{. CONFINED IN STAGNANT AIR. 97 
élafticity of the air; becaufe the water in the re- 
_ ceivers, remaining at its original level, feemed to 
indicate that the élafticity underwent no altera- 
tion. To difcufs this fat was moft important. 
I began with the larve of large flefh flies. 
Thirty, extremely minute from ‘being lately 
hatched, were put into a very {mall receiver. 1 
left them on ‘the -flefh where they had been de- 
pofited by the mother. They lived only feven. 
hours in the receiver, and the water rofe half a 
line. The fame experiment was repeated on ‘fif- 
teen more: I could fcareely :percerve the water 
élevated above the level ; and it undoubtedly was 
not when eight larva were taken, ae the 
whole died. 
The larve of common flies exhibited nearly 
the fame phenomenon. The water rofe one 
third of a line, when the number was great ; 
when fmall, the rife was not fenfible. 
The death of feven earth worms did not raife 
the water. The larve of nymphs and gnats had 
only an inch of air: they died in a day; and 
though fome hundreds in number, the water 
ftood at its -original level in the receiver, after 
they died. The death of five rat-tailed worms 
did not fenfibly alter the level ; but the death of 
a greater number accafioned a ph ial eleva- 
tion. 
Some ftagnant waters are full of a kind of mi- 
mute animals, called water lice, or fleas, by natu- 
Voz. I. G ralifts, 
