( 62 ) 



From hence it follows, that each of the fniall parts or organs of 

 fight of this infe6l, which is vulgarly deemed but one fmgle eye, is 

 compofed of more than three thoufand optical organs or eyes, but if 

 both parts together conllitutc a fphere, they then contain 6236 opti- 

 cal organs or eyes. 



I have caufed this part or eye of the infe6l to be drawn of the fame 

 fize as it appeared to the naked eye of the limner, to give the better 

 idea of the wonders which are concealed in fo fmall an animal. This 

 is fliewn at^^'-. 33, between the letters L and M. Each of the opti- 

 cal organs contained in this eye is feparated from tlie reft by a line 

 or divifion of fix fides, or of an hexagonal figure, and all thefe hexa- 

 gonal organs or eyes are placed in the moft exa<5l order that can 

 polTible be conceived. A few of them, as feen b}^ the microfcope, 

 are feen at^o-. 33, a,b,c,d. 



When this little part, cleared from the optic nerves within it, was 

 place before the microl'cope, all the furrounding objects \\ere clearly 

 to be feen through each of the fmall optical organs I have been de- 

 fcribing, though wonderfully diminutive ; for the great tower or 

 Iteeple of our new church in Delft, which is three hundred feet 

 high, and about feven hundred and fifty feet diftant from my houfe, 

 ■when viewed through any one of thefe optical organs, ajipeared no 

 larger than the point of a fmall needle feen by the naked eye : and 

 from hence may eafily be colle6led how minute the optic nerves mull 

 appear to me. 



Now, if we confider that a Silk-worm, witliin the fpace of eight 

 or nine days, Ihall not only have I'pun its web, cone, or ball, but 

 alfo fhall be changed into an aurelia or chryfalis, and that in the 

 fame fpace of time, not only its eyes but all the members pertaining 

 to it as a flying infect Ihall be formed, who can avoid being ftruck 

 with amazement at all thefe wonders fn one Silk-worm r And yet, 

 how little do we difcover in comparifon of thofc thiiigs which now 

 are and for ever will be hidden from our fight .^ tiie wliolc of which I 



