( 89 ) 



or animalcules, even in thofe whole whole bodies are llendcrer than 

 thofe very {lender particles with which each of the four parts (marked 

 in the figure bj the letters O Q and P R) are covered. For, in a 

 word, the animalcule 1 Imve jull been defcribing may be confidered 

 as an elcpliant, if compared with the moll minute of thofe filhes 

 or animalcules which may be difcovered in all waters. 



If it be then alked, to what end fuch exceedingly minute animal- 

 cules were created, no anfwer can readily be given which feems 

 more agreeable to the truth, than that, in like manner as we fee 

 conftantly, that the larger kinds of filli feed on the fmaller ; as, 

 for example, that the cod filli preys on the haddock and other 

 fmaller kinds of fifli ; the haddock again on the whiting ; thefe on 

 ilill fmaller fifties, and among the reft: on flirimps ; and ftirimps on 

 fl:ill more minute fifties ; and that this gradually prevails among 

 all the kinds of fifli : fo that, in a word, the fmaller are created to 

 be food for the larger. Again, if we confider the nature of our 

 fea, abounding with fifti, yet having nothing at the bottom of it 

 fave barren land : ftored %\'ith various fliell-filh, yet dellitute of 

 €very green herb ; and if we, moreover, lay it down for a truth, 

 that no filh can be fupported on water alone, there wiU not remain 

 a doubt, that the fmaller filhes are dellined, by Nature, to be the 

 fubfiftence of the larger. 



You will excufe, illuftrious Signer, my boldnefs, in taking up 

 your time with my remarks, of little value, fince you can employ 

 yourfelf in much more ufeful fiudies than to read the trifles J 

 commit to paper. 



Delft, in Holland, 

 the lOih Odober, 1099. 



I remainj Sec. 



A. van Lecuwenhoek. 



Vol. IL M 



