( 8^ ) 



fhells of the parent, before they are perfectly formed, and alfo confi- 

 der that during all that time the}' miift be fiipplied with nouriiliment, 

 we fliall not wonder that the parent Mufcles, during that time, do 

 become lean, efpecially in the month of April, for then the young are 

 mofl in need of fuftenance. 



We may alfo here obferve, that in our enquiries after any truth, 

 and more efpecially in regard to the generation of fmall living crea- 

 tures, which cannot be examined by the naked eye, we ought not to 

 rely on any tales that are told on thefe fubje6ls, but on our own ex- 

 perience, and even that not liglitly, but by long and unwearied 

 trials and experiments, whereby to come at the truth. 



In the courfe of the laft obfervations, I examined that hard aixl 

 variegated, or marbly- coloured part, lying in the middle of the 

 Mufcle, which fome call the heart, and others take to be the tongue 

 of this fifli ; and when, upon the Mufcle, I cut out this part, and 

 placed it before the microfcope, I obferved fo tremulous or quiver- 

 ing a motion in the furface, as if millions of little living creatures 

 were running about upon it; befides another motion, which the part 

 had to and fro. This part the Mufcle can extend fo far, that I think 

 it will almofl reach all over the fliell, which made me think that, 

 perhaps, by this organ, the eggs are placed on the fliellinthe regular 

 order I have before defcribed. 



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