloured and more tranfparent than others, and in fuch the Motion of the Guts may be feen very * Speftacle de la Nat. Dial. VII. diflinclly, 220 Of the common Fly. diftinctly, working from the Stomach to- wards the Anus ; and alfo the Motion of the Lungs, contracting and dilating them- felves alternately. Upon opening a Fly, numberlefs Veins may likewife be difcover'd difperfed over the Surface of its Inteftines : for the Veins being blackifh, and the Intef- tines white, they are plainly vifible by the Micro/cope, though two hundred thoufand Times ilenderer than the Hair of a Man's Beard. According to Mr. JLeeuwenhoek, the Diameter of four hundred and fifty fuch minute Veins were about equal to the Dia- meter of a fingle Hair of his Beard ; and confequently, two hundred thoufand of them put together would be about the Bignefs of fuch an Hair. In moft kinds of Flies, the Female is furnimed with a moveable Tube at the End of her Tail, by extending of which fhe can convey her Eggs into convenient Holes and Receptacles, either in Flefh, or fuch other Matters as may afford the Young Ones proper Nourishment. From the Eggs come forth minute Worms or Maggots, which after feeding for a while, in a voracious Man- ner, arriving at their full Growth, become transformed into little brown Aurelias j % Are. Nat, Tom. II. p. 77. whence^ Of the Weevil. 22 1 whence, after fome time longer, they illuc perfect Flies. It would be endlefs to enumerate the dif- ferent Sorts of Flies^ which may continually be met with in the Meadows, Woods and Gardens : and impoffible to defcribe their various Plumes and Decorations, furpafTing all the Magnificence and Luxury of Dreis in the Courts of the greateft Princes. Every curious Obferver will rind them out himfelf, and, with Amazement and Adoration, lift up his Eyes from the Creature to the Creator. CHAP. XXXIV. Of the Weevil, or Corn-Beetle. ^T^HE Weevil and the IFo/fare two kinds ■*- of imall Infecls that do abundance of Mifchief to many Sorts of Grain, by eat- ing into them and devouring all their Sub- fiance. The Weevil is fomewhat bi^er than a large Loufe, of the Scarab Kind, with two pretty jointed tufted Horns, and a Trunk or Peircer projecting from the Fore-part of its Head; at the End of which Trunk (which is very long in Proportion to its Body) are a fort of Forceps or fharp Teeth, wherewith it gnaws its Way into the Heart of the Grain, 222 Of the Weevil. Grain, either to feek its Food or depofit its Egffs there. By keeping thefe Creatures in Glafs Tubes, with fome few Grains of Wheat, their Copulation has been difcovered, and likewife their Manner of Generation, which is thus. * The Female perforates a Grain of Wheat, and therein depofits a fingle ob- long Egg, or two Eggs at mofr, (a Grain of Wheat being unable to maintain above one or two of the young Brood when hatch'd)and this fhe does to five or fix Grains every Day for fe- veral Days together. Thefe Eggs, not above the Size of a Grain of Sand, in about feven Days produce an odd fort of white Maggot, which wriggles its Body pretty much, but is icarce able to move from Place to Place, as indeed it has no occafion, being happily lodged by its Parent where it has Food e- nough. This Maggot turns into an Aurelia, which in about fourteen Days comes out a perfect Weevil. As many People are unacquainted with the Weevil, a Picture of it is given Plate XIII. Fig. XII. Weevils when in the Egg, or not come to their perfect State, are often devoured by Mites. -f- Vide Leeuwen. Epift. de Sexto Augufti 1687. ad "Keg Societ. CHAP. t 22 3 1 CHAP. XXXV, Of the Wolf. / Hp H E Wolf is a little white Worm or ■** Maggot that in felts Granaries and Corn- chambers, and unlefs proper Care be taken, will do unfpeakable Damage.— I call it a Worm, or Maggot, becaufe under that Form it does the Mifchief, though in its perfect State it is really a fmall Moth, whofe Wings are white, fpotted with black Spots. This little Maggot has fix Legs ; and, as it creeps along, there iflues from its Mouth an exceeding fine Thread or Web, by which it fattens itfelf to every thing it touches, fo that it cannot fall. Its Mouth is armed with a pair of reddifli Forceps or biting Inftru- ments, wherewith it gnaws its Way not on- ly into Wheat and other Grain, but perfo- rates even wooden Beams, Boxes, Books, and almoft any thing it meets with. Towards the End of Summer, this per- nicious Vermin (in Corn-chambers infefted with them) may be feen crawling up the Walls in great Numbers, in fearch of pro- per Places where they may abide in Safety during their Continuance in their Aurelia State : for when the Time of undergoing a Change into that State approaches, they for- i fake 224 « Of the Wolf. fake their Food, and the little Cells they had formed of hollowed Grains of Corn, clotted together by means of the Web coming from their Mouths, and wander about till they find fome Wooden Beam, or other Body to their Mind, into which they gnaw Holes with their fharp Fangs, capable of conceal- ing them : and there, enveloping themfelves in a Covering of their Own Spinning, foon become metamorphofed into dark- coloured Aurelias -j-. Thefe Aurelias continue all the Winter unactive and harmlefs, but about April or May, as the Weather grows warm, they are transformed a-new, and come forth Moths of the Kind above defcribed. They may then be feen in great Numbers taking little Flights, or creeping along the Walls ; and, as they eat nothing in their Fly-State, are at that Time not milchievous. But they foon copulate and lay Eggs (fhaped like Hen's Eggs, but not larger than a Grain of Sand) each Female fixty or feventy, which, by means of a Tube at the End of her Tail, ihethruits or infinuates into the little Wrinkles, Hollows, or Crevices of the Corn j where, in about fixteen Days they hatch, and then the Plague begins : for the minute Worms or Maggots immediately perforate the Grain ■\ F/^Leeuwen Experiment. & Contempl. Epift. 7*- they Of the Wolf. 225 they were hatched upon, eat out the very- Heart of it, and with their Webs cement other Grains thereto, which they likewife icoop out and devour, leaving nothing but Hulks, and Dull, and fuch a quantity of their Dung as Chews them to be more vo- racious Infe&s than the Weevil. The watchful Obfervcr has two Opportu- nities of deifroying this Vermin, if they hap- pen to be got among his Corn. One is, when they forfake their Food and afcend the Walls, which they will ibmetimes almoft cover : the other, when they appear in the Moth State. At both thefe Times they may be cruthed to Death again ft the Walls in great Numbers by clapping Sacks upon them. But they may hall be exterminated more effectually, if doling up all the Doors and Windows, the Corn-Chamber be filled with the Fumes of Brimftone i by leaving it burning on a Pan of Charcoal, without giving it any Vent, for twenty-four Hours. Great Cau- tion, however, mull: be ufed, to open the Windows and Doors, and let all the Fumes be intirely gone, before any Body enters the Place afterwards, for Fear of Suffocation. The Fumes of Sulphur are in no wife hurt- ful to the Corn, or give it any Tafte. The Picture of the Wolf in its Reptile State, (when it goes by that Name) is (hewn Plate XIII. Fig. XIII, a. Q^_ Its 226 Of the pearled Eyes of Infects. Its Appearance when transformed into a Moth is feen Fig XIII b. Old Corn is lefs fubjecl to thefe devour- ing Infects than Corn that is new ; for its Skin being more hard and dry, it is much more difficult for the little Maggots when firil hatch'd to penetrate*. CHAP. XXXVI. Of the pearled Eyes of\ Insects. / "T^HE Eyes of Infects arc amazing Pieces ■** of Mechanifm, whofe Structure and Difpoiition without the Affiftance of the Microjcope would for ever have been un- known to us. — Beetles, Dragon-flies, Bees, Wafps ) Ants, common Flies, Butterflies, and many other Infec~is have two Crefcents, or immoveable Caps compoling the greateir. Part of the Head, and containing a prodi- gious Number of little Hejnifpheres or round Protuberances, placed with the utmoft Re- gularity and Exactnefs in Lines eroding each other, and refembling Lattice- Work. Thefe * I call this InfecT: the Wolf from the Latin Name Lupus i given, I fuppofe, for its Voracioufnefs. + Vide Speftacle de la Nature, Dial. VIII. Hook's Microg. p. i 80. Leeuw. Arc. Nat. Tom. II. PartII.p.41. again,p. 424. Der ham's Phyf. Theolog, p. 364. 2 are Of the pearled Eyes of Infects. 227 areaCollection of Eyes, fo perfectly fmooth and polifhed, that like fo many Mirrors they reflect: the Images of all outward Objects. One may fee the Figure of a Candle multi- plied almoft to Infinity on their Surfaces, Shifting its Beams into each Eye, according to the Motion given it by the Obferver's Hand: and as other Creatures are obliged to turn their Eyes to Objects, this Sort have fome or other of their Eyes always ready directed towards Objects on whatever fide they pre- fent themielves. In fhort, all thefe little Hemijpheres are real Eyes, having in the mid- dle of each a minute tranlparent Lens and Pupil, through which Objects appear topfy turvy as through a convex Glafs : This be- comes alfo a Jmall Teleftope when there is a juft focal Diftance between it and the Lens of the Micro/cope. It is alfo reafonable to believe, that every Lens has a dillinct Branch of the Optic Nerves adminiftring to it : and yet, that Objects are not multiplied, or ap- pear otherwile than fingle, any more than they do to us, who fee not an Object dou- ble though we have two Eves. Every Man almoft that has feen a Micro- fcope has been entertained with a View of thefe minute Eyes, and yet very few perhaps have well confide r'd either the Nature or the Number of them. Mr. Hooke com- puted fourteen thoufand Hemijphercs in the Q^2 tWO 228 Of the pearled Eyes of Infects. two Eyes of a Drone , viz, feven thouiand in each Eye. Mr. Leeuwenhofk reckon- ed fix thouiand two hundred thirty-fix in a Si Ik- Worm's two Eyes, when in its Fly- irate: three thoufand one hundred eighty one in each Eye of a Beetle : and eight thoufand in the two Eyes of a common Fly. The Libella, Adder- Bolt ', or Dragon- Fly, is the moil remarkable of all the Infects we know for its large and fine pearled Eyes ; which even with a common Reading- Glafs appear like the Skin we call Shagreen. Mr. Leeu- wenhoek reckons in each Eye of this Creature, twelve thoufand five hundred forty four Lenjes, or, in both, twenty-five thou- fand eighty-eight ; placed in an hexangular Pofition, each Lens having fix others round it j which is alfo the Order moft common in other Eyes. He likewife obferved in the Center of each Lens a minute tranfparent Spot, brighter than the reft, and fuppofed to be the Pupil, through which the Rays of Light are tranfmitted upon the Retina. This Spot had three Circles furrounding it, and teemed feven times lefs than the Diameter of the whole Lens. We fee here, in each of thefe exceedingly minute lenticular Sur- faces, as much Accuracy in the Figure and Polifh, and as much Contrivance and Beau- ty as in the Eye or a Whale or an Elephant : and how delicate, how exquifitely delicate muit the Filaments of the Retina be which ferve Of the pearled Eyes of Infects. 229 ferve to each of thefe, fince the whole Pic- ture of Objects painted thereon, mud be Millions of times lefs than the Images of them pictured on the human Eye ! If we cut off the Eye of a Dragon Fh\ of a Drone, or of a common F/\\ and with a Pencil and fome clean Water wafh out all the Veflels, thofe VeiTels may be cxa- min'd by the Micro/cope, and the Numbers of them will appear wonderful and furpriz- ing ; and then, if the outward Covering be dryed carefully, fo as not to (brink, it will be rightly prepared for making Experiments with the Micro/cope, and upon viewing it we (hall perfectly diftinguilh the numerous Protuberances or Uemifpheres divided from one another, with a fmall Light ifiuing be- tween them, and fix Sides to each. Mr. Leeuwenhoek having prepared an Eye in this Manner, placed it a little farther from his Micro/cope than when he would exa- mine an Object : fo as to leave a right and exact focal Di fiance between it and the hens of his Micro/cope y and then, looking thro' both in the Manner of z'Telcfcope, at the Steeple of a Church, which was two hun- dred ninety and nine Feet high, and feven hundred fifty Feet from the Place where he ftood, he could plainly fee,through every little Lens, the whole Steeple, inverted, tho' not lar- ger than the Point of a fine Needle : and then, Q^3 direct- 2 3° Of ^- e Antennas, Feelers, directing his View to a neighbouring Houfe, he faw through abundance of the little He- mifpberes, not only the Front of the Houfe, but likewife the Doors and Windows ; and was able to difcern distinctly whether the Windows were fhut or open. There can be no doubt, that Lice, Mites, and multitudes of other Animalcules, much fmaller ft ill than they, have Eyes contrived and fafhion'd, to difcern Objects fome thou- fands of times lefs than themfelves : for fo the minute Particles they feed on, and ma- ny other Things neceffary for them to di- ftinguifti and know perfectly, muft certainly be. — What a Power then of magnifying are fuch Eyes endued with ! and what extra- ordinary Difcoveries might be made, were it poffible to obtain Glafles through which we could fee as they do ! CHAP. XXXVII. Of the Antennae, Feelers, or Horns of Insects. '"T" V H E Horns of Infetts have been thought **• by many defigned only to clean their Eyes, by wiping off any Dufl that may fall thereon : but as we constantly obferve them perform- or Horns of Infects. 231 performing that Office with their Fore-legs, 'tis certain their Horns muff, be intended for fome other Purpofe. And fince they are perpetually feeling before them with their Antenna as they walk along*, Mr. De r h am very reafonably imagines them abfolutely necerTary to fearch out and find their Way. For as their Eyes are immoveable, fo that no Time is required for their turning them to Objects, there is no NecefTity that the Retina, or optic Nerve, fhould, occafionally, be brought nearer to, or removed farther from the Cornea, as it is in other Animals ; which would require Time : but their Cornea and Optic Nerve being always at one and the fame Diftance, and fitted only to fee dif- tant Objects ; they would be infenfible of, and apt to run their Heads again ft Bodies very near them, were they not ailifted by their Feelers. And that this, rather than wiping the Eyes, is the chief Ufe of the Feelers, is farther manifeft from the A?itenna of the Flejh- Fly, and many other Infects, which are fhort and ftrait, and uncapable of being bent down to, or extended over the Eyes : as al- fo from others enormoufly long, fuch as thofe of the Capricorni or Goat Chafers, the Cadew Fly, and divers others both Beetles and Flies. * Der ham's Phyf. Theol. p. 36;. CL4 The 2 3 2 Of ( ' je ^i n S s °f Infers. The lamellated Antenna of fome, the clavellated of others, the Topknots or Tufts like Dandelion Seeds, the branched, the fea- thered, and divers other Forms of Horns of the Beetle, Butterfly, Moth, Gnat, and many Kinds befide, are farprizingly beautiful when viewed through a Microfcope. And, in fome, thefe Antenna? diftinguifh the Sexes j for in the Gnat-kind all thofe with Tufts, Feathers, or Brufh-Horns (of which there are great Va- rieties) are Males : thofe with fhort fingle- fhaited Horns are Females. CHAP. XXXVIII. Of the Wings of Insects. 