Microscopical 



Essays, 



443 



Our eyes fee only the grofs part of the decorations, whilft the ma- 

 chines that execute them remain in impenetrable darknefs ! Who 

 (hall enlighten this profound obfcurity, or dive into an abyfs 

 where reafon is loft, or draw from thence the treafures of wifdom 

 concealed within it ? Let us learn to be content with the fmal! 

 portion that is communicated to us, and contemplate with grati- 

 tude the firft traces of human underftanding that are imparted to 

 us in thefe difcoveries. 



VoRTlCELLA 'BeRBERINA, 



Vorticella compofita, floribus ovalibus muticis, ftirpe ramofeu 

 Compound, with oval beardlefs florets. 



This is a fpecies of the vorticella?, which referable the preced- 

 ing one in many refpecls, particularly in being multiplied in the 

 fame manner, that is, by dividing, or fplitting, according to it's 

 length. 



They are more (lender than the vorticella umbellaria; the 

 branches of the clufters are tran (parent. When many of them are 

 together, they appear of a changeable violet colour; the clufters 

 are not unlike a fprig of fpun glafs. The motion of the lips is not 

 fo eafily diftinguilhed as in the foregoing fpecies, though it may 

 be obferved in thefe whilft they are opening and completing their 

 formation. For at thefe times the motion is but flow, whereas it 

 becomes afterwards very quick in thofe that are arrived at a ftate 

 of perfection. 



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