166 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



and a mixture about five sixths of the water by introducing first a portion! 



of o*'gtn and f ox j,, en gas, and then three times as much hidrogen gas. 

 Oidrogenj . . 



d dose ^ e * nen corked the globe in the trough with a cork that 

 fitted it very tight; and tied a piece of wet bladder over 

 the cork as soon as it was taken out. When this bladder 

 Was dry he covered it with putty, and tied another piece 

 and placed on of bladder over this. The globe thus prepared he placed 

 a hoi bed. j B ver y | lot dung, into which it was sunk to the level of the 

 water, and covered it with a frame. On the 9th of January 

 lie removed the frame, and examined the globe. No alter- 

 ation was perceptible. On the 24th it was in the same 

 state; but, the heat of the bed having diminished, some 

 fresh hot dung was added; care being taken, to agitate the 

 globe as little as possible in moving it. On the 8t'h of 

 february the water appeared not perfectly limpid ; but i»0 

 pellicle, or distinct substance of any kind, was perceptible^ 

 In a weeks a On the 26th, as soon as the frame was removed, the water 

 •ireen vegetati- a pp earec | greenish. On a closer inspection long vegetations* 

 on appeared, » r ■ ,-.» •.-,>•• 



of a beautiful green colour were perceived ramifying in 



all directions on the bottom and sides of the vessel. 

 Several, that were of a larger sizej but less green, were 

 suspended in the water, and had a mucous appearance. 

 Mr. Fray now removed the globe to the window of his 

 study. On the 1st of march he opened the window, the 

 sun then shining on the globe, and perceived here and 

 and joon nfter there on the summits of the vegetations* little insects, 

 animalcules, moving about pretty quickly. He counted ninety six, 

 moving in various directions. They were alt of the same 

 species; and he soon discovered, that they were of the 

 genus podura. For a few days their number increased, 

 ^ and they were more brisk in their motions : but in about 



three weeks, or less, their motion had ceased ; and they 

 Tvere dead. Their bodies soon changed colour, and became 

 of a whitish gray. 

 The organic As soon as the sun had acquired some power, the green 



matter at matter gradually grew pale. At length it disappeared 



w* .< entirely, its filaments were decomposed, and all this or- 



ganic and vegetable matier was precipitated to the bottom 

 of the water, where it formed a very white mucous sedi- 

 ment. After some months the surface of the water was 



covered 



