I20 ANIMALCULA GF INFUSIONS. 1» 



' tion of a ftraight line uniting the centres of the 

 ' two bodies ; and the ofcillation is particularly 

 ' manifefted by the motion of fome internal parts 



* near the line of direction. But fome referve 

 ' has probably induced you, as well as myfelf, 

 ' to be filent concerning this moft fimple obfer- 



* vation.' 



In my anfwer to the polite and learned let- 

 ter of this celebrated philofopher, I had the hon- 

 our to inform him, that I had feveral times feen 

 the phenomenon of two animalcula united, which 

 was exprefsly mentioned in my Journals, — and 

 had even fketched the figure ; but, to confefs the 

 truth, although it did appear that this union 

 might be a real copulation, I could not refolve 

 to advance it in my Differtation from the fear 

 of being deceived. Animalcula are a part of the 

 creation as yet little known to philofophers ; and 

 it is eafy to be miilaken by applying our ideas of 

 large animals to them. Thus was I induced to 

 leave the matter in obfcurity ; and only defirous 

 that fome more fortunate or more acute obferver 

 would promote the interefting fubjeft, on which' 

 my poor abilities had thrown any additional illuf- 

 tration. Happily my wiihes were not vain. My 

 obfervations came into the hands of M. De Sauf- 

 fure, who, among other phenomena, having" 

 fallen on this fuppofed copulation, made it the 

 fubjeft of ioijg, nicCj and minute difcuffion ; 



and 



