LETTER 18. PEPPER-WATER 147 
The animalcules which I have throughout called “ oval 
animalcules”’, are not really oval, unless you look upon 
them on the back or upper part of their body; and as the 
making of observations is well-nigh a study in itself, I 
have only just now exhibited them to myself very prettily 
in side-view, and have demonstrated not only their little 
feet, but also their head, and their very short and pointed 
little tail. At such perfection in this tiny creature I did 
creatly marvel’: and were it not that the multiplicity 
of solid particles (which are present in plain water) 
hindered me, I could describe the little animals even more 
distinctly.) 
The 4th of September, the animalcules were seen in 
such great abundance as never before; but whether the 
animalcules which were at first present in the well-water 
were yet alive, I still can’t say for certain. 
The 5th ditto, the animalcules in an incredible number, 
much greater than hitherto; but they consisted of only 
two sorts, to wit: the roundish animalcules, and the 
animalcules that were twice as long as broad, albeit some 
few somewhat exceeded the others in length. The long 
animalcules were a bit thicker than the hair of a louse, 
and the round ones about twice as thick. 
The 6th ditto, the animalcules in as great abundance 
as heretofore. I now imagined that the long animalcules 
consisted of two sorts: and I imagined, furthermore, that 
I saw animalcules of such extreme littleness as I had 
never up to this date seen in pepper-water. 
The 7th ditto, the animalcules in even greater number 
than before this date. 
The 8th of September, besides the foresaid long animal- 
1T, was always carried away with delight at beholding the “ perfections ”’ 
of ‘little animals’’. So also, it appears, was his draughtsman: for L. tells 
us elsewhere that in making drawings of a flea he was repeatedly provoked 
to exclaim (his words being given by L. in large capitals) “‘ Lieve God wat 
sijnder al wonderen in soo een kleyn schepsel!” (Letter 76, 15 Oct. 1693.) 
Cf. also p. 279 znfra. 
