The Microscope. 229 



it. We shall find another sort in the shape of a soal, without the 

 appearance of any legs, fig. 3; and many others, which are de- 

 scribed in the following pages. The eggs or spawn maybe 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 ves- 

 sel, enough to cover the bottom, pour water upon it about an inch 

 deep, stir them together when first mixed, and afterwards let them 

 remain still. In a few days, in warm weather, a scum will appear 

 on the top; take a single drop from the surface, and place it on 

 the glass. It sometimes happens that such multitudes are in a 

 single drop, that it becomes quite opaque; in this case, dilute it 

 with a drop of pure water. , 



The following substances producj different descriptions of 

 animalcules: — senna, Indian wheat, cabbage, raspberry stalks, 

 all kinds of flowers, grasses, ^c, oatmeal, bran, ^c. Also wa- 

 ter in which flowers have been standing for any length of time. 



Bell-shaped Polype. During all the months in summer, and 

 particularly in April, a great abundance of these curious insects 

 are to be found on the shells of the small water-snail, duck-weed, 

 and other water plants, and on the larvae of the larger insects, in 

 such multitudes at times, as to appear like a fine down upon them; 

 they are extremely minute, and generally fasten themselves by 

 their tails in groups of twenty or more, extending themselves in 

 every direction, in search Of food, and are not unlike a bunch of 

 tulips; they spring back with a sudden contraction, which is no 

 doubt when they have caught their prey; if they are touched or 

 disturbed, the whole of them contract themselves, as fig. 24. 

 The various species are nearly alike, as to the above particulars, 

 but greatly differ with regard to their size; but none are more in- 

 teresting than those shown in the plate, fig. 6; when these little 

 animals stretch themselves out, and open their anterior ends, each 

 appears like a bell, with a rim or lip furnished with a number of 

 fibrelle, and vibrate so quickly, that it requires a strong power to 

 see them; it creates a vortex in the water, which reaches to a great 

 distance, in proportion to its size. But though they are found 

 thus joined together in colonies, each head is a perfect insect, and 

 can detach itself from the rest, live separate, and become the pa- 

 rent of a new colony, as most of them do after a certain time; for 

 by attentively examining them, they may be seen swimming about 

 the drop of water separately. When a number of them are fixed 

 to a body, they appear of a whitish color to the naked eye, but 

 through the microscope transparent, with spots upon them. 

 Bell-shaped Polype found in Hay. After hay has been 



