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THE MONOCULUS, OR ARBORESCENT WATER-FLEA, 



IS the fize of a flea ; appears to the fight to have but one eye j for, by 

 the fmallnefs of the head, the eyes feem joined to each other : they 

 are fituated in the trunk, and appear, by the nnicrofcope, to be reticu- 

 lated, or net-like ; the trunk is not only fmall and fliarp, but tranfparent* 

 The infefts are blood- red ; fometimes in fuch multitudes on the furface 

 of ftanding water, as to make it appear redj whence fanciful people have 

 thought the water to be turned into blood. 



This animal's branching arms, and their motion in the water, deferve 

 attention. By thefe it can move in a ftraight line;' waving them, as a 

 bird its wings, fometimes upward, fometimes downward, fometimes to 

 the right, fometimes to the left. By ftriking Ae water with thefe, it af- 

 cends with great velocity ; by ftriking in a contrary diredion, it dives 

 with equal eafe. As thefe motions are very rapid, the little animal ap- 

 pears to jump in the water, its head always tending to the furface, and 

 its tail ilretched downward. This infedi is produced from an egg, 

 which, when exclued, is carried on the back of the female, and foon is 

 feen float4ng in the water round her. Its appearance at firft is that of a 

 very fmall whitifli infed, endued with a very nimble motion. Except in 

 colour, it fufFers no change, only continuing to grow larger and redder, 

 as it grows old. They fometimes remain feveral days on the furface of 

 the water ; and fometimes are feen at the bottom only ; but never at reft. 

 They change their fkin, like moft other infefts j and the caft (kin refem- 

 bies the infed itfelf fo exactly, that one might miftake the mafk for the 

 animal. 



THE SCORPION, 



WHOSE ihape is hideous, whofe fize enormous, and whofe fting 

 fatal, is entirely a ftranger among us. In feveral parts of the 

 Continent of Europe it is but too well known, though feldom above four 

 inches long: in the tropical climates, it is feen a foot in length, and 

 jn fize equals a lobfter. It is alfo more eminently poifonous and fatal. 



4 Not 



