122 Transactions of the Society. 



perceive millions of animalcules, of a tadpole shape, turning about the 

 crystalline round particles of the potato in all directions, just as I had 

 observed them turning the seeds of the Fungi last autumn. I must 

 inform you I used the largest magnifiers I had, which were the first 

 and second of Wilson's Microscope. I wish you would try the same 

 experiments : you will find many new scenes in nature will be dis- 

 covered by this hint. I have shown the experiment to Solander and 

 a very few friends, but have not yet made it public. I wish Baron 

 Munchausen would try the same." 



One cannot fail to be impressed with the thoroughness and care 

 with which Ellis carried out his experiments, or to accept the conclu- 

 sions at which he arrived. On the other hand, Linnaeus was touching 

 the fringe of a great question in the life-history of Fungi which a 

 better Microscope would have probably led him to discover, but which 

 our more perfect instruments are only now fully developing. 



