HISTORY OF LITERATURE CONCERNING THE ROTIFERA. 19 



His book, published in 1718, consists of two parts. In tbe first he describes various 

 forms of microscope, and the best way of using them ; in the second he details, from his 

 diary, the results of a series of experiments made with infusions of various plants and 

 substances. The list of his infusions is long and curious. He tried pepper, roses, 

 rhubarb and senna, maize, violets, mushrooms, hay, raspberry stalks, celery, knapweed, 

 fennel, straw, marigolds, melons, tea, oak bark, &c. &c., and even found an animalcule 

 that, — 



for saving charges, 

 A peeled sliced onion eats, and tipples verjuice. 



He scoffs at the notion that living animals could be produced by the putrefaction of any- 

 thing, and is confident that the infusion of each substance produces its own peculiar 

 animals. He supposes that eggs are laid on these substances "by a countless 

 number of very little animals that fly or swim in the air close to the ground," and 

 who " let fall their eggs and little ones as they course backwards and forwards in the 

 air," particularly in the spots where they were stojjped by the vapours escaping from their 

 favourite plants. 



He was the first to discover the genus Brachiomis (B. pala and B. amphiceros), and 

 he fomid in his infusions various species of the genus Rotifer (probably B. vidgaris and 

 It. citrinus) as well as, possibly, a LejJadella and a Monostijla. 



His figures are grotesque enough ; and he damaged his reputation as a sober naturalist 

 by sketching a six-legged creature with " tout le dessus de son corps couvert d'mi beau 

 masque bien form6, de figure humaine, parfaitement bien fait." A fierce moustachioed 

 face it is, and, as .Joblot adds, " couronne d'uue coeffure singulicre." His names for the 

 animals are as odd as his figures : he has " top-knots," " bagpipes," " dandies," " tor- 

 toises," "kidneys," and even " crowned and bearded pomegranates " — the last strange 

 title being given to his new discoveries, the Brachioni. 



In spite of all these absurdities his written descriptions are often vivid and accurate, 

 and he is a shrewd observer. For instance, he notices how cleverly the Rotifera swim 

 without jostling each other ; and he concludes that " though we cannot see them, they 

 must have eyes, and those very good ones." He describes the restless movement of 

 Brachionus swaying from side to side as it thrusts about its long foot, and observes that 

 " there are some females who carry only one egg, some that carry two, and some as many 

 as six, which, however, is not common ; and when there are so many eggs they ai'e 

 smaller in size than they are when they are fewer." 



It is thus clear, both fi-om his description and his figure, that this first discoverer of 

 Brachio7i2(s j^ala had already lighted on a female carrying a cluster of male eggs. Again, 

 he discerns the difference, in size and colour, between Rotifer vulgaris and R. citrinus ; 

 and describes their leech-like movements, their telescopic joints, and their constantly 

 moving jaws. I need hardly add that he considers the latter to be the heart. 



His comments on his discoveries are as characteristic as his figures and theories. 

 We have seen the Danish naturalist exulting in the human intellect which, armed with 

 one simple weapon, attacks alike the distant planets and the invisible infusoria ; and find- 

 ing even greater reason for his pride in the very weakness and ills that flesh is heir to. 

 The Prussian pastor, too, is as enthusiastic after eleven years' study as he was when 

 he first began ; and, as if he would add another verse to the Benedicite, cries to all the 

 creatures of the invisible world, " Bless ye the Lord ; praise Him and magnify Him for 

 ever." And Professor Joblot is also enthusiastic, but his strain is pitched in a different 

 key. He says of one of his infusions that " it gives rise to a most delightful spectacle, 

 so curious to see and watch that I do not think that the diversion of the play, of the 

 opera with all its magnificence, of rope-dancing, tumbling, or of the animal-combats 

 which we see in this superb city, ought to bo preferred before them." 



It would be unfair to M. Joblot not to add that he is capable of better things, as the 



following extract shows : 



" There is nothing despicable in nature ; and all the works of God arc worthy of our 



c 2 



