$24 Microscopical Essays. 



two fmall horns i i on the fore-part of the head. The fnout is- 

 crooked, and ends in a fharp point as at f ; but what is altoge- 

 ther lingular and furprizing, though no doubt wifely contrived 

 by the great and Almighty Architect, is, that this infecYs legs are 

 placed near the fnout, between the fmuffes, in which the eyes are 

 fixed. Each of thefe legs confifts of three joints, the outermoft 

 of which is covered with hard and ftiff hairs like briftles. From 

 the next joint there fprings a horny bone h h, which the infect 

 ufes as a kind of thumb ; the joint is alfo of a black fubftance, 

 between bone and horn in hardnefs ; the third joint is of the fame 

 nature. To diftinguifh thefe particulars, the parts that form the 

 upper fides of the mouth and the eyes muft be feparated by 

 means of a fmall fine knife ; you may then, by the affiftance of 

 the microfcope, perceive that the leg is articulated by means of 

 fome particular ligaments, with that portion of the infects mouth 

 which anfwers to the lower jaw in the human frame. We may 

 then alfo difcern the mulcles which ferve to move the legs, and 

 draw them up into a cavity that lies between the fnout and thofe 

 parts of the mouth which are near the horns i i. 



This infect not only walks with thefe legs at the bottom of the 

 water, but even moves itfelf on land by means of them ; it like- 

 wife makes ufe of them to fwim, while it keeps it's tail on the fur- 

 face contiguous to the air, and hangs downward with the reft of 

 the body in the water ; in this fituation no motion is perceived in 

 it but what arifes from it's legs, which it moves in a moil elegant 

 manner. It is reafonable to conclude from what has been faid, 

 that the principal part of the creature's ftrength lies in thefe legs : 

 nor will it be difficult for thofe who are acquainted with the 

 nature of the ancient hieroglyphics (which are now opening fo 



clearly) 



