On the Green Matter which vcgetatei in Water. 3 15 



This pellicle appeared to be the fundamental body of the green 

 matter; it is a kind of net- work, or tiffiie. 



He obferved alfo, with great care, the animalcula gene- 

 rally found in the green matter, and it appeared that they 

 were not different from thofe of common infufions. This 

 much however is certain, that the fame animals are not 

 always found in the green matter. He mentions the expe- 

 riments of Muller on infufion animalcula, and {hows, that 

 the fame kind almoft are found in the green matter. He 

 fhows further, that the green matter, examined with the mi- 

 crofcope, exhibits nothing that can be confiJcrcd as a poly- 

 pier, or neft of fmall animalcula. From all thefe obferva- 

 tions he concludes it to be probable, that the green matter is 

 a real vegetable analogous to the ulva iiitcftinnlh, or nrJloch\ 

 that the animals moft frequently found with it do not belong 

 to it, fmce the green matter may exift without animalcula; 

 and that thefe animalcula are often found without the green 

 matter: lo that, in every refpeft, the green m:Uter and animal- 

 cula appear to be ablolutely independent of each other : the 

 green matter mu(l be a plant on which the animalcula feed. 



The green matter, kept in waiter in an obfcure place, feems 

 to diflblve. It becomes gray, white, and gives no more air 

 when expofed to the fun. A chemical analvfis of the green 

 matter proves alfo that it is a vegetable, for he extrafted from, 

 it gum, refin, and a portion of green colouring matter : a 

 fmall quantity of ammonia has indeed been procured from 

 it, but feveral plants, when analyfed, give the fame; and be- 

 fidcs, this green matter almoft always contains the remains of 

 animalcula and other animals, which might have furnilhed 

 ammonia. His conclufion is, notwithftanding every proba- 

 bility to the contrary, that this green matter is a plant : fur- 

 ther obfervations and experiments refpefting it are ncccfTiry. 



He next directs his refearches to confervas, and examines 

 the opinion of thofe who believe them to be the matter of 

 zoophytes ; that is to fay, a kind of nefts, or madrepores, 

 containing the infedts which form them. All his obferva- 

 tions have proved to him that this opinion is not well found- 

 ed, and he confequently perfifts in believing, that the con- 

 ferva, as well as the green matter, are real vegetables. 



Vol. VI. Sf Girgd- 