'HpHERE is fuch infinite Variety in the ■*■ Contexture, Formation, Difpofition and Ornaments of the Wings of InfcSls, accord- ing to their different Wants and Ways of Life, that nothng but a curious Obfervation can make us have any true Conception of it. Some Wings are filmy, as thofe of Dragon- flies ; others are ftuck over with fhort Brif- tles, as in Flefi-flies ; fome are Films co- vered with fhort Feathers, like the Tiles of a Houfe, as in Butterflies and Moths ; others have divided Wings, as the grey and white 2 . feathered Cf the Wings of Infe&s. 233 feathered-Moth. The Wings of many forts of Gnats are adorned with Rows of Fea- thers along their Ridges, and Borders of Feathers round their Edge. Some, again, have Hairs, and others Hooks, placed with the greateft Regularity and Order. All of the Scarab Kind have Elytra, or Cafes, into which their Wings are folded and preferved until they want to employ them. Some of thefe Cafes reach almoit to the Extremity of the Tail, as in mod: Kinds of Beetles ; and o- thers are very fhort, as in the Earwig. Many of them are likewife extreamly beautiful when brought before the Microfcope. All thefe Kinds cf Wings have certain bo- ny Parts or Ribs, that give them Strength, along the Sides of which run large Blood- VelTels branching out into numberlefs Divi- fions, and conveying Nourifhment to the in- termediate Parts : for though no Circulation can be difcerned in them, it being probably extreamly flow, we can fcarce doubt that there mutt be continually a Supply of Jui- ces to the Quills, Hairs, or Briftles where- with they are armed or ornamented. As to Motion, Wings that are filmy move fader than thofe cover'd with Feathers. Mr. Hook obferves, that in the Wings of fome minute Flies there are many Hundreds, if not Thoufands of Vibrations in a Second, and fuppofes them the fwifteft Vibrations in the World : 2 34 Of ^ je Wings °f Infects. World : whence he reflects, very ingenious- ly, on the Quicknefs of the Animal Spirits, that ferve to fupply this Motion. Thofe converfant in Microfcopes need not be informed, that the beautiful Colours on the Wings of Butterflies and Moths are ow- ing to elegant minute Feathers, ending in Quills, and placed with great Exactnefs in orderly Rows ; as when rubbed off, the Holes they come from fhew : but few, it may be, have much obferved the great Variety of their Make : not only in Moths and Butterflies of different Sorts, but even in thofe taken from different Parts of the fame Wing ; infomuch that it is pretty difficult to find any two of them exactly alike. Rub thefe Feathers gently off, with the End of your Finger or Pen-knife j and, breathing upon a fingle Talc in one of your Sliders, apply it to the Feathers which feem only like a fine Duft, and they will im- mediately adhere to it : then placing it be- fore the Micro/cope, if they are not perfect, or lye not to your Mind, wipe them on, and put on others in the fame Manner, till you get thofe you like : then cover them with another tfalc, and faften it down with a Wire, that you may preferve them for future Examination. Look at them with the third or fourth , then with the fecond, and at lafl with the greatefi Magnifier, The Of the Ballances or Poifes 0/" Infects. 235 The Wing of a Midge is a mod: curious Object, and fo indeed is every Part of that minute Infect. The Wing of the little Flume Moth is compofed of feveral diftinct Quills, like thofe of Birds. There are alfo Wines folded up in the little Cafes on the Backs of Earwigs, very pretty to examine. But no more need be laid of Wings, fince every Body mult be fenfible the great Variety of them is an endlefs Subject of Enquiry and Admiration. CHAP. XXXIX. Of the Ballances or Poifes of Infects. "j\/TOST Infects having but two Wings, are ■**-■■ provided with a little Ball or Bladder under each, fet at the Top of a (lender Foot- ftalk, which is moveable every Way at Plea- fure. With thefe they ballance themfelves in Flight as a Rope- Dancer does with his Pole leaded at each End ; and if one of them be cut off, the Creature flies for a while very awkardly, as if over-heavy on one Side, and falls at laft to the Ground. Thefe Bladders being hollow may ferve likewife to produce the Noife many Sorts of Flies make, by ftriking their Wings again ft them, and be a Means of finding out one another. In fome Creatures 23 ^ Of the Scales of Fifties. Creatures they ftand alone, but the whole Fly-Tribe have little Covers or Shields under which they lye and move. Infects that have four Wings ballance themfelves with the two lefTer Ones, and, as they want not, have none of thefe little Poifes. The Microj'cope may probably find out ftill farther Beauties, Con- trivances and Ufes for them than have been yet difcovered. CHAP. XL. Of the Scales of Fifhes. THE Scales or outfide Coverings of Fifoes are formed with furprizing Beauty and Regularity ; and in different Kinds of them, exhibit an endlefs Variety in Figure and Con- texture. Some are longifh, fome round, fome triangular, fome fquare, and fome or other of all Shapes we can well imagine. Some, again, are armed with fharp Prickles, as thofe of the Pearch y Soal, Sec. Others have fmooth Edges, as of the Cod-Fift, Carp, Tench, &c. There is likewife a great Varie- ty even in the fame Fifh ; for the Scales ta- ken from the Belly, the Back, the Sides, the Head, and all the other Parts are very dif- ferent from one another. And, indeed, for Variety, Beauty, Regularity, and the Order of Of the Scales of Fillies. 237 of their Arrangement, the Scales of Fifties bear a near Refemblance to the Feathers on the Bodies and Wings of Moths and Butterflies. ■c Thefe Scales are not fuppofed to be (lied every Year -f, nor during the whole Life of the Filli ; but to have an annual Addition of a new Scale, growing over and extending every Way beyond the Edges of the former, in Proportion to the Fifli's Growth ; fome- what in the fame Manner as the Wood of Trees enlarges yearly by the Addition of a new Circle next the Bark. And as the Ace of a Tree may be known by the Number of Ringlets its Trunk is made up of, foin Fifhes the Number of Plates compoiing their Scales denote to us their Age. It is alio probable, that as there is a Time of Year when Trees ceafe to grow, or have any farther Addition to their Bulk, the fame Thing happens to the Scales in Fillies ; and that, afterwards, at another Time of Year, a new Addition, Increafe or Growth begins. Somewhat like this in Birds and Beafts their Feathers and Hairs demon fixate. Mr. Leeuwenhoek took fome Scales from an extraordinary large Carp, forty-two Inches and a half long, and thirty-three and a quarter in the Round, Ry/iland Meafure, f Vid. Leeuwen. Epift, Phyfiol. E/ift. 24. Maii 1716. which 238 Of the Scales of Fifhes. which were as broad as a Dollar. Thefe he macerated in warm Water to make them cut the eafier : and then cutting obliquely through one of them, beginning with the fii"ft form'd and very little Scale in the Cen- ter, he, by his Micro/cope, plainly diftin- guifhed forty Lamella or Scales, glewed as it were over one another; whence he concluded that the Fifh was forty Years of Age *. It has generally been imagined that an Eel has got no Scales ; but if its Slime be wiped clean away, and the Skin be examin'd by a Micro/cope, it will be found covered with exceeding fmall Scales, ranged in a very orderly and pretty Manner : and I be- lieve few Fifties, unlefs fuch as have Shells, are to be found without Scales. The Way of preparing Scale 5 1 is, to take them off carefully with a Pair of Nippers, warn them very clean, and place them in a fmooth Paper, between the Leaves of a Book, to make them dry flat, and prevent their (hrivelling up. Then place them be- tween your Talcs in Sliders, and keep them for Examination. The Snake, the Viper, the Slow-worm, the Lizard, the Eft, &c. afford a further Variety of Scales. + Arcan. Nat. Tom, III p. 214. CHAP, t 2 39 ] CHAP. XLI. Of the Oyster. TN the clear Liquor of an Oyfter many little * round living Animalcules have been found, whofe Bodies being conjoined formed fpheri- cal Figures with Tails, not changing their Place but by finking towards the Bottom, as being heavier than the Fluid : Thefe were feen fometimes leparating, and preiently af- terwards coming together and joining them- felves again. In other Oyfters Animalcules of the fame Kind were found, not conjoined, but fwimming by one another, whence they feemed in a more perfecl: State, and were fuppofed by Mr. Leeuwenhoek to be the Animalcules in the Row or Semen, of the Oyfter. * A Female Oyfter being opened, incredible Multitudes of minute Etnbryo-Oyfters cover'd with little Shells perfectly tranfparent were plainly feen therein, fwimming along (low- ly : in another they were found of a brown- ifh Colour without any apparent Life or Mo- tion. Monfieur Joblot kept the Water running from Oyfter s three Days, and it ap- peared full of young Oyfter s that fwam a- * Arc. Nat. Tom, 11, Par, I, p. 5 z, Again, p. 149. bout 240 Of the Oyfter. bout nimbly, and increafed in Bignefs daily. A Mixture of Wine, or the very Vapour of Vinegar killed them. In the Month of Auguft Oyflers are fup- pofed to breed, becaufe young Ones are then found in them. Mr. Le e u w e n hoe k open'd an Oyfter on the fourth of Auguji^ and took out of it a prodigious Number of minute Oyfters, all alive, and fwimming brifkly in the Liquor, by the Means of certain exceeding fmall Organs extending a littleWay beyond their Shells, which he calls their Beards. In thefe little Oyjlers he could dif- tinguifh the. joining of the Shells, and per- ceived fome that were dead, with their Shells gaping, and as like large Oyjlers in Form, as one Egg is like another. As for the Size of thefe Embryo-Oyfters, he computes, that one hundred and twenty of them in a Row would extend an Inch ; and, confequently, that a globular Body whofe Diameter is an Inch, would, if they were alfo round, be equal to one Million feven hundred and twenty eight thoufand of them. * He reckons three or four Thou- fand are in one Oyfter \ and found many of the Embryo-Oyfters among the Beards, fome fattened thereto by {lender Filaments, and Vid. Arc. Nat. Tom. IV. p. 513, others Of the Light on Oyflers. 241 others lying loofc. He lifcewife found other Animalcules in the Liquor five hundred times fmaller than Embryo-Oyfters. CHAP. XLII. Of the Light on Oysters. IT is not very uncommon to fee on the Shells ■* of Oyflers, when in the Dark, a finning Mat- ter or blewijh Light like the Flame of Brim- flone, which flicks to the Fingers when touch- ed, andcontinuesfhiningorgivingLight a con- fiderable Time, though without any fenfible Heat*. Monf. Auxaut obferved this Jhining Matter with a Micro/cope, and difcovered it to confift of three Sorts of Animalcules. The firft whitifh, having twenty-four or twenty- five Legs on each Side, forked ; a black Speck on one Part of the Head ; the Back like an Eel with the Skin flrip'd off. The fecond Sort red, refembling the common Glczv-icorm, with Folds on its Back, but Legs like the former, a Nofe like a Dog's, and one Eye in the Head. The third Sort fpeckled, a Head like a Soal, with many Tufts of whitifh Hairs on the Sides thereof. He faw alio fome much larger, and greyifh, having a gieat Via. Phil. Tranfaft. Numb. 12. R Head, 242 Of the Mufcle. Head, two Morns like a Snail's, and fix or eight wbitilh Feet : but theie mined not. As the Bodies of Lobfters and fome other Kinds of Fifties, tainted Flefh, rotten Wood, and other Subtfances are fometimes found to ihine with a Light refembling the foregoing, may it not probably proceed from the fame Caufe, viz. hum Animalcules? Some have alio fuppofed, that the Ignis fat uus, Will-in- a-JVifp y or f ack-a-L,anthorn y is nothing elfe but a Swarm of minute flying Infects, that emit Light around them in the manner Glow- worms do: and indeed the Motions, and fe- veral other Circumftances of this Sort of Fire, (if I may fo term it,) feem favourable to fuch Opinion. - The curious will judge it proper to exa- mine this Matter carefully, and to them it is fubmitted. CHAP. XLIII. Of the Muscle. Have obferved already, in the I2jtb Page of this Treatife, that a Mufcle is a moil delightful Object for the Micro fcope , and that in the tranfparent Membrane, adhering on cither Side to the Fore-part of each Shell, the Of the Mufcle. 243 the Blood may be feen circulating through an amazing Number of VefTels, even in the imalleft Particle of it that can be applied for Examination. Mr. Leeuwenhoek, in feveral that lie difTected, difcovered Numbers of Eggs or Embryo-Mufclcs in the Ovarium, appearing as plainly as if he had feen them with the naked Eye, lying with their (harp Ends fattened to the Strings or VeiTels whereby they receive Nourishment. Thefe minute Eggs or Embryo-Mufcles, are, in due Time, laid or placed by the Parent, in a very re- gular and dole Order, on the Outride of the Shell : where, by means of a glewy Mat- ter, they adhere very fail, and continually increafe in Size and Strength, till becoming perfect Mufcle s y they fall off and mift for themlelves, leaving the Holes where they were placed behind them. This abundance of Mufcle- She lis viewed by the Microfcope can {hew. Sometimes two or three Thou- fand of thefe Eggs adhere to the Shell of one Mufcle ; but 'tis not certain they were all fix'd there by the Mufcle itfelf, for they fre- quently place their Eggs on one another's Shells. The fring'd Edge of the Mufcle, which Mr. Leeuwenhoek calls the Beard, has in every the minuted Part of it fuch a Variety of Motions, as is unconceivable : for being compofed of longifh Fibres, each Fibre has on both Sides a vail many moving Par- R 2 tides. 