428 PHILOSOPHICAL TRAKSACTIONS. [aNNO J 740. 



Mr. B. found himself mistaken, for after he had been taken out a day, he ap- 

 peared as lively as if nothing had happened to him. 



After that time Mr. B. put him no more in spirits, but kept him under the 

 glass aforementioned, where it was still living after 2 years and half, and Mr. B. 

 has never been able to discover, that he had drank or eaten any thing. 



However, by way of experiment, Mr. B. put under his glass, at different 

 times, water, bread, fruits, &c. but he never found them in the least diminished 

 or touched by the beetle. These trials too were always made at many months 

 asunder, and he is pretty certain, there has been at least a year together, during 

 some part of the aforesaid time, in which nothing has been offered him either 

 to eat or drink. 



The question will then be, how this creature has been wonderfully kept alive 

 for 2 years and a half, without taking any visible food ? The supposition, that 

 it finds its nourishment in the air, carries with it the highest probability : since 

 there are particles in the air which evidently supply a growth to plants of some 

 particular kinds, such as the sempervive, orpine, house-leek, &c. And the 

 same or some other particles in it may possibly be likewise able to afford a 

 nourishment to animals of some certain kinds. — There is a further reason also 

 to believe, that something like this must be the case; for, in the amazing plan 

 of nature, the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms are not separated from 

 each other by wide distances, or broken off by sudden starts, but differ from 

 each other, near their boundaries, by such minute and insensible degrees, that 

 it is impossible to find out certainly where the one begins, or where the other 

 ends. — As the air, therefore, yields nourishment to some kinds of plants, it 

 may probably do the same to some kinds of animals; for otherwise a link would 

 seem wanting in the mighty chain of beings. And that cameleons, lizards, 

 snakes, &c. can live for months together without any visible sustenance, is a 

 fact generally allowed to be true ; the cause of it too has been attributed to an 

 exceedingly slow digestion, circulation, and distribution of nourishment, in those 

 creatures ; but as their agility seems to imply a brisk motion of their animal 

 spirits, Mr. B. thinks the circulation of their other fluids cannot be so sluggish 

 as commonly is supposed : and perhaps it may not be unreasonable to believe, 

 that their being able to live so long without visible food, is rather owing to 

 some other nourishment they receive from the air, which supplies the want of 

 more substantial diet. 



This beetle walked not much about under the glass that covered it, but was 

 usually found with its nose thrust close down to the bottom, perhaps to suck in 

 air. On removing the glass, it appeared robust and vigorous, and would 

 willingly run away. A strong aromatic kind of smell issued from it, agreeable 



