1 8 READINGS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 



On the 1 6th ditto, the animacules seen as before; and the water (which 

 had been, in all, about % of a pint) being now more than half dried out, 

 I flung it away. 



5TH OBSERVATION. RAIN-WATER 



The 9th of June, I put some of the last-collected water, likewise in a 

 clean wine-glass, in my closet; and on examining it, I described no anima- 

 cules. 



The loth of June, observing this foresaid rain-water, which had now 

 stood about 24 hours in my closet, I perceived some few very little living 

 creatures, to which, because of their littleness, no figure can be ascribed; 

 and among others, I discovered a little animal that was a bit bigger, and that 

 I could perceive to be oval. 



The I ith ditto, observing this water again, I saw the foresaid small an- 

 imacules, though very few in number. 



The 1 2th ditto, I saw the very small animacules, as yesterday; and be- 

 sides these, a small animal that had nearly the figure of a mussel-shell, lying 

 with its hollow side downwards. 'Twas of the length anigh of a louse's 

 eye. 



The 13th ditto, I also saw one bigger animacule, like that just spoken of. 

 Aloreover I discovered animacules which were somewhat longer than an 

 oval. These were about 6 times as long as the foresaid very small animacules; 

 and their head, which was somewhat long drawn out, they oft-times pulled 

 in, and then looked to be almost round. There were also animacules which 

 appeared perfectly round, their diameter being twice as long as that of 

 smallest animacules of all. These two large sorts were very yielding, so 

 that their body did bend before the least little filament which they chanced 

 to brush against in the water. 



The 16th ditto, I perceived the oval animacules in yet greater numbers; 

 and they were flat beneath, and round above: and besides these, there were 

 very small animacules that were three times as long as broad, together 

 with divers other sorts which it would take all too long to specify. In the 

 evening of the same day, I discovered little paws on the foresaid oval anima- 

 cules, which were many in number, in proportion to the animacule. And 

 at this point, I stopped my observations upon this water. 



OBSERVATIONS ON WELL-WATER 



I have in my yard, standing in the open air, a well, which is about 15- 

 foot deep before you come to the water. It standeth at the south, but so 

 encompassed with high walls, that even when the sun is on the sign of 

 Cancer, the coping of the wall is not shown upon. This water cometh out 

 of the ground, which is well-sand, with such force, that whenever I have 

 tried to empty the well there was always about a foot of water still left in. 

 On a summer's day this water is so cold that 'tis not feasible to keep your 



