Redi^s ExperhnerUs on the Generation of Insects, 223 



Another opinion was, that insects were generated by the 

 collection of the fundamental atoms of the universe into small 

 bodies. " But," says our author, " that great philosopher of 

 our times, William Arveo, is of opinion that all creatures 

 come from the seed, either of their own species, or of any 

 other animal, indifferently ; or are propagated by generative 

 atoms, which float about in the air ; but whence, or how, these 

 atoms have their origin, he does not say. Among the various 

 opinions of past philosophers, cited by Redi, the following is 

 too curious to be omitted, though, if I noticed all, it would 

 prolong this article to a tedious and unnecessary length. I 

 mean that of Kircher, respecting the propagation of snakes. 

 " Take some snakes," says that author, in the twelfth book 

 of his Subterranean Worlds " of whatever kind you want, 

 roast them, and cut them in small pieces, and sow those pieces 

 in an oleaginous soil ; then, from day to day, bathe them 

 lightly with water, from a watering-pot, taking care that the 

 piece of ground be exposed to the spring sun, and in eight 

 days you will see the earth strewn with little worms, which, 

 nourished with milk mixed with the water, will gradually 

 increase in size till they take the form of perfect serpents. 

 This," adds he, " I learned from the carcass of a serpent, 

 which I found in the country ; it was covered with worms, 

 some small, others larger, and others again that had evidently 

 taken the form of serpents. And what renders it still more 

 marvellous, is, that among these little snakes, and mixed as it 

 were with them, there were certain flies which I should take 

 to be engendered in that substance, which constituted the 

 aliment of the snakes." " Thus far Kircher," says Redi ; 

 *' and I, moved by the authentic testimony of this most learned 

 writer, have often made the trial ; but I never could witness 

 the generation of these blessed little snakes made to hand." 



Wishing to sift the truth of these opinions by personal 

 observation, he had three snakes, which he calls Angui 

 d'Esculapio, killed, and put into an open box. These were 

 soon covered with little worms, all alike in shape, being 

 conical, but of different sizes, as they were produced at differ- 

 ent times, which increased daily both in size and number. 

 Having consumed the flesh, they all escaped through the fis- 

 sures of the box, leaving the naked bones in a corner. He 

 again had three of these snakes killed, and put them into a 

 box as before ; in a few days they were peopled with worms, 

 of the same shape as the former ; but some, less than the rest, 

 were inclined to flesh colour, while the others were entirely 

 white. Having devoured the snakes, they anxiously sought 

 to escape ; but as he had taken more care than before in se- 



