C "8 ] 



But this objection will lofe its force, when we 

 confider that many infects undergo feveral changes, 

 and exift under forms extremely different from 

 each other. Some of them may therefore appear, 

 and be well known under one fhape, and not known 

 to be the fame under a fecond or third. The fluke 

 may be the laft ftate of fome aquatic animal which 

 we at prefent very well know under one or other 

 of its previous forms. 



If this be admitted, it is eafy to conceive that 

 fheep may, on wet ground efpecially, take multi- 

 tudes of thefe ova, or eggs, in with their food; 

 and that the ftomach and vifcera of the fheep 

 being a proper nidus for them, they of courfe 

 hatch, and, appearing in their fluke or laft ftate, 

 feed on the liver of the animal, and occafion this 

 diforder. 



On killing a fheep lately, which was feemingly 

 in good health, I examined the vifcera carefully, 

 and in fome of the paflages leading to the liver, 

 (which appeared turgid) I found a whitifh thick 

 liquor, which appeared to be all in motion. On 

 applying a pocket glafs, I found it contain thou- 

 fands of thefe flukes, which were apparently juft 

 hatched, and about the fize of mites. Thefe, if 

 the fheep had not been killed, would probably 



have 