244 Of the Mufcle. tides, which one would almott imagine to be Animalcules -f. The Threads or Strings, which we term the Beard, are compofed of a Glew which the Mufcle applies by the Help of its Trunk to fome fix'd Bod)'', and draws out as a Spi- der does its Web, thereby fattening itfelf, that it may not be warned away. If Mufcles be put into Salt and Water, we may have the Pleafure of feeing them perform this Work, and fatten themfelves to the Sides or Bottom of the Vetted we place them in. Cockles, Scallops, Limpets, Perriwinkles, and Abundance of other Shell-Fifh, are Ob- jects that have as yet been very flightly ex- amin'd by the Micro/cope • and, therefore, the ferious Enquirer into Nature's fecret Operations may here be certain of difcover- ing Beauties which at prefent he can have no Conception of. f Phil. Tranfaft. Numb. 336. Arc. Nat. Tom. II. p. 19. &.c. Tom. IV. p. 423. &c. jo. CHAP. [ 245 ] CHAP. XLIV. Of Hairs. / ~p H E Hairs of Animals are very diffe- -*• rent in their Appearance before the Micro/cope, and can furniih out a great Va- riety of pleating Obilrvations. Ma lpighi difcovered them to be tubular, that is, com- pofed of a Number of extreamly minute Tubes or Pipes, in his Examination of a Horfe's Main and Tail, and in the Briftles of a Boar. Thefe Tubes were moil diftin- guifhable near the End of the Hairs, where they appeared more open : and he fometimes could reckon above twenty of them. In the Heds;e-Ho2;'s Prickles, which are of the Nature of Hairs, he perceived thefe Tubes very plainly, together with elegant medullary Valves and Cells. There are alfo in the Hairs of many Ani- mals, in fome tranfverfe, in others fpiral Lines, fomewhat of a darker Colour run- ning from Bottom to Top in a very pretty Manner. A * Moufe's Hairs are of this Sort, they appear as it were in Joints like the Back-bone, are not fmooth but jagged on the Sides, and terminate in the fharpeft Point imaginable. Hairs taken from a J Vii. Arcan. Nat. Tom. III. p. 47. R 3 Moufe's 246 Of Hairs. Moufe's Belly are leaft opake, and fitteft for the Milcrofcope. The Hairs of Men, Horfes, Sheep, HogSj &c. are compofed of fmall, long, tu- bular Fibres, or fmaller Hairs encompaffed with a Rind or Bark; from which Structure a fplit Hair appears like a Stick fhiver'd with beating. They have Roots of different Shapes in different Animals,become lengthen ? d by Propulfion, and are thicker towards the End than at Bottom. Hairs of Indian Deer are perforated from Side to Side ; our Englijh ones feem cover 'd with a kind of fcaly Bark. The Whilkers of a Cat, cut tranfverfly, have fomevvhat in the Middle like the Pith of Elder. * The Quills of Porcupines or Hedge-Hogs have alfo a whitim Pith in a ftar-like Form : and a human Hair cut in the fame Manner (hews a Variety of Veffels in very regular Figures. Hairs taken from the Head, the Eye- brows, the Noftrils, the Beard, the Hand, and other Parts of the Body appear unlike as well in the Roots as in the Hairs them- felves, and vary as Plants do of the fame Genus, but of different Species. * Hook's Microg. p. 157. 1 CHAP, [ 2 47 ] CHAP. XLV. Of the Farina of Flowers. np H E Farina ■, or mealy Powder , found -*' on the little pendant Tops of almoft every Flower, is fomewhat fo analagous to the Semen of Animals, that it deferves the iiricteft and moll: attentive Examination. This Powder, whole Colour is different in Flowers of different Kinds, was imagined, by former Ages, to be a meer excrement U tious and unneceflary Part of the Plant : but the Micro/cope here alfo has made lurprizing Difcoveries, by (hewing, that all the minute Grains of this Powder are regular, uniform and beautiful little Bodies, conftantly of the fame Figure and Size in Plants or the fame Species, but in different Kinds of Plants as different as the Plants themfelves. It was impofTible to obferve this Order and Configuration of the Farince, without concluding, that Providence, which never acts in vain, mult intend a nobler Ufe for Bodies fo regularly formed, than to be difli- pated by the Winds and loft. This Reflecti- on drew on farther Examination ; and farther Examination, by the Help of the fame In- ftrument, foon difcover'd, that this Powder is produced and preferved with the utmoft R 4 Care, 248 Of the Farina of Flowers. Care, in YefTels wonderfully contrived to open and discharge it when it becomes ma- ture : that there is likewife a Pijlil, Seed- Vejfel, or Uterus in the Center of the Flower, ready , to receive the minute Grains of this Powder, as they either fall of themfelves, or are blown out of their little Cells. And Experience, founded on numberlefs Experi- ments, proves, that on this depends entirely the Fertility of the Seed : for if the Farina- Vefjels be cut away before they open and ihed their Powder, the Seed becomes barren and unproductive. This Farina is therefore judged to be the Male Seed of Plants, and every litttle Grain of its Powder may poffibly contain in it a minute Plant of the Species whereto it be- longs. ■ It is wonderful to obferve the vari- ous Contrivances Nature employs to prevent this Powder from being unprofitably difper- fed, and to affift its Entrance into the proper Pi/lil, Seed-Vefjel or Uterus prepared for it. The Tulip, for Inftance, which ftands up- right, has its Pijlil fhorter than the Farina- VcfJ'els, that the Powder may fall directly on it: but in the Martagon, which turns down- wards, the Pijlil is longer than the faid Vejfels, and fwells out at its Extremity, to catch the Farina hanging over it, as it meds. A Mind Cf the Farina of Flowers. 249 A Mind inquiiitive into Nature's hidden Beauties, will find inexpreilible Delight in examining and confidering the endleis Va- riety difcoverable in the Farina of number* lefs vegetable Specie?. In that of the Mai- low, each little Grain appears to be an opake Ball with Prickles hTuing from it on every Side. The Sun-Flower Farina feems com- pofed of flat circular minute Bodies, iliarp- pointed round the Edges ; the middle of them appears transparent, and exhibits fome Refemblance ot the Flower it proceeds from. The Powder of the Tulip is exaclly fhaped like the Seeds of Cucumbers or Melons. The Farina of the Poppy appears like Pearl- Bar- ley, with a Furrow, as in that, reaching from End to End. That of the Lilly is a great deal like the Tulip. I'll not anticipate the Pleafure of the Cu- rious, or take up their Time, in defcribing more of thefe Farina, which every Flower they come at prefents to their Examination; but advife them, not to nesled: the Veflels that contain it, for they will find Beauties in them alfo fufficient to reward their Pains. Gather your Farina in the midfl: of a Sunfhiny dry Day, when all the Dew is off: be careful not to fqueeze or prefs it, but lhake or elfe gently brum it off with a foft Hajr Pencil upon a piece of clean white Pa- per. 250 Of the Farina of Flowers. per. Then take a Tingle Talc or Ifinglafs between your Nippers, and breathing on it, apply it inftantly to the Farina, which the Moifture of your Breath will make adhere to it. If too great a Quantity of Powder feems flicking to your Ifinglafs, gently blow off a little j if there be not enough, breathe on it again, and touch the Farina with it as before. Then put your Glafs into the Hole of a Slider, and apply it to the Microfcope to fee if the little Grains are fpread according to your liking, and when you find they are, cover them cautioufly with another Talc, which faften down with a brafs Wire; but let not the Glaffes prefs hard upon the Fa- rina^ for that will deftroy its true Figure, and reprefent it different from what it is. A Collection of the mod remarkable Farina thus preferved muff be a lafting Entertainment to thofe who ftudy Na- ture : to fuch I alfo recommend a diligent Examination of the little Cells that con- tain the Farina , and like wife of the Pijlils or Uteri and other Parts of Generation in Flowers. Let them only begin with the Arch- Angel, or blind Nettle with a white Flower, or even with the common Mallow, and they will difcover Beauties impofTible to be defcribed. And as every other Flower has Organs for the fame Purpofe, though of a different Form and Structure, here are Wonders Of Seeds. 251 Wonders in abundance for the Microfcope to difcover, and happy the Man who can find moft Leifure to explore thefe Worlds as yet unknown ! I (hall add only one Obferyation more be- fore I leave this Head, which is, that as the Animalcules in Semine differ not in Bigneis according to the Size of thofe Animals whence the Semen comes : fo the minute Grains compofing the Farina of Vegetables are not bigger or lefs in Proportion to the Size of the Plants producing them, but are often the direel contrary j as we find by the Farina of the little creeping Mallow, the Globules of which are larger than thofe of the lofty gigantick Sun-flower. CHAP. XLVI, Of Seeds. EACH Seed includes a Plant : that Plant, again, Has other Seeds which other Plants contain: Thofe other Plants have all their Seeds; and, thofe, More Plants, again, fucceflively, inclofe. Thus, ev'ry fingle Berry that we find, Has, really, in itfelf whole Forefts of its Kind. Empire and Wealth one Acorn may difpenfe, By Fleets to fail a thoufand Ages hence: Each Myrtle-Seed includes a thoufand Groves, Where future Bards may warble forth their Loves. Sd 252 Of Seeds. So Adam's Loins contain'd his large Pufteiity, All People that have been, and all that e'er (hall be. Amazing Thought ! what Mortal can conceive Such wond'rous Smallnefs ! Yet, we mud believe What Reafon tells : for Reafon's piercing Eve Difcerns thofe Truths our Senfes can't defcry. I hope to be excufed for borrowing the Lines above from a little Poem of my own, called the Univerfe, publimed fome Years ago -, as they contain a Suppofition, which, however chimerical it may appear at firft, will, if duely confidered, be found, per- haps not only poffible, but even highly pro- bable. Malpighi, Leeuwenhoek, Hooke, Grew, and feveral others bear Witnefs, that the Micro/cope has difcover'd minute Plants not only in the larger Seeds, fuch as the Walnut, Chefnut, Acorn, Beech- nut, Seed of the Lime, Cotton -feeds, Peafe, &c. butalfoin the fmaller of Rhadiih, Hemp, Chervil, Scurvy-grafs, Muftard, and multi- tudes of other Seeds. About two Years a- go, I likewile had the Honour to prefent the Diffeclion of a Seed of the Gramen tre- mulum, or trembling Grafs, with an Account thereof to the Royal Society, wherein a per- fect Plant appeared, with its Root, fending forth two Branches, from each of which fe- veral Leaves or Blades of Grafs proceeded. Thus far our Sight amfted by the Micro/cope is able to difcover : and as that Inftrument convinces Of Seeds. 2£% convinces us that Nature in her Operations is in no wife confined to our Conceptions of Bignefs, but ads as freely in die minute Fa- brick of a Mite, as in the bulky Compafs of a Whale or Elephant: nay, that (he rather feems to wanton in her Skill, by giving a greater Number of Limbs, and more nume- rous ornaments to the minute Creatures than to the larger ones. When thefe Things, I fay, are feen and reflected on, it is eaiy to conceive the reft. Mod Kinds of Seeds muft be prepared, in order to difcover the minute Plants they con- tain, by fteeping them in warm Water till their Coats can be feparated and their femi- nal Leaves opened without Laceration : tho' fome few Sorts may better be differed dry. But Seeds even without any Preparation are exceeding pretty Objects, and afford infinite Varieties of Figure, Colour and Decoration. The Seeds of Strawberries rife out of the Pulp of the Fruit, and appear themfelves like Strawberries when viewed. Poppy Seeds (and what we call Maw- Seeds, which come from Germany, and are produced bj a Kind of Poppy) in Shape re- femble little Kidneys : but have Furrows or Ridges on their Surfaces curioufly difpofed with regular Sides and Angles. From thefe Seeds a Duft may be fhaken, that looks a- greeable enough when brought before the Micro/cope-, 254 Of S ee ds* Microfcope % having nearly the fame Appear- ance as the Surfaces of the Seeds, with the Advantage of being tranfparent. This Duft is really the fine Membranes that lay between the Seeds; which, by the Preffure of the Seeds again ft them, have received Marks correfponding to the Ridges or Furrows on the Seeds themfelves. Seeds of the leifer Moonwort, of Tobacco, Lettice, Thyme, Chervil, Pariley, and a thou- fand others, afford a delightful Entertainment. The Ancients imagined the capillary Plants and many other Kinds to produce no Seeds at all, and their Miflake could never have been rectified by the naked Eye : but the Microfcope has difcovered, that all the feve- ral Species of Fern, Harts-Tongue, Maiden- Hair, &c. are fo far from being barren in this Refpect, that they are amazingly fruit- ful : that the Seed-VefTels are on the Backs of the Leaves, and that the Dull which flies off when we meddle with them, is nothing but their minute Seeds. Thefe Seed-VefTels appear to the naked Eye like a black or brown Scurf on the Backfide of the Leaf ; but, when viewed by the Microfcope^ refem- ble little circular Tubes, divided into many Cells, containing Seeds. When the Seed is ripe, the VefTels fly open with a Spring, and fpirt the Seeds out on every Side, in the Form of Dull: : and if at that Seafon fome of the Leaves are put in a Paper Cone, and that Of Seeds. 255 that be held to the Ear, the Seed Veflels may be heard to burft with a coniiderable Noife. Some of thefe minute Veflels contain at leaft an Hundred Seeds, invifible to the naked Eye. It would be tedious to enumerate the Beau- ties of Seeds, fince every tranfient Obierver muft be fenfible of their great Variety : but I believe I (hall be excufcd, if I take Notice of the Powder or Seed of the Fungus Ful- verulentus or Puff-Bali, which, when crufh'd, feems to the naked Eye like a Smoke or Vapour - y but when examined by one of the greatefl Magnifiers (for elfe it cannot be diftinguifhed) it appears to be infinite Num- bers of little Globules, of an Orange Colour, fomewhat tranfparent, whofe Axis is not a- bove the fiftieth Part of the Diameter of a Hair : lb that a Cube of a Hair's Breadth Diameter would be equal to an hundred and twenty- five thoufand of them. This was the Powder of a Fungus bigger than twoFifts ; but in another Sort the Size of a fmall Apple, the Globules were of a darker Colour, and had each a little Stalk or Tail *. Thefe are, evidently, fo many minute Puff-Balls, fur- nilhed with Stalks or Tails to penetrate eaiily into the Ground : and the Mifchief they do * Vtd. PhilofoDh. Tranfaft. Numb. 284. and Dsr ham's Phyf. Theol. p. 418. the 256 Of Leaves. the Eyes is probably owing to their (harp Stalks that prick and wound them $. CHAP. XLVII. O/'Leaves. / "T -V HE Leaves of Trees or Plants are full -*- of innumerable Veins and Ramifica- tions, that convey the perfpirable Juices to the Pores, for their Difcharge. Whether or no there be any Circulation in them is ftill a Matter of Doubt ; but as their Juices, when let out, immediately break, coagulate and become a ftiff Jelly, it feems probable there may be fome Circulation which prevents the fame Effect in the Veflels. The fudden fhrinking, doling, and opening of Flowers, the railing and finking the Heads of Poppies, &c. the vermicular Motions of the Veins of Plants when expofed to the Air, feem alfo to imply fome what like Senfation. The Mi- crojcobe may perhaps be of Service to difcover much more on thefe Subjects than we yet know. \ A Puff-Ball being burft near the Eyes of a Boy of 1 2 Years old, by an unlucky Play-fellow, and the Dull thereof flying into them,occafioned fuch Swelling, Inflamm.ition, a.id intenie Pain, with a continual Difcharge of Water, that he could not open them for feveral Days ; and did net recover his Sight in lefs than a Fortnight, tho' all the Remedies that could be thought on were applied. Vid. Jo h . Mu y 's Pi ax. chirur. ration. Obf. I. 2 Mr. Of Leaves. 