£-6 Microscopical Essays, 



This is the fame animalculum which was dignified by Mr* 

 Baker with the name of proteus, on account of it's affuming a 

 great number of different ihapcs, fo as fcarce to be known for the 

 lame animal in it's various transformations ; and indeed, unlefs it 

 be carefully watched while paffing from one (hape to another, it 

 will often become fuddenly invifible. 



When water, wherein any forts of vegetables have been inha- 

 led, or animals preferved, has ftood quietly for fome days, or 

 weeks, in any glafs or other veffel, a finny fubilance will be col- 

 lected about the fides, fome whereof being taken up with the 

 point of a penknife, placed on a flip of glafs, in a drop of water, 

 and looked at through the microfcope, will be found to harbour 

 feveral kinds of little animals that are feldom feen fwimming 

 about at large. The infe6l we are treating of is one of thefe, and 

 was difcovered in fuch flime-like matter, taken from the fide of a 

 glafs jar, in which fmall fifties, water-fnails, and other creatures 

 had been kept. It's body in fubftance and colour refembled a 

 mail's ; the ftiape thereof was fomewhat elliptical, but pointed at 

 one end, whilft from the other a long, (lender, and finely-pro- 

 portioned neck flretched itfelf out, and was terminated with a 

 head, of a fize perfectly fuitable to the other parts of the 

 animal. 



194. Tri- 



