I. A>aMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. 63 



place where there is lefs heat to one where there 

 is more. If the temperature of freezing retains a 

 portion of abfolute heat. Why fhould it not de-^ 

 velope the germs of the mod minute animalcula ? 

 It is needlefs to fay we are unacquainted with any 

 fpecies of eggs that may be hatched by fo little 

 heat ; had we never feen any but thofe of birds 

 which require 104*^, we Ihould undoubtedly fup- 

 pofe all others require the fame. A little initiation 

 into the ftudy of minute animals teaches how many 

 kinds produce at heat infinitely lefs: Such are the 

 eggs of butterflies and many other infe£ts, of frogs, 

 toads, lizards, tortoifes, down to fome, as thofe of 

 toads, which I have feen produce at 45°. If thefq 

 eggs hatch at 59° lefs than thofe of birds require, 

 what repugnance will there be to fuppofe that at 

 13 degrees lefs, or the cold of freezing, may 

 hatch the eggs of other animals ? Nor fhould it 

 furprife me to be told of animals, whofe eggs 

 would produce at much greater cold, after know- 

 ing there are plants, beings fo fimiiar to ani- 

 mals, and many of them, whicH, amidfl the ri- 

 gours of winter, flouriili, are impregnated and 

 frudlify, as winter aconitum, liverwort, {epatica 

 nobile) narcilTus, black hellebore, terredrial mof. 

 fes, and corallines (1), 



Among 



(i) It is ur.ceitain v.hat the Author meuns by Coral- 



