S66 BtSEASKS OF WHEATU 



out on the point of a qnill, and in that situation examined 

 by a baud mtignilier, a slow yet very perceptible motion in 

 every direction may be seen in the extremities of those that 

 do not adhere closely to the main body." Indeed they seem 

 to be inctvpable of motion in any great degree till put into 

 water, being glued iSVgether by a visctd matter. When taken 

 from the recent grain and put into water, they are seen t# 

 "use every exertion to disentangle themselves, which is gene- 

 rally a work of time. 

 Life of the ani- It would appear from these facts, that they enjoy exist- 

 jnalculu in the ejice while enclosed in their dark cells; and probably the 

 gram, &c. ,, i • i i i . , . , 



small space which they do not occupy m the gram, and 



which appears empty, is designed to contain air, which I 

 believe is absolutely necessary to the existence of eveiy crea- 

 ture however minute. It also appears, that when the grains 

 become dry animation is suspended, and continues so till 

 moisture is again added. 

 Suspension of That animal life can be suspended for four years at least, 

 aiuma i e. ^^ appears from the experiments of Baker, already noticed, 

 and how ranch longer we know not, and be then restored 

 by a drop of water, must ever excite wonder and admira- 

 tion. The reason why Baker failed in restoring life by im- 

 mediately putting the anguillulse from the old grains into 

 water seems to be, that the sudden ap[i\\c3.tion of that fluid 

 was too much for their delicate frames, for when the grains 

 were previously soaked, so that the water gradually pene- 

 trated the containing crust, he succeeded. 



Grains eight or nine months old do not require to be 

 soaked, as the anguillulie will revive in a few hours, when put 

 immediately into water. , 

 The author I repeatedly sowed some of this diseased grain, but never 



never succeed- succeeded in raising a single plajit, nor even in producing 

 any plant from the least appearance of vegetation. Indeed I had little ex- 

 this dweascd pectation of success, for the whole of the substance con- 

 tained in the seed consisted of animalcula, excepting a very 

 minute portion of fiocculent matter, which could only be 

 discovered when in water. I took up some of the grains 

 after lying in the ground upwards ot nine weeks. Several 

 of them were empty, and others contained a few of tlie an- 

 jujllulae, whiiji mo\ed briskly the instant they were putint^ 



water- 