257 Mr. Lekuwenhoek tearing to Pieces 1 Leaf of the Species of Box called Palm a Cereris y that he might examine it the better, computed one Side of it to be farnifhed with an hundred feventy two thoufand and ninety Pores: and as the other Side mud have many, the whole Number of Pores in a tin Leaf of Box will be three hundred forty four thoufand one hunched and eighty. The Leaves of Rue feem full of Holes like a Honey-comb ; all the Kinds of St. John's Wort appear likewife ttuck full of Pin-Holes, to the naked Eye; but the Microfcope (hew^ that the Places where thofe Holes feem to be, are really covered with an exceeding thin and white Membrane. The Backfide of the Herb Mercury looks as if rough-call: with Silver, and the Ribs full of white round traniparent Balls, like num- berlefs Grapes, fattened by (lender Footftalks. A Sage Leaf appears like Rug or Shag, full of Knots taflel'd with iilver Thrums, and embellifhed with fine round cryftal Beads or Pendants fattened by little Footttalks. The Backfide of a Rofe Leaf but efpe- cially of Sweet Briar, looks diaper 'd with Silver *. Every Body knows that the Leaves of Stinging Nettles are thick fee with fharp • Dr.?owift'sAficr0,fcy Qbfervat. S Prickles, 2 c3 Of Leaves. Prickles, that penetrate the Skin when touch'd, andoccaiion Pain, Heat and Swel- ling : which Symptoms were imagined, for- merly, to enfue from the Prickles being left in the Wounds they make. But the Micro- (cope difcovers fomething much more won- derful in this common Vegetable, and mews that its Prickles are formed and act in the fame Manner as the Stings of living Animals. For every one of them is found to be a rigid hollow Body, terminating in the mod acute Point imaginable, with an Opening near its End. * At the Bottom of this Cavity lies a minute VerTel or Bag, containing a limpid Liquor, which, upon the leaft touching of the Prickle, is fquirted through the little Out- let -, and, if it enters the Skin, produces the Mifchiefs before- mentioned by the Pungency of its Salts. Hence it comes to pafs, that when the Leaves of Nettles are considerably dried by the Heat of the Sun, they fting but very little : whereas fuch as are green and juicy produce violent Pain and Inflammation. But the quite contrary to this would happen, if the Symptoms were only owing to the Breaking of the Prickles in the Flefh: fince, when dry, they muft be more brittle, as well as more rigid, than when they abound with Juice. * Hook's Microgr. p. 142. Arc Nat. Tom. I. Par. III. psg. 107. %uere. Of Saks in General. 259 §>yere. Are there any Valves in the Vef- fels of Vegetables, as in thofe of Animals, to let the Juices pafs, but hinder their Re- turn ? CHAP. XLVIII. Of Salts in General. IT is I think agreed, that all Bodies have their Salts ; from whofe different Confi- gurations and Impreflions many wonderful Changes are erfecteJ both in Solids and Fluids, in things animate and inanimate. Saline Particles ilriking upon the Nerves of Ani- mals excite the Senfations of Tafte and Smell; and as their Forms and Degrees of Impulie are almoil infinitely diverfified, the Senfi- bility of Pain or Pleafure arifing therefrom muft be vary'd almoft infinitely, according to the greater or lets Delicacy of the Organs they ftrike upon.— -It is therefore of great Confequence to difcover what we can about them. The Micro/cope (liews, that Vinegar owes its Pungency to multitudes of floating ob- long quadrangular Salts, each of which, ta- pering from its Middle, has two exquifitely S 2 iharp 260 Of Salts in General. fharp Ends. Thefe Salts being inexpreflibly Minute, can hardly be difcovered, unlefs a Drop or two of Vinegar be expofed for fome Hours to the Air, that the more wa- tery Part may evaporate, before we attempt to view them. Their Shape appears, Plate XIV. Fig. I. If Crabs Eyes are infufed in Vinegar, after the Effervefcence is over, the Shapes of the Salts will be found quite altered j their fharp Points feem broken off, and they ap- pear in different fquare-like Forms, as at Fig. II. In Wines of feveral Kinds the Salts are diftinguifhable, of various Figures, many of them refembling thofe in Vinegar, but with Ends much more obtufe : Some are fhaped like a Boat, fome like a Spindle, others like a Weaver's Shuttle, and others fquare : there are alfo infinite Varieties of other Forms. The Salts of Sugar candy 'd are fhewn Fig. III. Vegetable Salts are to be extracted by burning the Wood, Stalks, or Leaves of any Tree, or Plant j throwing the Allies into Wa- ter; then filtering, and fetting the Liquor to cryftallize in a cold Place. Their Oils alfo, when examin'd, prefent abundance of Salts. The Salts of Minerals or Metals are to be come at, by quenching them, when red hot, in Water, then filtering, evaporating, and cryflallizing. Of Salts in General. 261 Pretty Salts for Obfcrvation are, Pot-aih> ILnglifo and RuJJian : Salt of Wormwood* Camphire, Salt of Tartar, Sjlt Armoniac, Salt of Hartfhorn, Salt of Amber, &c\ They mould be examined firft in their dry or cryftallized State, and afterwards diflblved in a very fmall Quantity of fome tranfparent Fluid. The Salts found in all Bodies when fe- parated by Fire, fcem as fo many Pegs or Nails*, penetrating their Pores, and fatten- ing their Parts together : but as Pegs or Nails when too large, or too numerous, ferve on- ly to fplit and rend afunder ; Salts, by the fame Means, oftentimes break, feparate and diffolve, inftead of joining and making fail. They indeed are meerly Instruments, and can no more act upon or force themfelves into Bodies, than Nails can without the Stroke of a Hammer; but they are either driven on by the PrelTure of other Bodies, or by the Spring of the Air impelling them. As Salts enter the Pores of all Bodies, Water infinuates between the Particles of Salt : Se- parates or diflblves, and fuftains them in its Interfaces, till by being in a State of Reft they precipitate, and form themfelves into Mattes. By this diflblving Power, Water becomes the ♦ ViieSpeBacU dt la Nat. Dial. XXVI. S 3 Vehicle 262 Of Salts in Mineral Waters. Vehicle of Salts, and conveys them into the Pores of Bodies, where it leaves them to execute their proper Office. Moft forts of Animal and Vegetable Salts are likevvife, probably, diffolved by the Jui- ces of the Stomach, before they enter the Blood, or they would ocean* on great Mif- chiefs : and the Difficulty of difTolving fome mineral Salts, or breaking off their Points in the fame Manner, may be the Reafon of their dreadful Effects. CHAP. XLIX. Of Salts in Mineral Waters. 'T"" V H E Microfcope may be of great Service -*■ to determine by ocular Examination, what Kinds of Salts our medicinal Springs are charged with, whence to form a Judg- ment in what Cafes their Waters may be drank to Advantage. The four Kinds offo/file Salts, bed known, are, according to Dr. -j- Lister, Vitriol, Alum, Salt-petre, and Sea-Salt : whereto he adds a .fifth, lefs known, though more •f Vide Lister de Fontibuj Medicatis Angliae. common / ',-. Fig. 1. 0.2 fo. Fia. JLp. 26b. O □ _? uj.JLi.p-soo. -£<Part, three Legs come forth on either Side. The Tail is armed witfi a Sting, 27 2 Mifcellaneous Difcoven'es Sting, which the Animal ufes only when provoked; but then a poifonous Liquor is conveyed by it into the Wound, occafion- ing Pain and Swelling. The whole Body is cafed over with a fort of Armour, fo hard as fcarce to be penetrated by a Lancet, and thick fet with mining whitifh BrifHes. The Legs, &c. are alfo cover'd with Hairs, but much fmaller and of a darker Colour. Upon opening an Ant-Hill, we (hall fee them carrying in their Mouths and fecuring with great Solicitude fmall whitifh Bodies, ufually call'd their Eggs. Thefe, however, are not Eggs, but Ants in their Aurelia State, each encompafs'd with an Integument of its own fpinning. We might have conjeclur'd this from their Largenefs in Proportion to a perfeff Ant, but the Micro/cope fully proves it, by difcovering to us their real Eggs, of an oblong oval Figure, about the Size of a Grain of Sand * t ninety whereof would not extend the Length of an Inch, nor an hun- dred and feventy be equal in Bignefs to one of thefe Anrelids inclofed in its Cafe. Thefe minute Eggs produce Maggots, which after a Time fpin themfelves Coverings, become Aurelias, and then Ants. The Parents Affection for their Young in the Aurelia State is fo ftrong, that when Danger *f Vid. Leeuwbn. Epift. 2d Reg. Soc. 9. Sep. 1687. threatens, end Obfewatlons. 273 threatens, the\ inftantly run away with them, and willfooner die than leave them. There are fcveral S0 1 s of Ants differing both in Size and Colour; and towards the End of Sum- mer many of.them are feen having four Wings. Thefe, Swammerdam fays, are Males -j-. The French Academy has publifh'd a curi- ous Account of Ants, whence I {hall abilract fome few Particulars. Every Ant's Ncft ( ir tells us ) has a ftrait Hole leading into it, abou: the Depth of half an Inch ; which, afterwards, runs flowing downwards to the public k Magazine, where the Grains collect are itored up: and this is a diff ent Place from that where they reft and eat. -- Their Corn being kept under Ground, would ihoot and grow, did they not prevent it by biting out tne Germ en or Bud before they lay it up: but this they constantly do, for if their Corn be examin'd no Bud will be found therein, nor if fowed in the Earth will it ever -vegetate. Was it, however, to lye continually in the Ground, the Moiiture would occaiion it to fwell and rot, and make it unfit for Food. But thefe Inconven encies they find means to remedy by their Vigilance and Labour, in the following Manner. -- They gather very fmall Particles of dry Earth, which they bring oui: of their Holes f Vid . Swammer. lilji. Generate dis hifecl. p. i8v T every 274 Mifcellaneoits Difcoveries every Sunfhiny Day, and place them in the Heat. Every one of them brings in her Mouth a Particle of this Earth, lays it by the Hole, and then goes to fetch another : fo that in a Quarter of an Hour a vaft Num- ber of fuch fmall Particles of dryed Earth are heaped round the Hole. Their Corn is laid upon this Earth when under Ground, and covered with the fame. When thefe Particles of Earth are brought out, they fetch out their Corn like wife, and place it round this Earth, making two Heaps about the Hole, one of dry Particles of Earth, and the other of Grains of Corn. Lail of all, they fetch out the Remainder of their dry Earth whereon the Corn was laid. They never go about this Work unlefs the Weather be clear, and the Sun very hot: but when both are favourable they perform it almoft every Day. The Author of this Account had found a Neft of Ants in a Box of Earth, Handing out from a Window two Stories high ; whence they made Excursions both upwards to the Top of the Houie, where fome Corn lay in a Garret ; and downwards into a Gar- den, which the Window overlook'd. The Situation of this Neft obliged them to go up or down a great way before they could pof- fihjy meet with any Thing; but he found, notwithstanding, that none of them ever re- turned empty, but brought a Grain of Wheat, Rye, and Obfervations. 2j$ Rye, or Oats, a fmall Seed, or even a Particle of dry Earth if nothing elfe could be got. Some travelled to the farther End of the Garden, and, with prodigious Labour, brought heavy Loads from thence. It requirM four Hours, as he learned by frequent Observation, to car- ry a pretty large Grain or Seed from the Middle of the Garden to the Neft: and he computed therefrom, that an Ant works as hard as a Man who lhould carry a heavy Load twelve Miles a Day. The Pains thefe Ants took, to carry Grains of Corn up a Wall to the fecond Story, climbing all the Way with their Heads down- ward, muft be exceeding great. Their Wearinefs was thewn,by their frequent Stops at the mod convenient Places; and fome ap- pear'd fo fatigued and fpent they could not reach their Journey's End: in which Cafe, 'twas common to fee the ltrongeft A its, which had carried home their Load, come down again and help them. Sometimes they were fo unfortunate to fall down with their Burdens when juft in ir ight of Home : but when this happen'd they feldom loft their Corn, but carried it up again. He faw one, he fays, of the fmalleft Ants carrying a large Grain of Wheat with incredible Pains. When fhe came to the Box where the Neft was, (lie and her Load together tumbled back to the Ground. Going down to look for her, he found the had recover 'd T 2 the zy6 Mi/cellaneous Difcoveries the Grain, and was ready to climb up again. The fame Misfortune befel her three times ; tut fhe never let go her Hold, nor was dif- couraged ; till at laif, her Strength failing, fhe was forc'd to flop, and another Ant affifred her to carry home her Load to the publick Stock. How wonderful is the Sagacity of thefe Infects! How commendable their Care, Di- ligence, and Labour! How generous their Ailiftance of one another for the Service of the Community! How noble their publick Virtue, which is never neglected for the Sake of private Intereft! In all thefe Things they defer ve our Notice and Imitation. — A con- templative Mind will naturally turn its Thoughtsfrom theCondition and Government of Ant-Hills to that of Nations-, and reflect, that Juperi our Beings may poilibly confider Human Kind and all their Solicitudes and Toils, Pride, Vanity, and Ambition, with no more Regard than we do the Concerns of thefe little Creatures. 8. Among Pinks, Rofcs, and Sun-Flowers, there's to be found, almoft confrantly, a little^ long, nimble Injecl fmaller than a Loufe, feme times creeping, and fometimes leaping. It appears in the Micro/cope bodied like a Wafp, with fix or feven annular Divifions i it has two fair long black and yellow Wingsj two Horns, each rifing from a knobbed Roctj and Obfervatioiv. 277 Root; two black Eyes, and fix Lea?. 'Tis fo tender the leaft Touch kills it, but a very pretty Object. 9. A little InfeB is conflantly found in the Froth (or Cuckow-Spit as fome call it) that hangs on the Leaves of Pvofemary, La- vender, &c. It creeps firft, then leap?, and at laft flies. It has fix Feet, with two black- ifh Claws at the End of each ; a long Pro- bofcis to fuck up its Food, two Horns, and a Pair of darkifh red pearled Eyes. The Tail ends in a Stump, but by its annular Di- visions can be thruit out or drawn in at Pleafure. 1 0. There's a pretty yellow InfeB on Sy- camore Leaves, with fix Legs, running very nimbly. The Eyes are red, prominent and pearled; the Horns are flit, and forked at the Ends. At firft it has no Wings, but near the Shoulders are two little Protuber- ances, whence two long Wings come forth when it turns into a Fly or Locuft. It is hairy towards the Tail. 1 1 . A fmall white oblong In/eft flicks to the Ribs on the Backfides of Rofe-Tree Leaves, towards the End of Summer, which turns into a little yellow Locuft that fkips about the lame Tree. In both States it is a pretty Object. T 3 12. There 2j$ Mifcdlancous Difcoveries 12. There is alfo a greenifh Grajkopper or Locujiy on Goofeberry- Leaves, Sweet- Bryar, and golden Moufe-Ear, in April and May, with four Leg?, two black Eyes, a pair of curious Horns, and many other Beauties. 