254 BENJ. PIKE'S, JR., DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



similar manner, and as the two following substances may be 

 procured without much trouble, and generate the most re- 

 markable subjects, we shall describe the necessary pre- 

 parations. 



Hay. The infusion of hay produces the greatest variety 

 of animalcula, and by far the most curious. Twist up a 

 little hay, and press it down into a tea-cup, or any other 

 vessel ; cover it with water to the top, and if it absorbs the 

 water, put fresh in ; in a few days, in summer, a scum will 

 appear on the top ; take from the surface, with the spoon 

 at the end of the forceps, a single drop, and place it be- 

 tween the glasses ; it will be found to contain extremely 

 minute animalcula ; in a few days they increase in size, and 

 in about ten days they obtain their full growth. It is im- 

 possible to enumerate the variety that may be discovered 

 at different times in this infusion ; the most numerous are in 

 the shape of an egg ; and with a high power a great num- 

 ber of small feet may be discovered, and at the head a 

 number of fibrillse, which are continually in motion, creating 

 a vortex in the water which brings their prey towards them, 

 which may be discerned many hundred times less than 

 themselves; they use their legs in running as well as in 

 swimming, for by placing a human hair across the water, a 

 number of them will be seen running along it. We shall 

 find another sort in the shape of a sole, without the appear- 

 ance of any legs, and many others which are described in 

 the following pages. The eggs or spawn may be seen, with 

 a high power, attached to any small portion of matter in the 

 drop of water. 



Pepper. Put common black pepper, bruised, into an open 

 vessel, enough to cover the bottom ; pour water upon it about 

 an inch deep, stir them together when first mixed, and after- 

 wards let them remain still. In a few days, in warm wea- 

 ther, a scum will appear on the top ; take a single drop from 

 the surface, and place it on the glass. It sometimes hap- 

 pens, that such multitudes are in a single drop, that it be- 

 comes quite opaque ; in this case, dilute it with a drop of 

 pure water. 



The following substances produce different descriptions of 

 animalcula ; senna, Indian wheat, cabbage, raspberry-stalks, 

 all kinds of flowers, grasses, &c. ; oatmeal, bran, &c. ; also 



