P R E F A C Ev 



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Here I intended to flop ; but the charms of natural hiflory are fo 

 feducing, that I was led on to defcribe the peculiar and 

 {hiking marks in the ceconomy of thefe little creatures. And 

 fhould the purchafer of thefe efiays receive as much pleafure in 

 reading this part as I did in compiling it ; fhould it induce him 

 to ftudy this branch of nature f nay, fhould it only lead him to 

 read the flupendous work of the molt excellent Swammerdam, 

 he will have no reafon to regret his purchafe, and one of my 

 warmeft willies in compiling it will be gratified. 



In the next chapter I have endeavoured to give the reader fome 

 idea of Mr. Lyonet's " anatomical and microfcopical defcription 

 of the coflus, or caterpillar of the willow." As this book is but 

 little known in our country, I thought that a fpecimen of the in- 

 defatigable labour of this patient and humane anatomift would 

 acceptable to all lovers of the microfcope ; and I have, therefore, 

 appropriated a plate, which, while it {hews what may be effected 

 when microfcopic obfervation is accompanied by patience and 

 induftry, difplays alfo the wonderful organization of this infecl. 

 This is followed by a defcription of many mifcellaneous objects ; 

 objecls, of which no idea could be formed without the afli fiance 

 of glafles. 



To defcribe the frefh -water polype, or hydra ; to give a fhort 

 hiftory of the difcovery of thefe curious animals, and fome ac- 

 count of their angular properties, is the bufinefs of the fuccceu- 

 ing chapter. The properties of thefe animals are fo extraordinary, 

 that they were confidered at firft to be as contrary to the common 

 courfe of nature, as they really were to the received opinions of 

 animal life. Indeed, who can even now contemplate, without 



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