260 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. LIII 



In representing these particulars to the Readers view, the Author 

 hath not only given proof of his singular skil in delineating all sorts of 

 Bodies (he having drawn all the Schemes of these 60 Microscopical 

 objects with his own hand) & of his extraordinary care of having them 

 so curiously engraven by the Masters of that Art ; but he hath also sug- 

 gested in the several reflexions, made upon these Objects, such con- 

 jectnrs, as are likely to excite and quicken the Philosophicall heads to 



Propagation of Light through differing mediums; concerning Gravity; 

 :'oncerning the Roundness of Fruits, stones, and divers artificial bodies; 

 concerning Springiness and Tenacity; concerning the Original of Foiin- 



Pores. Here an attempt is made of solving the strange Phcpnomen^ of 

 Glass-drops; experiments are alleged to prove the Expansion of Glass 

 by heat, and the Contraction of heated-Glass upon cooling; Bes Cartes 

 his Hypothesis of colours is examined: the cause of Colours, most 

 likely to the Author, is explained: Keasons are \)rodi\\(^GA,i\ia.t Reflection 



siderable HyjMthese^ are offered, for the explication L Light by Motion ; 

 for the producing of all colors by Refraction ; for reducing all sorts of 

 colors to two only. Yellow and Bine; for making the Air, a dissolvent 

 of all Comhuslible Bodies: and for the explicating of all the regular 

 figures of Salt, whore lie allotros many notable instances of the Mathe- 



vile, rude and cnnr-,-. ^!.. i.l.uM.laiice of curiosity and excellent 

 Geometry and Mrrha>n.m. Au.i Ihtc he ot>ens a large field for in- 



ITe goes on to offer In's tlioiiiilits Ml)oiit the Pores of bodies, and a kind 



Putrefaction of bodies; about the nature of the Vegetation of mold, 

 mushromes, moss, spunges; to the last of w^hich he scarce finds any 

 Body like it in texture. He adds, from the naturall contrivance, that is 

 found in the leaf of a Nettle, how the stinging pain is created, and 

 thence takes occasion to discourse of the poysoning of Darts. He sub- 

 joyns a curious description of the shape. Mechanism and use of the 

 sting of a Bee; and shows the admirable Providence of Nature in the 

 .-cM,ti-i\;.n.T ;in.l fabiiHc ..f l-^nthrr^ for Flyin- He delivers those par- 



