534 ' WORMS AND ZOOPHYTES. 



thefe are lodged in grains that appear blackifh, as if fcorchedj and whcE! 

 opened contain a fo ft white fubftancc, like a nunnber of threads lying be- 

 fide each other, which, if wetted while frefh, feparate, and difcover 

 themfcives to be living creatures. At firft their motions are languid, but 

 gradually they become invigorated, yet always move fomewhat flowiy, 

 and v/ith* regularity; bending their extremities fometimes differently, 

 fometimes alike. If the grains of wheat are dry, and opened while dry, 

 and the thread-like matter be put into the water, often the whole mifcarry ; 

 but if they be previoudy fteeped in water, or buried in the earth, fo that 

 they moiften gradually, then, after being opened, and the water admit- 

 ted to their contents, in the courfe of a few hours they revive, and be- 

 come lively. This has been afcertained after the grains had been dry for 

 four or more years. If the hufks be left in much water, the eels quickly 

 die ; but if removed they live feveral months, and (hould the water dry 

 away, are revived by a frefli fupply ; if left in the huflcs they perilli, hav- 

 ing no powers yet known whereby to open their prifons. There are 

 fome differences between thefe eels and thofe of pafte; what is their real 

 relation we know not. 



Pepper-vyater yields a great variety of minute infefts, even though the 

 pepper has been preferved many years. Common black pepper grofsly 

 pounded, put into an open vcflel, and v^ater poured on it, and the mix- 

 ture well Ihaken, will in a few days be covered by a pellicle reflefling the 

 prifmatic colours : this contains millions of creatures at firft very Imal), 

 ' but increafmg daily in fize and numbers, till the whole fluid feems alive. 

 Their kinds arc very various ; fome are fwift and agile, feeming in conti- 

 nual chafe of prey, can creep as well as fwim, are fringed all round their 

 bodies ; others have globular bodies and long tails ; others refemble floun- 

 der.";; others worms j of fome an -hundred placed in a row would not 

 equal in diameter a grain of fand. 



Nor is this effefl peculiar to pepper : h^y, draw, oats, barley, or any 

 other vegetable, infufed in like manner, will furnifh a fcum, which, on 

 examination, proves to be, or to contain, living creatures in prodigious 

 numbers; fome of the fame fort as thofe in pepper-water; others totally 

 different, and peculiar to the plant infufed; fome refembling ferpents in 

 form and motions, coiling them.felves round in like manner. Eel-like 

 animals are frequent among them. 



Vinegar alfo abounds with eel-like creatures, after having flood a 

 few days uncovered, in the fummer feafon. Of thefe it is remarkable, 

 ^hat if the vinegar be but moderately heated by the fire, they die and fall* 



