( c ) 



be the fpav/n or eggs. Notwithflanding my mofl diligent exami- 

 nation of thele creatures, I never could difcover any difference of 

 fexes ; and it I'eems to me moft probable, that they are of that 

 I'pecies called Hermapin-odites, or every one equally prolifick ; at 

 leaft, none has ever fallen into my hands which appeared plauily to 

 be a male. The tail, though of the lame texture with the reft of 

 the body, is much tenderer, breaking or tearing upon the flightefl: 

 touch. 



The parts in feveral animals wherein I have hitherto found thefe 

 creatures, are only the vellels, tubes, and channels wherein the 

 gall is formed and collected, though mofl commonly in the liver ; 

 and here they may be fa id to fwarm, producing grievous Iwel- 

 lings, callofities, contorfions, and fmufes in the part; and cavities, 

 which will be often found an inch and an half in diameter. In thefe 

 parts thefe noxious animalcules are found in heaps, and the places 

 where they lie, become hard and cartilaginous. In the fmall gall- 

 du6ls they lie longitudinally, and fometimes rolled or curled up to- 

 gether ; and I believe that many perions have hereby been led 

 into a miftake refpe6ting the Ihape of them, defcribing them 

 to be oblong, round worms ; but in truth, however clofely they 

 may be thus rolled up, they will I'pread open again, even after they 

 are dead, upon being thrown into warm water, for then they re- 

 cover their flat fliape, but at the fame time they become rather of a 

 paler colour than they originally were. 



Thefe creatures are commoiily found in great numbers, though 

 in this particular they vary much, as it depends on their having 

 had more or lei's time to propagate ; I have taken out of one liver, 

 870 in number, befides many fragments, and exclufive of thofe 

 which were cut in pieces or deftroyed in opening the liver. And 

 in another liver I have leen but ten or twelve. 



They are found in many different kinds of beafls. I iKn'e been 



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