52 I M x c Ro se o p i c a ii Essays^ 



they will die in a few days; but otherwife, they will: continue 

 alive in water for feveral months together, and, fhould the water 

 dry away, may be revived again by giving them, a frefh fupply.. 



As the eels in pafte are an object which are fo often exhibited 

 in the microfcope, it will be proper, before we leave this fubject, 

 to inform the reader how he may procure the young eels from 

 the parent animalcula, a difcovery which was originally made by 

 Mr. Sherwood, but more particularly purfued and defcribed by 

 Mr. Baker. Take up a very fmall quantity of pafle where thefe 

 eels abound, on the point of a pin, or with a {happened quill; lay, 

 it on a flip of glafs, and diluting it well with water, many of them 

 will become vifible to the- naked eye ; then- with the nib of a pen, 

 cut to a very fine point, and {hayed- fo thin as to be extremely 

 pliable,, fmgle out. one of the largefl eels, and infmuate the 

 point of the pen underneath it ; remove it into a very fmall drop* 

 of water,, which you mud have ready prepared on another flip of 

 glafs. When-thus confined, it may eaftly be cut afunder tranf- 

 verfely, by the help of a good eye and fteady hand, with a lancet, 

 or fharp penknife ; or if the eye is deficient, a hand-magnifier 

 will enable almoft any-body to perform the operation; As foon 

 as the parts. are feparated, apply your object to the microfcope* 

 and if the divifion has been made about the middle of the animal,' 

 feveral, oval bodies, of different fizes, will be feen to iffue forth. 

 Thefe are young anguijlae, of different degrees of maturity, each, 

 whereof is- coiled up,, and included in it's proper membrane, 

 which is of fo exquifite a finenefs, as to be fcarce difcemible by, 

 the greateft magnifier while it inclofes the embryo animal. The- 

 largeft and moft forward break immediately through this delicate 

 integument, unfold, themfelves, and wriggle about in .the water, 



nimbly;, 



