294 ANIMAL REPRODUCTIONS. 
‘The name /maller optics, which I give thefe 
* nerves, may to fome appear too arbitrary, and 
‘perhaps be attended with inconvenience, was. 
“not adopted from the property of the nerves 
* themfelves, but from their affinity with thofe of 
“the large horns, which are commonly called. 
“optic nerves. They had this denomination 
“ever fince the celebrated Swammerdam, with 
“the aid of powerful microfcopes, was able to 
“find the organs of vifion in the black point 
‘ projecting from the extremity, namely, the 
“uvea, the three humours, and the chryttal- 
* line lens invefted by its membrane. TI will not 
© deny this admirable ftructure, which it would 
© not be eafy for another to confirm; but my ob- 
¢ fervations induce me to believe, that if the or- 
‘ gan of vifion is in thefe horns, that of touch is 
© {till more certainly there: and this is the more 
“ evident, as the organ of touch is moft fenfible, 
‘ while vifion is weak and confufed, which gives 
“very good reafon for uncertainty. I made nu- 
‘ merous experiments with a view to remove the 
‘ doubt, but they all concurred in increafing it. 
‘ When the horns were fully ftretched, and the 
‘black points confpicuous, I brought various 
« fubftances clofe to them, but they gave no in- 
© dication of certain and diftin€ vifion: becaufe 
“I have feldom obferved that {nails either deviat- 
¢ ed from their route, or fo much as bent the 
large 
s 