13. In the Water of Ditches there are fre- quently Num*bers of Water-Spiders, not larger than a Grain of Sand j they are very voracious, hunting about continually for Prey: and may be feen by the Micro/cope catching and devouring other minute Animal- cules. Some have eight, fome ten Legs, and Antenna jointed like Equifetum or Horfe- Tail. 14. Likewife in Handing Waters we may often meet with (lender Eels ox Worms, about the third of an Inch, and fometimes more, in Length. They are full of Joints from End to End zt large Diftances from one another, have a (harp Head like an Eel, a large Mouth, and two fine black Eyes. The Tail terminates in a Tuft of Hairs of a very cu- rious Structure ; the Motions of the Inteilines are feen diftinctlv, and the whole Animal is a delightful Object.— The Blood-red Jointed Worm, very common in ftagnant Waters, is alfo well deferving our Observa- tion. 15. The and Obfervations. 279 15. The Crane- Ffy> called byALDROVAND Culex maximus > by Swammerdam Tipula terre/iris y and by the common People Fa- ther --long-Legs t affords, in every Part of it, agreeable Subjects of Examination : But the Feet are more particularly furprizing, for upon diffircting them, in a Drop of Water, the fle/hy Fibres contract and diftend, in a Man- ner not to be imagined without feeing it, and continue their Motions three or four Mi- nutes. Mr. Leeuwenhoek found it con- ftantly in the Feet of this Creature, but not in thofe of any other Infect*. The In- teflines are alio very curious, con filling of numberlefs VefTels and Organs, which may be feen as plainly by the Microfcope, as the Bowels of larger Animals can by the naked Eye -f. The Tails both of the Male and Female are of an extraordinary Struc- ture : that of the Female ends in a (harp Point, wherewith (lie perforates the Ground, and depofires her Eggs under the Grafs, in Meadows. 16. The Multipcs, or Scolopendra, has a very long (lender Body : its Mouth is armed with a pair of (harp Forceps, and in hot Countries (where they are of a large Size) * Vid.Arc. Nat.Tom. III.p. 119. f Tom; IV. 351. T 4 its 2?o Mifcellaneous Difcoveries its Bite is venomous; but our fmaller Ones feem not mifchievous. One I examin'd had fifty four Joints, and from every Joint a Leg iiTued on each Side, which, with two others, at the End of the Tail, larger than the reft, made in all one hundred and ten. When the Creature moves along, thefe Legs follow one another very regularly, making a pretty kind of Undulation, not to be defcribed, and giving the Bodv a fwifter Pro°;refTion than one would expect, where fo many Feet take lb many fhort Steps, in turn, one after another. There are feveral Sorts of thefe Infects, different in Shape, and in Number of Legs, which the Curious will be pleafed tQ examine *. 17. There's an extraordinary Sort of Ca- terpillar, of a middling Size, having four Tufts of yellowiih white Hair, like little Brumes, of an equal Height, Handing up- right on its Back : below thefe, from each Side, iffues a Bunch of dark-colour'd Hairs of different Lengths, the Extremities of which are black. Two more Bunches of the fame Form rife from the Head like Horns, and another ftill from the Top of the Tail. Every Hair in thefe Bunches, * Leeuwenhoek fay?, the Indian Millepes has eight Eyes like the Spider. Shtcre. Have Engtijb Ones fo too ? when and Obfervations: 281 when viewed through the Microfcope, re- fembles a Peacock's Feather, and is a delight- ful Object. The Inquifitive will find abun- dance more Wonders in this amazing Crea- ture, and indeed in moil Sorts of Caterpil- lars. 18. The Silk-Worm is a Creature every Part whereof, either in the Worm or jF/y- State, deferves our particular Attention: but as both Malpighi and Leeuwen- hoek have examined it with great Skill, and publifh'd their Obfervations with anato- mical explanatory Drawings, I mall refer the Curious to them, and to their own En- quiries ; only advifing fuch as ihall engage in a farther Examination, not to neglect the Skins thefe Animals caft off three Tines before they begin to fpin : for the Eyes, Mouth, Teeth, Ornaments of the Head, and many other Parts may be difcerned bet- ter in the ca/l-off Skins than in the real Ani- mal. A due Obfcrvation of the Changes of this Creature, from the Caterpillar to the Nymph , Aurclia, or Chry falls, and thence to the Moth or Butterfly State, will give a general Notion of the Changes all Caterpil- lars undergo, tho' fome little Differences may be in the Manner. Swammerdam fays, the Butterfly, by a judicious Exami- nation, may be traced and difcerned under each 2§2 Mifcellaneous Difcoveries each of thefe Forms, which are only differ- ent Coverings or Dreffes for it. 19. The Tail of the Male Silk-Worm be- ing fqueezed, Animalcules were found in the Semen * four times as long as broad : their Backs thicker than their Bellies, like the Shape of a Trout. Their Length was fup- pofed to be about half the Diameter of a Hair. This I experienced Myfelf, on the 8th Day of Augufl, in this prefent Year 1742, when taking a Male Silk-Worm, that was juft then come forth in its Moth-State, and giving its Tail feveral little gentle Squeezes, in about a Minute's Time, a fmall Drop of a brownim white Liquor was fquirted brifk- ly from it on a Talc I held to receive it ; and diluting this with a little Water warmed in my Mouth for that Purpofe, I was very much lurprized and pleas'd to obferve the numberlefs Animalcules it contain'd, fwim- ming about, alive and vigorous. N. B. Whoever would make this Experi- ment, muft do it before the Moth has been coupled with the Female ; for nothing is to be got from it afterwards, as I have found by feveral Trials. 20. The Probofcis of a Butter-fly, which winds round in a fpiral Form, like the Sprjng * Vid. Leeuwen. Arc. Nat. Tom. I. P. II. pag. 422. of and Obfervations. 283 of a Watch, ferves both for Mouth and Tongue, by entering into the Hollows of Flowers, and extracting the Dews and Jui- ces. — The Shape and Structure of it will be found very furprizing. 21. The Legs and Feet of In feels are wonderful in their Structure and Contrivance, according to their different Circumftancvsand Neceflitics of Life, and afford a pleating Variety of Objects. It is pretty to obferve, not only the iharp hooked Claws, but alfo the fkinny Palms of fomc Flies, &c, which enable them to walk on Glafs and other linocth Surfaces, even with their Bodies hang- ing downwards, by means of the Pre flu re of the Atmofphere : others again have a fort of Spunges, which preferve theirClaws from be- ing broken or blunted by ftrik:ng againil hard Bodies, as the Claws of Cats, &c. are, by ibft flefliy Protuberances at the Bottoms of their Feet. 22. The Nympb of the CIotbts-Afoth, which (from being often found fcudding among Books and Papers) Mr. Hook calls the iil- ver-colour'd Book-worm, is covered with thin tranfparent Scales, from whofe Surfa- ces a multiplicity of Reflections of Light make the Animal appear in Colour like a fine Pearl. It has fix Legs, runs by Starts and Stops, and has three Horns at the Ex- 1 tremity 284 Mifcellaneous D if c overt cs tremity of the Tail. As this Defcription is fufficient to make it known, I mall leave the Curious to examine its Beauties, and not anticipate their Pleafure. Vide Hook's Mi- crog. p. 208. 23. On the Leaves of Orange-Trees, Fig- Trees, Willows, and many other Trees and Plants, there are various Kinds of minute In- I'eSfs. as vet but Utile known, inclofed in Tubercles or Swellings. 24. The Eggs of Infefts are remarkable for their different Figure and Colour, and for the particular Regularity and Exactnefs wherewith they are frequently placed. We mall fometimes find a fort cemented round a Twig of the Sloe-Tree or Damfon-Tree, as if fattened there by Art, and rang'd meer- ly for the Sake of Beauty. The Variety of them is inconceivable, and to be fought for as well in the Waters as elfewhere ; as thofe will be convinced who will take the Pains to examine in the Spring, the Water-CrefTes, Brooklime, and other Water- Plants, on the Back of whofe Leaves infinite Numbers of minute Eggs may frequently be difcovered, appearing to the naked Eye only as a Slime. 25. In Cellars, on the Corks of Bottles, there are three or four Sorts of very furpriz- ing In feels. I 26. The and Obfervations. 285 26. The Lungs of a Frog, blown up and dry'd, will afTift us to difcover the true Struc- ture of that Bowel. 27. Cochineal, which comes from New Spain, and is fo valuable for its ufe, in dying Scarlet, Crimfon, and Pur/le : has been a{- ferted, by fome, to be a Seed or Grain, and, "by others, an Infect : but the Micro/cope de- termines thefe Difputes, by (hewing plainly, after fteeping it in Water twenty- four Hours, an oval Body, Scales, Legs, and a pointed Trunk : in fhort, the whole refem- bles our Coic-LaJy. Many Eggs may be dif- covet'd upon opening their Bodies, and if you burn them, let their Afhes (land two or three Days in Wjlter, then filter and evapo- rate, their Salts may be diitinclly feen. 28. The Feathers of Birds afford variety of Beauty, and differ greatly from one ano- ther, not only in their general Colour and Form, but in the Structure of each particu- lar Part ; as every Body muft be fenfible, who examines thole of the Oftrich, the Pea- cock, the Eagle, the Swan, the Parrot, the Owl, and all die numerous Species of Birds. Their Qi : 11s too deferve our Attention : and our Oblcrvations 6n them will be afTiftcd by readi ig the 36th Obfervation in Mr. Hook's Micrography, p. 168. and alio Mr. Lee u- wenhofk's Experiments, in the 4th Tome of his Writings, p. 323. 286 Mifcellaneous Difcoveries 29. Mofjes of all Kinds are agreeable Ob- jects, and appear, by die Microfcope, to be as perfect in their Leaves, Flowers and Seeds, as the largeft Plants or Trees. Thole, parti- cularly, that grow on the Rocks and Coafls of the Sea, exhibit amazing Beauties. ^o.Spunge is reckon'd a Plant Am mal y and appears compofed of minute VefTels re- sembling Veins and Arteries. 31. Decay'd Fruits, moift Wood, damp Leather, ftale Bread, and abundance of other Things, contract what we call Mouldinefs ; which the Micro/cope difcovers to be nothing elfe but innumerable minute Plants, bear- ing Leaves, Flowers and Seeds, and increafing in a Manner almoft incredible : for in a ve- ry few Hours the Seeds fpring up, arrive at full Maturity, and bring forth Seed them- klves , fo that a Day produces feveral Ge- nerations of them. There are many Sorts of thefe microfcopical Plants, very different in Size and Appearance : Some of the Mufh- room Kind, Others refembling Bulrumes, and Others again bearing vaft Quantities and great Varieties of Fruit. Other Kinds are likewife found in great Abundance on the Surface of Liquors j when they are what we term Mother y. 32. and Obfervations. 287 32. The Air-Veflels, Sap-Fejels } and Pores diWood are wonderful in their Figure, Num- ber and Dilpofition : as plainly appears by (having off the thinned Slices pomble, length- wife, crofswife, and obliquely, and bringing them to view. Fir and Cork are the rea- died: for this Purpofe : but all other Kinds of Wood, tho' with fomewhat more Trouble, may be render'd fit to be examin'd. In a piece of Cork, no longer than the eighteenth Part of an Inch, lixty Cells were number'd in a Row ; whence it follows, that one Thou- fand and eighty are in the Length of an Inch : one Million an hundred iixry and fix Thoufand four Hundred in an Inch fquare ; and in a Cubic Inch one Thoufand two Hundred fifty-nine Millions, feven hundred and twelve Thoufand*. In the Pith of Trees and Plants, cut fo as to become tranfparent, the VefTels may be difcerned diftinctly. The Pores of Wood may likewife be {ttw advantageoufly in Char- coal and Small- coal, 33. There are many Sorts of Sand; fome gathered on the Sea Shore, or, on the Shores of Rivers, and others found within Land. The Grams of each Sort differ much in Size, * Hook'* Microg. p. 114. Form, 288 Mifcellancoiis Discoveries Form, and Colour : fome are. opake, others tranfparent : fome have rough Surfaces, and others are quite fmooth *. Thefe Varieties are very agreeable to examine by the Micro/cope, which fhews, in fome of the mining Kinds, Grains having all Numbers of Sides and Angles, and lb finely polifh'd, that no Dia- mond is more ex quiii tely beautiful. On others grotefque Figures, or Reprefentations of Landfcapes, Buildings, Plants, and Animals, at once furprize and pleafe. 34. In order to examine Diamonds with the greater Exactnefs, Mr. LeeiTwenhoek broke a imall one between two Hammers,and placing the Pieces before his Microjcope, in the Sun-fhine, he faw many fparkling Flames iffue from them, with a continual Corruf- cation, in fome, like a faint Lightning. Then viewing them in the Shade, he obferved, a- mong other pretty Appearances, a little Flame that feem'd to dart from each Particle of the Diamond : and it was a glorious Sight to behold multitudes of fparkling Flames, moft of a bright Fire -Colour, and others greenifb, flail ling faintly and like Lightning at a Diltance. In other Pieces of the * Vid. Philafoph. Tranfaftions, Numb. 289. Hook's Microg. p. 80. f Vid, Philofoph. Tranf. Numb. 374. Diamond mid Objurations. 2 89 mond the Lamella or Layers compofing it were very plainly to be diilinguifli'd. In ftriking Fire with a Flint and Steel, little Particles of Steel are muck off, and melted into Globules by the Colli fion ; as will be evident upon making the Experiment over a Sheet of white Paper, and viewing what falls into it through the Micro/cope. Mr. Hooke firft: made the Trial, and found that a black Particle, no bigger than a Pin's Point, appeared like a Ball of polilh'd Steel and ftrongly reflected the Image of the Win- dow near which he examined it *. It is alio entertaining enough, to feparate the melted Iron Particles from the Particles of Stone, which fometimes are vitrified ; by means of a Knife that has been touched by a Load- ftone. 36. Kind Nature has fuppiy'd the Seeds of Dandelion, Thirties, and many other Plants with a Donn, that ferves inftead of Wings to convey them to diliant Places. The Fi- gures of fuch Down, in different Plants, are very different when look'd at through Gl.if- fes : fome appearing plain and fmooth, others rough and thorny, and others again with lit- tle Hooks or Clampers to catch hold of any flr.CK's Microg. p. 2:, 44, 46. U thin 290 Mlfcellaneous Difcoveries thing. Peaches, Quinces, and fome other Fruits have like wife a foft Down, which is worth examining, as well as the Hairs on many Sort of Leaves, Fruits, and Seeds. 37. There's a very fine Down or Hair call- ed Coinage, or Cow-itch, growing on a Sort of hairy Kidney Bean that comes from the Eaft-Lidies. The Pods, about three Inches long, refemble a French Bean, and are co- vered with this Down or Hair, which is very ftiff for its Bignefs, caufes Pain and In- flammation if rubbed on any Part, and when viewed by a Micro/cope appears like multi- tudes of Needles. A Sort of curling Horns, rifing out of the Middle of fome Carnations and Pinks are exceeding pretty Objects. 