L ANIMALCULA OF INF^flONS. Ij^ ' 



globe, from the circumference to the ceritre, is 

 decompofed into a fwarm of animalcula. The 

 compofmg globe, I have obferved, has no mo- 

 tion but rolling in the fluid ; however, the ani- 

 malcula, when detached, fwim with the utraofi 

 rapidity. Their exceffive abundance renders it 

 impoffible to number them ; but, without exag-» 

 geration, each globe confifls of a hundred (i). 



It might be fufpefted that thefe globules are 

 compofed of many animalcula, at firfl feparate, 

 but afterwards collefted together. I have had 

 evident proof of the reverfe. While the flrata 

 decompofed, I feized fome detached animalcula, 

 and immediately ifolated them. Each (v/hich 

 did not equal one hundredth- part of the globe ia 

 fize) v/as as large as the whole in a few days. 

 Their motion relaxed in proportion as they grew ^ 

 fo that when full grown, or complete globes, 

 they had only a roiling progreiTion after the man- 

 ner of thefe animals. The exterior ftratum was- 

 originally fmooth : it afterwards became unequal^ 

 and covered with tumours. Thefe were as many 

 diflintl animalcula, which, in future, feparated 

 from the globe to traverfe the fluid. The ani- 

 malcula 



( J ) Very much analogous to this, and the fornier, is 

 the Gonium Pe^orale. It confifts of fixteen globular ani- 

 malcula, invelled by a common membrane. — The mem- 

 brane burfts ; and each aramalcuk becomes the parent of 

 fixteen young. — T, 



