128 NOVUM ORGANUM. 



to be so by many exclusions. Nay, it will rather appear 

 (without any particular regard to air or the like) that all 

 bodies which are even in such of their parts as affect the 

 sight exhibit transparency, those which are uneven and of 

 simple texture whiteness, those which are uneven and of 

 compound but regular texture all the other colours except 

 black, but those which are uneven and of a compound irre 

 gular and confused texture exhibit blackness. An example 

 has been given, therefore, of an instance migrating towards 

 generation in the required nature of whiteness. An instance 

 migrating towards corruption in the same nature is that of 

 dissolving froth or snow, for they lose their whiteness and 

 assume the transparency of water in its pure state without 

 air. 



Nor should we by any means omit to state that under 

 migrating instances we must comprehend not only those 

 which pass towards generation and destruction, but also 

 those which pass towards increase or decrease, for they too 

 assist in the discovery of the form, as is clear from our 

 definition of a form, and the table of degrees. Hence paper, 

 which is white when dry, is less white when moistened 

 (from the exclusion of air and admission of water), and 

 tends more to transparency. The reason is the same as in 

 the above instances. 



24. In the third rank of prerogative instances we will 

 class Conspicuous instances, of which we spoke in our first 

 vintage of the form of heat, and which we are also wont to 

 call coruscations, or free and predominant instances. They 

 are such as show the required nature in its tare substantial 

 shape, and at its height or greatest degree of power, 

 emancipated and free from all impediments, or at least over 

 coming, suppressing, and restraining them by the strength 

 of its qualities. For since every body is susceptible of 

 many united forms of natures in the concrete, the conse 

 quence is that they mutually deaden, depress, break, and 

 confine each other, and the individual forms are obscured. 

 But there are some subjects in which the required nature 

 exists in its full vigor rather than in others, either from the 

 absence of any impediment or the predominance of its qua 

 lity. Such instances are eminently conspicuous. But 

 even in these care must be taken, and the hastiness of the 

 understanding checked, for whatever makes a show of the 

 form, and forces it forward, is to be suspected, and recourse 

 must be had to severe and diligent exclusion. 



For example ; let heat be the required nature. The 



