I. ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. I45 



ing, the filaments ceafed to move, and then the 

 tails ( I ). 



It may well be fuppofed, that fimilar groupcs 

 were eagerly fought on the fame plants ; but In 

 vain. However in fix days, I had the fatlsfaftioii 

 to fee a new fpot formed on one of the roots, I 

 fay formed, for it certainly was not there before ;. 

 as it was much larger, the animalcula were more 

 numerous. They and their tails performed the 

 wonted reciprocal extenfions and contradions 

 even when untouched, and the water at perfect 

 reft ; thefe motions diminifhed or augmented the , 

 fpot. The whole could not be brought into the 

 field of the microfcope from their prodigious 

 number, I therefore took away a confiderable 

 part, and, excluding a large half, referved a por- 

 tion for examination, adapted to the capacity of 

 the inilrument. New fingularities occurred. The 

 portion reprefented a tree in miniature; immber- 

 lefs branches, dividing into fnialler ones, pro- 

 ceeded from the trunk ; thefe into others fuccef- 

 fively lefs ; and each of the fmallefl bore a bell 

 animalcule at the extremity. No fcene could be 

 jnore uncommon or more agreeable. Every three 

 or four feconds the trunk unexpeftedly contrac- 

 ted towards the lentil root, and inflantaneoufly 

 Vol. I. K drev/ 



( [ ) MuUer calls this the VortusUa Cor.vallana, AnimaL 

 Infuf p 315- — T. 