38. The Flakes of falling Snow are vari* ous in their Configuration, and extreamly beautiful, if examin'd before they melt ; which may ealily be done by making the Experiment in the open freezing Air. Des- cartes, Dr. Grew, Mr. Hook, Mr. Mor- ton, Dr. Langwith, and others, have edven us feveral of their different Star-like Forms: and Dr. STocKE,of Zealand, has lately communicated to the Royal Society fome new Figures unobferved before. The Configuration of the Particles of Dew may perhaps be likewife very well worth obferving. Plumous and Obfer r jations. 291 Plumous Alum, Talcs of different Kinds, Afbeftos, Marcaiites, and all Sorts of Mine- rals and Fofiils, afford a Variety of agreeable and curious Objects. iEthiops Mineral, Calomel, Mercurius dul- cis, and all other Mercurial Powders, are found, when examined by the Micro/cope, to be full of minute Globules of crude and un- alter'd Mercury. Common Bait diilblved in Water exhibits infinite Numbers of quadrangular Bodies. Toads, Frogs, and Newts are * killed by rubbing Salt upon their Backs : Snakes, Vipers, Rattle-fnakes, &c. by drawing thro' their Skin with a Needle a Thread dipped in Oil of Tobacco •, and Mercury is a mortal Poifon to Ants. It would be an endlefs Taflc to point out half the Objects fit to be examined by this ufeful and entertaining Inftrument, which fupplies us, as it were, with Eyes, infinitely more penetrating than our own : and diico- vers Wonders to us which wc fhculd be un- able to conceive without it. The foregoing are a few only among thofe that are molt Curious ; but every Creature, every Plant, and Fruit, -and Flower j every Drop of Wa- FooK'sMicrog. p. t 44. U 2 ter 292 Art and Nature ter, and every Particle of Matter, if carefully examin'd, will afford us new Inftruclion and Delight. CHAP. LI. The Works of Art lend of Nature compared together and coiifiderd. EFORE this Treatife is concluded, it will not perhaps be thought unprofi- table, to examine fome of the fineft and moft exquifke Performances of human Art, and compare them with the Productions of Nature ; as fuch a Comparifon muft tend towards humbling the Self-conceit and Pride of Man, by giving him a more reafonable and modeft Opinion of himfelf - y and at the fame Time may in fome Degree conduce to- wards improving his imperfect Conceptions of the Supreme Creator. Upon examining the Edge of a very keen Razor by the Microfcope y it appeared as broad as the Back of a pretty thick Knife ; rough, uneven, full of Notches and Fur- rows, and fo far from any thing like Sharp- nefs, that an Initrument as blunt as this feem- ed to be, would not ferve even to cleave Wood f . •\ Hook's Microg. compared and confidered. 293 An exceeding fmall Needle being alfo ex- amined, the Point thereof appeared above a quarter of an Inch in breadth ; not round, or flat, but irregular, and unequal ; and the Surface, though extreamly fmooth and right to the naked Eye, feemcd full of Ruggednefs, Holes, and Scratches. In ihort, it refembled an Iron Bar out of a Smith's Forge*. But the Sting of a Bee viewed through the fame Inftrument, Ihewed every where a Po- lilli mod: amazingly beautiful, without the leafl Flaw, Blemim, or Inequality ; and end- ed in a Point too fine to be difeerned : yet this is only the Cafe or Sheath of Inifru- ments much more cxquifite contained therein, as before defcribed, Page 210. A fmall Piece of exceeding fine Lawn, ap- peared, from the large Diitances and Holes between its Threads, fomewhat like a Hurdle, or Lattice, and the Threads themfelves feem- ed coarfer than the Yarn wherewith Ropes are made for Anchors. Some Brujfel's Lace, worth five Pounds a Yard, look'd as if it were made of a thick, rough, uneven Hair- Line, entwifted, fatten- ed, or clotted together in a very awkard and unartful Manner. * Thil. Tranf. Numb. 324. Spcdacle de la Nat. Eng. Edit. 1 2tno. Vol. I. page X. U 3 But 294 Art and Nature But a Silkworm s Web being examined, appeared perfectly fmooth and mining, every where equal, and as much finer than any Thread the beft Spinftcr in the World can make, as the fmallelt Twine is finer than the thickeft Cable. A Pod of this Silk being wound off, was found to contain nine hun- dred and thirty Yards : but it is proper to take Notice, that as two Threads are glewed together by the Worm through its whole Length, it makes really double the above Number, or one thouland eight hundred and fixty Yards : which being weighed with the utmoft Exactnefs, were found no hea- vier than two Grains and a half*. What an exquifite Finenefs is here ! and yet, this is nothing when compared with the Web of a fmall Spider, (fee Page 200) or even with the Silk chat iffued from the Mouth of this very W r orm, when but newly hatched from the Egg. The fmalleft Dot, Tittle, or Point that can be made with a Pen, appears, when viewed by the Micro/cope, a vaft irregular Spot, rough, jagged, and uneven all about its Edges, and far enough from being truly round. The fmeft and minuted Writing, fuch as the Lord's Prayer in the Compafs of a filver Penny, or other like curious Per- Jbid. p. 50. formance compared and confidered. 295 formance, done by the mofl: able Mafter, feems, when brought to Examination, as fhapelefs, uncouth and barbarous as if written in Runic Characters. But the little Specks on the Wings or Bodies of Moths, Beetles, Flies, and other Infects, are found when mag- nified, to be moft accurately circular: and all the other Lines and Marks about them, appear regularly and finely drawn, to the ut- nioft Pombility of Exactnefs. Dr. Power fays, he law a golden Chain at Tredesc ant's, of three hundred Links, not more than an Inch in Length, fa fined to, and pulled away by a Plea. And I mylelf have feen very lately, near Durham 7\ird in the Strand, and have examined with my Microfcope, a Chaife, ( made by one Mr. Boverick, a Watch- maker) having four Wheels, with all the proper Apparatus belonging to them, turning readily on their Axles : together with a Man fitting in the Chaife; all formed of Ivory, and drawn along by a Flea without any feeming Difficulty. I weigh'd it with thegreatefl Care I was able, and found the Chaife, Man, and Flea were barely equal to a fingle Grain. I weighed alio at the fame Time and Place, a Brafs Chain made by the fame Hand, about two Inches long, containing two Hundred Links, with a Hook at one End, and a Padlock and U 4 a Key 296 Art and Nature Key at the other ; and found it lefs than the third Part of a Grain. -f- We are told, that one Oswald Ner- linger! made a Cup of a Pepper-Corn , which held twelve Hundred other little Cups, all turn'd in Ivory, each of them being gilt on the Edges and (landing upon a'Foot : and that, (o far from being crouded or wanting Room, the Pepper Corn could have held four Hundred more. Thefe are fome of the niceft, moll: curi- ous and furprizing Works of Art ; but let us examine any of them with a good Micro- jcope, and we ihail immediately be convin- ced, that the utmoft Power of Art is only a Concealment of Deformity, an Impofition ■ upon our Want of Sight ; and that our Ad- miration of it arifes from our Ignorance of what it really is. This valuable Difcoverer of Truth will prove the moil boaited Performances of Art to be as ill-fhaped, rugged, and uneven, as ■f I have feen fince my Writing the above, (made by the fame Artift) a Quadrille-Table with a Drawer in it, an Eating- Table, a Side-Board Table, a Looking-Glafs, twelve Chairs with Skeleton Backs, two Dozen Plates, Six Dimes, a Do- zen Knives and as many Forks, twelve Spoons, two Salts, a Frame and Caflors, together with a Gentleman, Lady, and Footman, all contained in a Cherry-Stone : and not rilling much moie than half of it. J Ephem. German. Tom. I. Addend, ad Obferv. 13. if compared and confide red. 297 if they were hewn with an Ax, or (truck out with a Mallet and Chiflel. It will (hew Bungling, Inequality, and Imperfection in every Part, and that the Whole is difpropor- tionateandmonftrous. Ourfineit Miniature Paintings appear before this Inftrument as meer Dawbings, plaiifer'd on with a Trow- el, and entirely void of Beauty, either in the Drawing, or the Colouring. Our moil mining Varnimes, our fmootheft Polifhings will be found to be meer Roughne fs, full of Gaps and Flaws. Thus fink the Works of Art when we be- come enabled to fee what they really are!— But, on the contrary, the nearer we examine, the plainer we diltinguifh, the more we can difcover of the Works of Nature ', even in the leaft and meaneit of her Productions, the more fenuble we muir. be made of the Wildom, Power and Greatnefs of their Au- thor. — - Let us apply the Micro/cope where we will, nothing is to be found but Beauty and Perfection. View we the numbcrlefs Species of Infects that fvvim, creep, or fly around us ; what Proportion, Exactnefs, Uniformity and Symmetry fhall we perceive in all their Organs! what a Profusion of Colouring ! Azure, Green, and Vermilion, Gold, Silver, Pearls, Rubies and Diamonds, Fringe and Embroidery on their Bodies, Wings, Heads, and every other Part ! How rich 2<) < 6 Art and Nature rich the Glow ! how high the Finifhing ! how inimitable the Poliih we every where behold ! — Search we yet farther, and ex- amine the Animalcules ', many Sorts whereof it would be impoffible for any human Eye unaifiiied to difcern ; thofe breathing Atoms, fo fmall they are almoft all Workmanfhip ! In them too we (hall difcover the fame Or-^ gans of Body, Multiplicity of Parts, Vari- ety of Motions, Diverfity of Figures, and particular Ways of Living as in the larger Animals.— How amazingly curious mud the Internal Structure of thefe Creatures be ! The Heart, the Stomach, the Entrails, and the Brain! How minute and fine the Bones, Joints, Mufcles and Tendons! How exqui- iitely delicate beyond all Conception the Ar- teries, Veins, and Nerves ! What Multitudes of Veffels and Circulations mult be con- tain'd within this narrow Compais! And yet, all have fufficient Room to perform their different Offices, and neither impede nor in- terfere with one another. The fame Order, Regularity and Beauty will appear likewife among Vegetables if brought to Examination. Every Stalk, Bud, Flower, or Seed, difplays a Figure, a Pro- portion, a Harmony beyond the Reach of Art. There's not a Weed, not a Mofs, whofe every Leaf does not (hew a Multipli- city of Veffels and Pores difpofed moft curi- oufly for the Conveyance of Juices to fup- 2 port compared and confidered. 299 port and nourifh it, and which is not adorn'd with innumerable Graces to embelliih it. The moll: perfect Works of Art betray a Meannefs, a Poverty, an Inability in the Workman ; but, thofe of Nature plainly prove, the Hand that form'd them was abfo- lute Mailer of the Materials it wrought upon, and had Tools exactly fuitable to its Delign. Every Hair, Feather, or Scale, even of the meaneft Infect, appears rounded, po- lifli'd, and finim'd to the highcit Pitch; and fhews the abundant Riches, Munificence, and Skill of its Maker. But fome may pombly enquire, to what Purpofe Providence has beftowed fuch an Expence of Beauty on Creatures lb infigni- ficant: and then cry out, What is all This to us? — My Reply is, that the Beauty and Elegance which adorn them are, evident and convincing Proofs of their not being lb infig- nificantas weprefumptuoufly fuppoie they cxt: for, fuch Beauty muft be given them, either for their own Sake, that they thcmfelves may be delighted with it ; or elfc, for Ours, that we may obferve, in them, the amazing Power and Goodnefs of the Creator. If the former be the Cafe, we muft allow them to be of Confequence in the Account of their Maker, and therefore deferving our Regard ; and if the latter, it is reallv our Duty to take notice of and admire them. But for what- ever 300 Some reafonable RefeBiom o?i ever Reafon God has been pleafed to beftow Exigence on them, and to clothe them with Beauty, what he has judged worthy hirnfelf to create, is not, furely, below us to examine and confider. The lame Hand that form'd the Whale, the Elephant, and the Lion, has likewife made the Loufe, the Gnat, and the Flea. CHAP. LII. Some reafonable Reflections on Difcoveries made by the Microfcope. A Tp H E Ule of the Microfcope will natu- ■* rally lead a thinking Mind to a Conii- deration of Matter, as fafhion'd into different Figures and Sizes, whether Animate or In- animate : It will raife our Reflections from a Mite to a Whale, from a Grain of Sand to the Globe wherein we live, thence to the Sun and Planets j and, perhaps, onwards frill to the fixt Stars and the revolving Orbs they enlighten, where we fliall be loft amongft Suns and Worlds in the Immenflty and Mag- nificence of Nature. Our Ideas of Matter, Space, and Dura- tion are meerly comparative, taken from Ourfelves and Things around us, and limited to certain Bounds ; beyond which, if we endeavour to extend them, they become very indiftincT:. The Beginnings and Endings, exceflive Greatnefs or exceflive Littlenefs of 2 Things, Dijtoverhs made by the M'crofcope. 