of Gordius, perhaps the Gordius aquaticus in a very 

 young ftate, occurs not unfrequently in animals in which 

 one would leaft expecl to find it; viz. in beetles of dif- 

 ferent forts, in caterpillars, and other infects; and I once 

 difcovered in the brain of the fmaller Water-Newt (La- 

 certa aquatica. Lin.) a number of microfcopic Gordii fo 

 extremely minute as not to exceed the thoufandth part 

 of an inch in length. The gordius aquaticus is very 

 tenacious of life, and after being kept a long time in a 

 veffel of water, will fometimes appear perfectly motion- 

 lefs, and as if dead, for feveral hours ; after which it 

 will again affume its former vigour, and feem as heal- 

 thy as at firft. It fhould alfo be obferved that the 

 Gordius is not unfrequently found in earth as well as 

 in water ; efpecially in garden-ground after rain ; and 

 in clayey foils, in which it moves with great facility. 



