

K)f a vci-ij noxious Animalcule, ivliicJi in tliefpiing infejls tlit -young 



Jlioots of fruit trees* 



Xi. AVING frequently obferved the leaves at the ends of the young 

 flioots of goofeberry trees, and alfo on cherry and peach trees, to be 

 very much contrad:ed, and, as it were, rolled up, by which means 

 the growth of thole trees was impeded ; and perceiving at the fame 

 time, many ants on the leaves fo contra6ted, I at firll adopted the vul- 

 gar opinion, that the ants alone were the caufe of that contradion 

 in the leaves, and confequently, of the impediment to the growth of 

 the brartcheSi In one year my cherry trees were fo much infel1:ed 

 with this contradlion of the leaves, or rather by the Animalcules 

 concealed in them, that, out of about thirty of thole trees, only two 

 or three fmall ones were unhurt. 



I therefore determined to examine for what purpofe the ants 

 teforted to thofe young leaves, and what was the caufe of the 

 leaves being contracted ; in doing which, I faw that the contracted 

 leaves, and efpecially thofe on the goofeberry trees, were covered 

 with a great number of dark-coloured Animalcules, and that thofe 

 which were mod full grown, and were about the fize of a half 

 grown loufe, were of a darker or blacker colour than the fmaller 

 ones. Thefe Animalcules were fome of them fo minute, as not to 

 exceed the flze of a common grain of fand. Upon fight of thefe 

 creatui'es, I concluded that the ants reforted to the contradled 

 leaves for no other purpofe, than to devour thefe Animalcules on 

 them ; and I was confirmed in my opinion, by feeing feveral, both 

 of the fmaller and larger fort, to be almofl: wholly confumed ; fo 

 that nothing except their ikins and feet remained. 



Vol. II. B b 