301 Things, are to us all Perplexity and Confu- fion. " Let a Man try to conceive the different " Bulk of an Animal which is twenty, from " another which is an hundred times lcis " than a Mite; or to compare, in his " Thoughts, a Length of aThouiand Dia- " meters of the Earth with that of a xMillion, " and he will quickly find, that he has no u different Meaiures in his Mind adjufted to M fuch extraordinary Degrees of Grandeur " or Minutenefs. The Underftanding, in- " deed, ope"ns an infinite Space on every l< fide of us; but the Imagination, after a " few faint Efforts, is immediately at a (land, " and finds itfelf l wallowed up in the Im- " menfity of the Void that furrounds it. " Our Reafon can purfue a Particle of Mat- , lives but five Hours. This Infect is found abuut all the Mouths of the Rhine ; and, according to his Drawings and Descriptions. feems to be a Species fomewhat between our May-Fly (bred from the Cadeixi-Worm) and the Lihclla or Dra;a-F/y. It has four Wings, two whereof are lhorter than the other ; a pair of fmall Horns, fix Legs and two very long ftrait Ilairs ifiuing from the Tail. They are feen, he fays, flying near the Surface of theWater, about Midiummer,for three fuc- ceeding Days, but no longer in one Seafon. They eat nothing ; and their only Bufinefs is to generate, and drop their Eggs upon the Water ; which Eggs, finking to the Bottom, pro- duce a Kind of Wormi or Maggots, that foon hollow them- felves Cavities in the Clay, where they abide three Years; growing each Yenr "about an Inch in Length. When the If'orm is come to its full Growth, it rifes to tiie Surfice, about fix o' Clock in an Evening : lays its Eggs, and dies about ten o'CIock the fame Night. I'm furprized that Swammerpam fhould fay, the Life of this Creature is no more than five Hours, when his own Account pla nly proves that it really lives three Years : for it is certainly as much alive in the Worm-State, as when af- terwards it becomes a Fly. Truth fhould be every Bodv's Purfuit, and for the Sake thereof I have endeavoured to clear up the general Miftake as to this Fly, which is frequently produced, upon Swammerdam's Authority, as the moil remarkable Inftance we know of the Shortncfs ot Life. — But tho' this Infect happens to live much longer than was ima- gined, 1 make no Doubt, there are feme among the number- lefs Species of Beings, whofe natural Lives are as fhort as this was fuppofed to be : fuch too are molt likely to be found amongil the very minute Kinds. For as thofe ex- ccedingl; fmall Plants, invifible to the naked Eye, which com- pofe what we call Moid dine fs, fpring up, bear Fruit,' and dye in a few Hours; we may reafonably fuppcfe, the Lives of fome exceedingly fmall Animals to be of as fhort a Duration . X their 306 Reafonable Reflections on their own Thinking, as other Creatures do, where the fame Train of Ideas proceeds more flowly, and takes up many Years. As the Microfcope difcovers almoft every Drop of Water, every Blade of Grafs, every Leaf, Flower, and Grain fwarming with Inha- bitants; all of which enjoy not only Life but Happinefs ; a thinking Mind can fcarce for- bear confidering that Part of the Scale of Beings which defcends from himfelf, to the loweft of all fen iitive Creatures, and may confequently be brought under his Exami- nation, -f " Amongft thefe, fome are raifed fo little above dead Matter, that it is difficult to determine whether they live or no : others but one Step higher, have no other Senfe be- fides Feeling and Tafte : fome again, have the additional one of Hearing j others of Smell, and. others of Sight. It is wonderful to obferve, by what a gra- dual Progreilion the World of Life advances through a prodigious Variety of Species, be- fore a Creature is formed that is compleat in all its Senfes: and, even amongft thefe, there is fuch a different Degree of Perfection in the Senfes which one Animal enjoys be- yond what appears in another, that tho' the Senfe in different Animals be diflinguifh'd f Vide Stella tor. Numb. 519. i by Difcoveries made by the Microfcope. 307 by the fame common Denomination, it feems almoft of a different Nature. If, after this, we look into the feveral inward Perfections of Cunning and Sagacity, or what we general- ly call Inftinct, we find them riling in the fame Manner, imperceptibly, o;ie above an- other, and receiving additional Improve- ments according to the Species in which they are implanted. This Progrefs in Nature is fo very gradual, that the whole Chafm, from a Plant to a Man, is filled up with divers Kinds of Crea- tures, riling one over another by fuch a gen- tle and cafy Afcent, that the little Tranfitions and Deviations from one Species to another are almoft infenfible. And the intermediate Space is fo well hufbanded and managed, that there is fcarcc a Degree of Perception which does not appear in fome one Part of the World of Life, bince then the Scale of Being ad- vances by fuch regular Steps fo high as Man, we may by a Parity of Rcafon fuppoie, that it ftill proceeds gradually upwards thro' number- lefs Orders of Beings of a fuperior Nature to him : as there is an infinitely greater Space and Room for different Degrees of Perfecti- on between the Supreme Being and Man, than between Man and the molt defpica- ble Infect." Mr. Lock's Thoughts upon this Subject X 2 are 308 Re a/on able RfjleEiiom on are very curious : " That there mould,. fayS " he, be more Species of intelligent Creatures 1 ' above us, than there are of fenfible and " material below us, is probable to me, from i nalcules in Semine Mafculino, how to view 58 159 when fn ft discover' d — — 153 their general Appearance . ibid. tl-.eir Numbers computed - 149 155 their wonderful Minutenefs ■ 163 Reflections on their Size — 165 l Animalcules INDEX. Animalcules in Semine Mafculino of a Frog, p. 154. of a Cod-Fifli ■ 155 of a Pike ■ 155? of a Cock « 159 of a Dog ' 1 60 •of a Hare ibid. of a Rabbet • 1 6 1 of a Ram ■ ibid. of a Man ■ .... 163 of a Spider ■ • ■ 16c of a Dormoufc 166 of anOyiter 166 239 of the Mulclc Fifh . 243 of a Silkworm 166 282 of a Dragon- Fly 166 of a common Fly ibid. of a Flea ibid. of a Gnat - — . 206 Vide Infedls. Animalcules in none of the Animal Juices but only the Semen 166 Animah (living) to examine , rj rj how admirable their Structure ■ 2 q8 Ants dcfcribcd 271 their Eggs and Aurelia? 272 their Sagacity, Forecaft, and Induilry 273 Reflections thereon ■ _ Antenna of Infects : vide Horns. 276 Area, or Portion of an Object fcen 48 A>t compar'd with Nature ■ 292 297 290 Arteries and Feins, how diuinguifh'd 124. Authors Defign in Writing : vid. Introduce, and r 1 B. Balances of In feds their Ufe 2 3? 'bid. Fat (Obfervations on it) . ,-j Beauty, why bellowed on Infe<5l«, Is'c. 200 Bee, vide Sting. Bignefs, meerly comparative . , ~ j Blood (Circulation of) ro view . rn \ X j lzo lamination of by the Microfcope i OZ JI2 Account of as fo examin'd . | , Strudure and Compofition of its Globules ibid Size of the Globules __ , - Bkod, INDEX. Blood, how eafily diforder'd .. p. 10S Mixtures with it in the Veins, their Effects 1 10 — — when extracted ■ no 114 its Colour whence - ■ ■■■■■ 116 Vid. Circulation. JBloodlefs Animals, a Miftake ■ ■ ■ 1 29 Boajls (ridiculous ones) as toMicrofcopes — — 64 Bones, their Structure ■ ■ ■ ■■ 143 foft at firft ■ — — 1 44 Manner of viewing them ~ 145 Book-Worm (or Clothes-Moth) .—» 282 Box for preferving opake Objedls •■ 6 1 Brujh or Hair-Pencil, its Uie 1 1 Bug a curious Object — - — — 130 Butterfiy, its Probofcis — — — — 282 C. Camera olfcura Microfcope > ■ ■ 22 Cautions in viewing Objects ■ . 62 Cell to confine living Objefts , - 19 Chain of Gold, its Finenefs . . 295 of Bnfs . . _ jhiJ. Circulation of the Blood to view -.-. — n~ 120 between a Frog's Toes ■ 1 2 1 in an Eel - ■- . 1^2 in a Flounder ______ . fad. in a Fifh's Tail . ■ ■ . 123 how numerous in a Human Body 1 25 in a Newt __-> 126 in a Tadpole — — . 127 in a Mufcle Fifh ----- _-_-_, ibid. in the Legs of Crabs ■ 1 28 in Shrimps — — . ___ j 2 a in the Legs of Spiders . ■ 1 30 in Punices or Bugs — — — . ibid. in a Bat ■ 131 in a Frog by the Solar Microfcope, very curious 134 its Appearance near the Time of Death 1 36 Cochineal examin'd ____, 2 8c Collection of tranfparent Objects to make — — . 56 of opake Objeds 60 proper Cafe for them --____ 61 Colours of Objects how to judge of . 5? 63 Cone to intercept the Rays of Light, itsUfe 1855 Cork its numerous Pores ■_>-- ■ . ,, 287 Corn-Beetle, vid. Weevil. Coinage, INDEX. Cowagi, or Cow-itch, what ■ ■ ■■ Crane-Fly, very wonderful ■ Cube, why confider'd as if magnified — Cups, 1 200 in a Pepper-Corn « ■< ■ D. Dew recommended to be examin'd — Diamonds examin'd by the Microfcope Double Reflecting Microfcope defcribed Down of Thirties, &c. Drawings of Objefts to take Duckweed, ftrange Animalcules at its Roots Dunghill-Water lull of Animalcules Dying, the Appearance of the Blood then E. - 290 *79 3i 3* 296 290 288 16 289 2 5 47 - 91 ' 85 136 Eel, Way to examin it • its Scales . ■■ Eel-like kinds of Animalcules . in Vinegar ■ ■ Experiments on them — in Pafte Way to preferve and examine their Appearance by the Solar Microfcope Eggs of Infcdls __ Elephant compnr'd with a Mite, vid. Introduc. Ephemeron defcribed . , Miilake about it reclify'd _, 122 238 78 278 79 80 81 82 ibid. 284 305 ibid. Farina of Flowers defcribed its Uieand what it is its Beauties way to preferve and examine it its Veffels curious ■ Obfervations on it • Feathers, delightful Objefts , Feelers of Infefts, vid. Horns Fibres (mufcular or flelfn ) their Appearance their Structure . in an Ox, Whale, and Moufe way of viewing them — — . in a Crane- Fly, very curious Fih, how to place in a Glafs Tube . 2 47 248 249 250 ibid. 251 285 135 14* '39 140 141 - 279 — »3 Fijb. INDEX. Eifc-Van Flea defcribed Manner of Change from the Egg its Coitus Diffeclion of _ its furprizing Strength and Agility Fluids how to prepare and examine — — Fly defcribed — .— it? .Trunk Diffeftion of Manner of Produ&ion — Focus what ■ ■ forceps or Plyers, their Ufe — Frog how to place in a Glafs Tube Apparatus for viewing the Circulation in it Mefentery thereof a curioui Object its Lungs *9 191 193 194 «95 ibid. S8 219 ibid. 220 ibid. 4 10 13 133 13? 285 Gad Bee, vide Ox Fly Generation equivocal, contrary to Reafon ■ Manner of Analogous between Animals and Vegetables Glafs flat, its Effect convex, its EffecT: its magnifying Power explain' d — how to find its magnifying Power ■ concave, its Effect ■■ Glafs Slips of different Colours, their Ufe - ■ Glaffes mull be fuited to the Objects Glafs-Tube, its Ufe — — — — Globules of the Blood, how form'd « ■■ their Size . — -« 1 their Appearance in Sicknefs in Fifties anJ aquatic Animils — — how affected by Heat and Cold — — Vide Circulation. Globule or Drop of Glafs, its Inconvenience — — not ufed by Mr. Leeu^iuenboek - Gnat, its Manner of Production 68 Defcription of it — — its Form in the Water — its Wings and Horns . its Piercer defcribed its Spawn — — 207 148 150 »5» ■j J 46 - 3* 33 - 5 60 53 11 ; 9 103 01 132 108 131 ibid. 6 7 88 207 203 - 88 203 20.4 206 Grain I N D E X. Grain of Sand, how to be underftood as a Meafure p. k\ Growth of Animals and Vegetables, what iqo H. Hairs of different Creatures 24c tneir Structure « ■ ibid. their Variety 246 of a Caterpillar, very beautiful 280 Hay Water to make . -6 when ready for Examination . ibid. the Animalcules therein ■■ ibid. Ihahh, wherein it confiits 106 116 how impair'd io- how probably it may be reftored 109 Contrivance of Providence to preferve it 119 Heart (Pulfation of) ■ 17 7 in a Bee ^ * fy <, .... a Graff hopper ( ' "" tb,a - \ a Lady-Bird in a Snail . . 13S 217 2 ^8 inaLoufe 138 l8o Horns of Infefts, their Ufe 2 xi their different Beauty . , ,■ ibid. I. Ignis Fat 11 us ■ — 2 ±z Infujwis of Vegetables produce Animalcules -5 obferv'd by Monf. Joblot - g_ why productive, a Supposition g6 why not always the fame . g 7 In/efts how to difleel — __ -g fitteft to (hew the Circulation and internal Motion • 1 " "7 '4 2 *n the Liver of Sheep _ ' 2 6i in the Heads of Sheep - . 2 ^ Q in the Heads of Deer - 2 ^g on Pales and Walls . . 2 „ on Leaves ■ ^ 27I among Pinks. Roles, ©V. 276 in Cuckow-fpit O on Sycamore Leaves > ■ 2 -"r on the Ribs of Rofe. Leaves 3 on Goofeberry-Leaves , 278 Legs and Feet examin'd . 283 on Orange, Fig and Willow-Leavss 284: Infers, r- INDEX. Jnfetls, their Eggs beautiful 7 on Corks of Bottles \ P- "4 Itch, a Diftemper occafion'd by Animalcules 169 defcribed 170 how cured ■ 171 Jurin (Dr.) his Way of meafuring Objeds 45 L. Lace (fine Bruflels) examin'd ■ 293 Leaden Pipes or Gutters, Animalcules there defcribed 92 Leaves, whether have any Circulation 256 their Pores how numerous ■■ 257 of Rue St. John's Wort Mercury J> _ ibid. Sage • Rofe and Sweet Briar Fern . Stinging-Nettle (/ery wonderful) . 258 like the Stings of Animals . ibid. Lens what 2 Leeuwenhoek (Mr.) the Structure of his Microfcopes 8 Liberkhun (Dr.) his folar and opake Microfcopes 21 Life, in what Manner long or fhort — — - 303 305 its Progreffion in different Creatures ■ 306 Light muft be fuited to the Objecl - ■■ 54 its different Effedl ibid. of a Candle beft for fome Things 55 of the Sun, not elegible — — ibid. Loufe f common^ defcribed — — 177 its Manner of Feeding . — 179 a Sting in the Male — ■ — 1 80 its Increafe how numerous . 1 8 1 way to diffeft it 182 (Crab) 182 a general Name for the Vermin of Creatures 183 184 on the Beetle "J lZ' S \ — ' 8 3 Spider J Humble Bee 1 ,0. Flea \ l84 (Kinds of) Pi&ur'd by Seignior Rett ibid. Wood- Loufe — — — 185 M. INDEX. M. Magnifjini Power of GlafTes in the fingle Microfcope p. - 1 explain' d . ■ ■ ■- — - : how to find and calculate - 33 Table of ■ ■ ■ . in the folar Microfcope 37 in the Double Microfcope — - — — 39 Man, his propereft Employment vide Introduc. his Capacity for Knowledge 310 whence his eternal Happincfs may poffibly arife 3 1 1 Matter, Confederations thereon 300 our Ideas of it imperfect 301 Mercury unalter'd in feveral Mercurial Medicines 291 Microfcopt what I by whom and when invented ■ j Single 2 7 Double ■ — — ibid. their different Effects and Advantages 2 7 49 LeeuivcnboeA's, its Structure g Wllforis fingle Pocket . 9 with a Speculum • 14. Standard for its GlafTes propofed 37 Double Reflecting 16 Solar, or Camera Obfcura . 22 its Advantages ■ . 25 for opake Objects 26 Standard for its Glaflcs propofed 37 its Advantages 27 how to ufe it i • 29 ufeful alfo for tranfparent Objects 30 wherein it properly can affilt us 49 why fometimes neglected 51 how ferviceable in the Practice of Phvfick 107 Minutenefs of Animals, &"c. wonderful : vid. In trod. 163 298 Reflections on it 302 Mtfentery of a Frog, extrcamly curious . 1 3- Mitts defcribed 186 their Coit and lime of Hatching ■ 188 their Eggs ■ 188 compared with a Pigeon's . ibid. their Voracioufnefs and Manner of Eating ibid. how to defiroy ■ — 1 gn Sorts of defcribed .... ■ — ibid. wandering , — — g:enboeJi i Way 41 Mr. Hook's Way * 44 Dr. Jurins Way 4? Dr. Martins V, ay 46 Dr. Smith's Way 47 Area cr Portion of — — 48 Kinds proper for the Microfcope 50 what not proper 49 Directions how to examine — 52 to be view'd in every Light 54 their Shadcw only feen by the folar Microfcope 55 how to prepare and apply - 56 to make a Collection of ; ." 56 60 Csutions in the viewing of — 62 tailed — — — — 291 Old INDEX. Old People, their Manner of Sight p. 5 Opake Obje&s (Microfcope for) vid. Micrcfcope to prepare and preferve 60 Opium, how it afts on the Blood 114 Ox-Fly defcribed 22 6 its Manner of Production 207 Oyjlers, Animalcules in their Liquor 239 in theirSemen 1 /..y Embryos J their Size and Number 240 Light on them — > 241 Pajie full of minute Eels • °i way to preferve therrt ■■ ibid. People, old, or wort- lighted, their Cafe 4 Pepper Water, vid. Animalcules. Perijlaltic Motion vifible 138 179 195 219 Poifes of Infects, vid. Balances Polype, a wonderful Animalcule fo called 97 Pores of the Skin 1 74 way to view them ibid. & 176 how numerous 1 • ■ 17? of Wood, their Numbers . . - . ■■» 287 Pulfe beating, vide Heart, R. i?«/«-Water, its Animalcules » . 83 Razor, its Edge examin'd — — ■■■ 293 Sal Volatile oleofum, its Effects on the Blood —— I ! 5 Salts to prepare and examine 58 their general Effects 259 in Vinegar • ■ ■ ■ — — — ibid. how chang'd by Crabs Eyes - 260 in Wines, Vegetables, and Metals — — ibid. Sorts to be examin'd ... 261 their good and ill Effects ___— . Hid. (Sorts of) in Mineral- Waters 262 of Vitriol ■ 263 ——unripe 1 — — 265 Y Salts INDEX. Salts, . ■ .. ...of Alum from Salt Springs Sal Gem from Sea Water Niter Okarious Niter Sand (Grain of) how underflood as a Meafure Sands fine Objefts for the Microfcope ~- Scale of Beings confider'd ■ Scales on the Human Skin of Fifhes how numerous Way to view them fhew their Age •— — how to prepare - Scoloper.dra, vide Multipes. Scorpion^ vide Sting. Seeds not proportion'd. to the Size of their Plants include minute Plants . . of the Gramen tremulum p. Z63 204- 4» 288 307 172 173 ibid. 237 238 ibid. to prepare of Strawberries Poppy- Fern Puff-Bail -how hurtful to the Eves Semen Mafculinum, vide Animalcules.' Serpents Minute . 