Jl6 ANIMALCULA OF INFUCIONS. L 



are fome that die very foon after privation of air,, 

 others after a longer interval, and the length of 

 it is according to the nature of the animalcula. 

 A fparrow, a nightingale, and in general other 

 birds, quickly die in vacuo. A lizard, a frog, or 

 a reptile, remain fome time alive ; infefts, ufually 

 much longer. As there are diftinclions among 

 infufion animalcula, there is a difference in their 

 ability to fupport a vacuum ; and thofe that do 

 fo longeft, feem of all animals, the mod capable 

 of living without air, at leaft we are unacquaint- 

 ed with any fpecies that exifl a month in that 

 ftate, as we have feen fome animalcula do. 

 Though they can long fupport privation of air, 

 they at laft fmk under it and die, which is prov- 

 ed by the animalcula living in the open air above 

 two months. And this confirms the general 

 rule, that all animals require air. 



I know there are inftances given of fome 

 which are faid to have lived without this element ; 

 fuch as the famous flories of frogs found alive in the 

 middle of the harded fubitances, and living toads 

 difcovered in the centre of ftones, or of entire 

 trees, where not a particle of air could penetrate 

 into their hidden recelfes ( i ). But I am alfo 

 aware, that fuch hiftories are more the objeft of the 

 admiration than belief of perfons who have made 

 any progrefs in experimental philofophy j becaufe 



they 



( I ) Melanges d'Hifloire Naturelle= 



