1 ANIMALCULA OF ikFUSIONS* l6c 



J 



animalcula, round or cylindrical, originate in in- 

 fufiorts of radilh and camomile feeds, beans, and 

 buck-wheat. 



Let us next treat of viviparous animalcula, of 

 which I have found two fpecies, both carnivo- 

 rous. We diftindly fee the animalcula abforbed 

 by a great vortex, pafling down the cefophagus 

 into a little bag, and thence into a larger, appa- 

 rently ferving for a llomach. Each animalcule 

 has a long tail forked at the extremity, by which 

 it can attach itfelf to the adjacent fubftances. Two 

 oval bodies projedt from each fide of the tail, and 

 above them two fmaller, refembling narrow leaves, 

 PI. i. fig. lo. R. it is eafy to fuppofe thefe 

 four bodies integral parts of the animalcule ; and 

 the two leaves are adually fo ; but the other two 

 iare real animalcula. We not only perceive them 

 move, but, examined by a powerful magnifier, 

 they are evidently two living animals, refembling 

 the large one, to which they are attached, but 

 confined and contrafted within themfelves. If 

 kept in view, they gradually expand, are eman- 

 cipated from the mother, and begin to fwim, 

 Irhe opacity of this kind prevented me from fee- 

 ing the foetus before it iiTued from the body, 

 After an animalcule has attained maturity, two 

 young ones are feen where the tail originates. I 

 have never difcovcred more or lefs than two in 

 all the animalcula I have examined. In other 

 L 3 animalcula 



