136 Crosse's Experiments with the Voltaic Battery. 



lifted out the wires to examine them by a leins, yet it was not till 

 the other day that I perceived any insect, and there are now three 

 of the same insects, in their incipient state, appearing on the na- 

 ked platina wire at the bottom of the quartz in the glass basin at 

 the tiegative pole. These insects are very perceptible and may 

 be represented thus (magnified): fig. 8, 1 the, platina wire, 2 the 

 quartz, 3 the incipient insects. It should be observed that the 

 glass basin, fig. 7, has always been loosely covered with paper. 

 The incipient appearance of the insect has already been descri- 

 bed. The filaments which project are in course of time seen to 

 move, before the perfect insect detaches itself from its birth-place. 



Fig. 5, front view of the filtering apparatus, by the use of which, the insect de- 

 scribed made its first appearance, (a, b,) two of the four uprights or lega issuing 

 from the base (c,) supporting a movable shelf (d ;) which shelf is kept in its place 

 by four pins (e) passing through the four uprights, and may be raised or lowered 

 at pleasure, (f,) the top shelf, which has an aperture cut in it to receive the 

 Wedgwood ware funnel (g.) (h,) a quart basin standing on an unseen support 

 within the funnel (g,) which suppKjrt is a circular piece of wood with holes cut in 

 it to allow the free passage of the fluid between the basin and funnel. This basin 

 is filled with the fluid required, which is conveyed out of it by the strip of flannel 

 (i,) hanging over the outside of the basin, and inside the funnel, and which, con- 

 sequently, falls in successive drops through the funnel (g) upon the stone (k,) 

 which is supported by the glass funnel (l,) kept constantly electrified by the two 

 platina wires (m, n,) resting on the opposite sides of it, and connected with the op- 

 posite poles of a voltaic battery, (o,) a wide mouthed bottle standing on the base 

 (c,) to receive the fluid as it falls from the second funnel (l.) From this bottle, 



