•«Ai m^Slood-Ued Colour of jraleri D tlf " Ml 



cleaned. As it is probable that Gleiclicn ' was interested ouFy 

 in observing the influence of cold on these animalcula?, and in 

 this respect alone found the observation worthy of attention, the 

 proof of its being a meteoric production falls to tlie ground. 



Bory de ist Vincent mentions in Diet. Classique, lirt En^heJys, 

 p. 158, that he often observed infusoria in snow and drops of 

 rain. As he does not name them, however, we may feel con- 

 vinced that he did not observe them with particular acuteness. 



Professor Schultze, in his work, entitled, Microscopic Exa- 

 minations of Robert Brown''s discovery of Living Animals in all 

 JJodies*, &c. 1828, expressed himself very decidedly, indeed the 

 most decidedly of all. He does not, indeed, speak of meteoric 

 propagation, but supposes, he observed, that the dust hovering 

 every where in the atmosphere was mixed with dried infusoria, 

 among which he perceived the Furcidaria rcdiviva (Rotifer 

 vulgaris) and Monades. These examinations are certainly 

 founded on error. That dned infusoria scattered and floating 

 about as atmospheric dust, or dust from boolcF, can resuscitate, 

 we can no longer believe, being now better acquainted with the 

 etructure and peculiar properties of infusoria ; and it would Ix; 

 very difficult to recognize a shrivelled rotifera, and particularly 

 to discern its species. I refrain from a full refutation. I make 

 the remark only, that I may, on the contrary, receive instruc- 

 tions from more accurate observations. 



-r To avoid illusion, I have, m_yself, with imcommon pcrseve- 

 rance, and the greatest care, examined upwards of a thousand 

 single flakes of snow and drops of rain and dew, the last two even 

 in the north of Africa; but in no one of them have I, at any time, 

 observed living infusoria- From more accurate observations on 

 the organization of infusoria, I have ascertained that the llo^ 

 latoria possess all the organic systems of. the higher animals, large 

 eggs, and also nerves ; that they are supplied with organs of 

 nourishment, and repeatedly evacuate a granular mass, which 

 cannot be taken for any thing else than eggs. The egga of Xbe 

 rotatoria are so large, that diey cannot escape observation if dicy 

 are lo<jked for ; but it is otherwise with the eggs of the gasltic 

 /animals (Polygastrica), as I call the rest. Tbese cggS||t^^v^ 



• Mr Brown onlv professed to have (liscovcrcd mtnw^ atomg in aH|]o4iM> 

 |)ut did not allege that tlic motion was the result of//f."w£n. 



