142 THE MINUTE ANATOMISTS 



matter of discourse and disputation, ever pour forth 

 words without knowledge at such a rate as this ? 



Obs. 21. A moss is figured with its capsule and 

 peristome. 



Obs. 23. A bit of Flustra, which he calls a seaweed, 

 is figured. This is probably the first notice of any 

 Polyzoan. 



Obs. 25. Part of the under side of a nettle-leaf is well 

 delineated. The stinging-hairs are figured and ex- 

 plained. Epidermic cells are shown, and there is some- 

 thing very like a nucleus in one of them, but this may 

 be accidental. 



Obs. 27. The hygroscopic property of the beard of 

 wild oat is described, and a hygrometer is shown, which 

 may be used " for the discovery of the various constitu- 

 tions of the air as to dryness and moistness." 



Obs. 33. The scale of the eel is beautifully figured. 



Obs. 34. The sting of the bee is engraved, but no 

 hint is given that the parts are separable. 



Obs. 35, 36. These sections are devoted to the 

 structure of feathers. The barbules and their hooks are 

 shown, and the way in which the bird adjusts the hooks, 

 by stroking or drawing the feather through the bill, 

 explained. A peacock's feather with unconnected barbs 

 is represented ; its colours are explained by the " curious 

 and exceeding smallness and fineness of the reflecting 

 parts." 



Obs. 37. Hooke here figures the foot of a fly, and 

 shows how the insect is enabled to walk on vertical 

 glass. He tells us that the fly "suspends itself very 

 firmly and easily without the access or need of any such 

 sponges filled with an imaginary gluten as many have, 

 for want of good glasses perhaps or a troublesome and 

 diligent examination, supposed." This "imaginary 



I 