1 — — ________ Shaife, &c. drawn by a Flea - , Sheep (Worms in) vide Infects. Sight, its Difference how occafion'd _____ common Standard of . Silk-n.vorm _ __ Semen thereof cwimin'd •__, Length and Finenefb of its Silk Sliders what --. their great Ufe , , to prepare a Set of prop- Snail, a curious Animal . Manner of Production and Growth Srone found therein — Sncw, its Configuration curious — — . Solar or Camera obfeura Microfcope : vide Microfcope. Spider, its Eyes . ,. .-— , .65 252 - ibid. 253 ibid. 2 54 255 256 78 295 4 5 32 281 ■ 282 294 10 56 57 217 - 218 ibid. 290 196 Sj>ider t INDEX. Spider, Us Weapons p. 197 poilonous Liquor how inftilled ■ 199 Web how fine 200 Eggs 201 White Field , ibid. Hunting 7 Shepherd > Spider 202 Red \ Water Spider 278 Stags, Worms in their Heads . 263 Star Fim 97 or Stella Arborefcens (ending forth many Thousand Branches 100 Steel (Particles of) melted by linking Fire 289 'Sting, how diilinguifhed — — 209 of a Bee defcrib'd . 210 293 v. y to view it 21 1 its povfonous fuice — 21 2 of a Scorpion dclcribed ibid. its poyfonou^ fuice - 213 furprizing Effect of 2 i 4. Surjhine^ a bad Light lor Objects ■ jr T. Table of the Powers of fingle G'afies — — 3 - Tittle made with a Pen exainin'd 204 Tranjparency how fometimes acquir'd 129 Truth only to be (ought for 6 \ Tube (Glafs) its Ufe "' j , (capillary; its great Ufe 59 V. Vegetables (Infufions of J produce Animalcules 70 76 86 87 Veins, formed to pi. feivc Health . 119 Vinegar (Animalcules therein) vide Animalcules. it? Salts examined 2 -q Viper, its Teeth and Poyion 2I - W- Hater, full of Life : vide Animalcules. 90 . /or Corn-Beetle defcribed . 221 its Manner of Production 22a Wbalt t its prodigious Size IO i Wheel. INDEX. Wheel-Work in the Heads of fome Animalcules p. <)i Wilforis Pocket Microfcope : vide Microfccpe. Wings of Jnfefls ■ . ,. 232 their Variety — — — — — 233 their Motion — — — — ■ . ibid, their fine Feathers — — 234 way to view them •• ■ - — — ibid Wolf defcribed — — • ■ ■ 1 — 223 its Increafe . 224 way to deftroy — 225 Wood, its Air-VefTels, Sap-Veffels, Pores, &c. — 287 Wood Loufe — 185 Worms in Human Bowels — — ■ 265 their Kinde — — — — 266 how probably introduced ■ ibid. in Fifties . 267 Blood-red, jointed — — 278 FINIS. A Plate of the Solar Microscope being given , in the Second Edition of the Micro- scope made easy, it was found neceflary to draw up a new Defcription of that In- Jlrument, conformable thereto, and in the following Manner, Page 22. Chap. VI. THIS Microfcope depends on the Sun-fhine, and muft be made ufe of in a darkened Chamber, as its Name implies. It is compofed of a Tube, a Looking-glafs, a convex Lens, and W i l son's fingle Pocket Microfcope before defcribed, p. 9. The Sun's Rays beingdire&ed by the Looking-glafs through the Tube upon the Object, the Image or Piclure of the Objecl is thrown, diftinftly and beautifully, upon a Screen of white Paper, or a white Linen Sheet, placed at foaie Diftance to receive the fame ; and may be magnified, to a Size beyond the Imagination of thofe who have not feen it : for the far- ther off the Screen is removed, the larger will the Objeft ap- pear ; infomuch, that a Loufe may be magnified to the Length of five or fix Feet, or even a great deal more ; but it is indeed, more diftinft, when not enlarged to above half that Size. The Apparatus for this Purpofe, as represented in the Plate annexed, is as follows. A. a Cquare wooden Frame, through which two long Screws pafs, and, aflifted by a Couple of Nuts 1. 1. fallen it firmly to a Window-mutter, wherein a Hole is made for its * Reception .; Reception ; the two Nuts being let into the Shutter, and made fctft thereto. A circular Hole is made in the middle of this Frame, to receive a Piece of Wood of a circular Figure, B, vvhofe Edge, that projects a little beyond the Frame, compofes a lhallow Groove 2, wherein runs a Cat-gut 3 ; which by twilling round, and then crofling over a Brafs Pulley, 4, (the Handle whereof, 5, paries through the Frame) affords an eafy Mo- tion for turning round the circular Piece of Wood B, with all the Parts thereto affixt. C is a Brafs Tube covered with Seal-Skin, which fcrewing into the Middle of the circular Piece of Wood, becomes a Cafe for the uncovered Brafs Tube D, to be drawn backwards or forwards in. E a fmaller Tube of about one Inch in Length, cemented to the End of the larger Tube D. F is another fhort Brafs Tube, made to Aide over the above- defcribed Tube E. To the End hereof the Microfcope mult be fcrewed when we come to ufe it. 5, A convex Lens, whofe Foces is about twelve Inches, defigned to colled the Sun's Rays, and throw them more flrongly upon the Objett. G, a Looking-glals of an oblong Figure, fet in a wooden Frame, faftened by Hinges to the circular Piece of Wood B, and turning about therewith, by means of the above-mention> ed Cat-gut. H, a jointed Wire, partly Brafs and partly Iron : the Brafs Part whereof, which is flat 6, being fattened to the Looking glafs, and the Iron Part, which is round 7, patting through the wooden Frame, enable the Obferver (by putting it backwards or forward:-) to elevate or decline the Glafs ac- cording to the Sun's Altitude. 8, a Brafs Ring at the End of the jointed Wire, whereby to manage it with the greater Eafe. N. B. The Extremities of the Cat-gut are faftened to a Brafs Pin, by turning of which it may be braced up, if at any time it becomes too flack. This Pin lying behind could not be fhewn in the Pi&ure. When this Microfcope is employed, the Room muft be ren- dered as dark as poflible : For on the Darknefs of the Room, and the Brightnefs of the Sunfhine, depend the Sharpnefs and Perfection of your Image. Then putting the Looking glafs G through the Hole in your Window-fhutter, fallen the fquare Frame A to the faid Shutter by its two Screws and Nuts, r. 1. This This done, adjuft your Looking-glafs to the Elevation and Situation of the Sun, by means of the jointed Wire H. toge- ther with the Cat-gut and Pulley 3.4. For the firft of thefe raifing or lowering the Glafs, and the other inclining it to either Side, there refults a twofold Motion, which may eafily be fo managed as to bring the Glafs to a right Pofition ; that is, to make it reflect the Sun's Rays directly through the Lens 5, upon the Paper Screen, and form thereon a Spot of Light exactly round *. As foon as this appears, fcrew the Tube C into the Brafs Collar provided for it in the Middle of your Woodwork, taking care not to alter your Looking-glafs : then fcrewing the Magnifier you chufe to employ to the End of your Mi- crofcope, in the ufual Manner, take away the Lens at the other End thereof, and place a Slider, containing the Object to be examined, between the thin Brafs Plates, as in the other Ways of ufing the Microfcope. Things being thus prepared, fcrew the Body of your Mi- crofcope to the fhort Brafs Tube F, which flip over the fmall End E of the Tube D, and pull out the faid Tube D lefs or more, as your Object is capable of enduring the Sun's Heat. Dead Objects may be brought within about an Inch of the Focus of the convex Lens, 5 ; but the Diitance muft beihort- ened for living Creatures, or they will foon be killed. If the Light falls not exactly right, you may eafily, by a gentle Motion of the jointed Wire and Pulley, direct it through the Axis of the microfcopic Lens. The fhort Tube F, which your Microfcope is fcrewed to, enables you, by Aiding it backwards or forwards on the other Tube E, to bring your Objects to their true focal Diftance ; which will be known by the Sharpnefs and Clearnefs of their Appearance : they may alfo be turned round by the fame Means, without being in the leaft difordered. The Magnifiers moil ufeful in the Solar Microfcope are, in general, the fourth, fifth, or fixth. * Though obtaining a perfectly circular Spot of Light upon the Screen before you apply the Microfcope, is a certain Proof that your Looking- glafs is adjufted right, that Proof muft not always be expected : for the Sun is fo low in Winter, that if it fhines in a direct Line againft the Window, it cannot then afford a Spot of Light directly round. But if it be on either Side of you, a round Spot may be obtained even in De ■ ctmbtr. * 7 Mention One from its Parent, and kept it in a Glafs alone ; notwith- ilanding which it bred very plentifully. And that no Copula- tion might poffibly be performed between the young ones them- selves, he has cut them off, one by one, as they fprouted out, and has kept each of them alone, and that for feven fucceffive Generations ; but without finding any Difference as to their Increafe. He has likewife feen a Polype bring forth young ones, and thofe again producing others, before the firft has been Se- parated from its Parent. They multiply more or lefs in pro- portion to their Feeding, and the Warmnefs of the Weather. But the moft amazing Part of Mr. Trembley's Account, is, what he tells us, concerning his Operations on thefe Crea- tures. If one of them be cut in two, tranfverfly, the Fore- Part, which contains the Head, Mouth and Arms, lengthens itfelf, creeps, and eats, on the very fame Day. The Tail- Part forms a Head and Mouth at the wounded End, and fhoots forth Arms, more or lefs fpeedily as the Heat is favour- able. In Summer they will be fhot out in 24 Hours, and the new Head perfected in a few Days. Cut a Polype where or into what Parts you pleafe, tranf- verfly, each Part becomes a compleat Polype. But being too fmall an Animal to admit of being divided into many Parts at once, he firft cut one into four Quarters, and let them grow ; then divided each Quarter, and proceeded, fubdividing, till he obtained fifty out of one : and has ftill by him feveral Pieces of the fame Polype thus cut above a Year ago, which have pro- duced Numbers of young ones. If a Polype be cut the long Way, through the Head, Sto- mach and Body, each Part is half a Pipe, with half a Head, half a Mouth, and fome of the Arms at one of its Ends. The Edges of thefe halfPipes gradually round themfelves, and unite, beginning at the Tail End ; and the half Mouth and half Sto- mach of each becomes compleat. All this he has feen done in lefs than an Hour, and the two Polypes thus formed differed nothing from whole ones, but in having fewer Arms ; which Defeft a few Days Supplied. A Polype has been cut, length- ways, between 7 and 8 in the Morning, and between 2 and 3 in the Afternoon, each Part has devoured a Worm as long as itfelf. Cutting a Polype, lengthways, through the Head and Body, but not quite through the Tail, in a fliort time there will be two perfeft Heads and Bodies with but one Tail : which Heads and Bodies, may, foon after, be again divided in like manner : and thus, Mr. Tr e m bley fays, he has produced a Polype with feven Heads and Bodies conjoined by one Tail. Thefe feven Heads being cut off* at once., feven others grew in in their Head j and each of the feven Heads (o cut off, put- ting forth a new Body, became a compleat Polype. He cut a Polype, tranfverfly, afunder, and putting the two Parts clofe together, they united where they had been cut. The Creature eat the next Day, is grown fince, and has mul- tiplied. The Fore-Part of one Polype united in the fame man- ner to the Hind -Part of another. This compound Animal eat likewife the next Day, and has fince produced young ones from each of the Parts that formed it. But thefe two Experi- ments don't always fucceed. 'Twas faid before, that the Body of a Polype is a fort of hol- low Gut or Tube : this he has found means to turn infide out, as one may turn a Stocking ; and has feveral, at prefent, by him, whofe Infides remain to be their Outftdes ; notwithltand- ing which, they eat, grow, and multiply, as if nothing had been done to 'em. He has repeated all thefe Experiments feveral times, with the utmoft Precaution, Affiduity and At- tention ; and might appeal, he fays, to the Quality and Number of the Perfons who have feen them made by him, as well as of thofe who have made the fame themfelves. He adds, that in the Hiftory of the Po/y/c, which he has in Hand, all the Methods and Contrivances ufed by him in his Obfervations will be defcribed, but even before its Publica- tion he is ready and willing to communicate any Information that may enable others to perform the like. Mr. Reaumur, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Sci- ences in France, declares (in the Preface to the fixth Volume of his Hijlory of Infeds jult publiihed at Paris) that he has re- peated all Mr. Trembley's Experiments, not only by him- felf, but with Mr. Jussieu and feveral others of the faid Academy, and found them fucceed as they had done in Hoi' land, of which he gives a general andfuccinft Account. When firft he faw two compleat Animals forming themfelves from the Parts of one Polype cut afunder, he knew not, he fays, how to believe his Eyes ; and he can't yet behold it, without new Amazement, tho' he has feen it an hundred and an hun- dred times. He adds, that the Curious in France foon began to try if other Creatures might not be found with the fame extraordinary Faculty. That Mr. Bon net foon difcovered a (lender Water- Worm about one Inch and half long that had the fame Property ; and Mr. Lyon ett found another above three Inches long, and the Thicknefs of the treble String of a Violin, which being cut into thirty or forty Parts afforded the fame Phenomena. Mr. Mr. Reaumur imagining that fome Sea Productions, whofe Shape fomewhat refembles this frtfh Water Polype, fuch as the Urtic? marina and Star-Fijb, might have the like Fa- culties, engaged Mr. Gu ettard and Mr. Ju s s i e u to make Variety of Experiments on the Coafts ofPoifiou and Normandy. They broke and cut Star-Fijh into feveral Parts, and had the Pleaiure to fee the feveral Parts continue alive, and their Wounds cicatrize and heal ; and tho' they could not flay long enough in the Country to fee new Parts (hoot forth inftead of thofe cut away ; Mr. Gerrard de Villars has feen the XJrtica on the Coafts near Recbelle reproduce all the Parts cut off, and the Star-Fijb putting forth new Radii in the Room of thofe they had been deprived of. When the Fifhermen faw Mr. Jussieu tearing and cutting one of thofe Animals in Pieces, they told him, 'twas Labour in vain, he could not kill it : Experience having taught them what Men of Learning had never fo much as heard of. Mr. Reaumur and Mr. Bon- k et found alfo fome forts of Earth- Worms, which being cut in two, each half had all its Deficiencies reproduced after fome Months. Many indeed died, but as fome fucceeded, the Mifcarriages muft be imputed to want of Care, and not to the want of fuch an Ability in thefe Animals. WfwH&t ././<„. ujeitfll JM3E FKjh I ■ - IB £ti V - gxa IK » Hfll .SjPk i