The Author's refutation of the dodlrine of equivocal or fpontaneous ge^ 

 neration in the inflance of the Sea-Mufde, zvith a particular defcrip- 

 tion of that f pedes of Fifh. 



1 HAVE been informed, that a book is publiflied at Rome, by a 

 learned Jefuit, named Philippo Bonanni, wherein he maintains, that 

 animalcules, or imall living creatures, can be produced out of in- 

 animate fubftances, fuch as mud or fand, by fpontaneous generation, 

 according to the doctrine of Ariftotle ; and it feems that this learned 

 gentleman is himfelf very defirous to fee my obfervations on thefub- 

 jecl. I fliall therefore proceed to confider Signor Bonanni's pofitions, 

 and I doubt not, that upon inveftigation, they will be found of no 

 weight or fubftance, but will vanifli like fmoke or vapour. 



We will admit, that out of the mud or fand which is found on the 

 fea-fhore, or the beds of our rivers, at low water, Ihell-fifli or tef- 

 taceous animals come forth ; but it does not from thence by any 

 means follow, that they are produced without any regular courfe of 

 generation. 



Among the mud, in the creeks or fliallows of our fea coafts, are 

 taken great quantities of that fliell-fini, called Mufcles, which are 

 uled by us as an article of food ; and, as I had in the autumn been 

 employing myfelf in obfervations upon this fpecies of fifli, I applied 

 to a filherman who made it his bufmefs to catch Mulbles, and quef- 

 tioned him as to what his opinion was, with regard to the propaga- 

 tion of that fiih. 



K 



