Microscopical Essays. 



$99. 



there is a fmall part that proje&s from the nofe or fnout, this 

 ferves as a fheath or cafe to the probofcis, which the creature 

 thrufts into the (kin to draw out the blood and humours which 

 are it's deftined food, for it has no mouth which opens in the 

 common way. 



This probofcis has been eftimated to be feven hundred times 

 fmaller than a hair, and is contained in another cafe within the 

 firft, and can be drawn in or thru ft out at pleafure : the Akin is 

 hard and tranfparent. From the under fide proceed fix legs, 

 each of which has five joints, and terminates in two unequal 

 hooked claws, thefe it ufes as we would a thumb and finger ; 

 there are hairs between the claws, as well as all over the legs ; 

 the body finifhes in a cloven tail, which is gerierally covered, and 

 partly concealed by hairs. 



From the extreme tranfparency of it's fkin, many t>f it's inter- 

 nal parts may be feen, as the various ramifications of the veins 

 and arteries, and the periftaltic motion of the guts. When the 

 loufe feeds, the blood is feen to rum like a torrent into the 

 ftomach, and it's greedinefs is fo great, that the excrement con- 

 tained in the interlines is ejected at the fame time, to make room 

 for this new fupply. There is fcarce any animal that multiplies 

 fo faft as this unwelcome intruder, the moment it is excluded 

 from the egg it begins to breed. 



It would be endlefs to defcribe the various creatures which go 

 under the name of lice, and fwarm upon every part of nature. 

 The reader who wimes for a more particular account of thofe 



4 Q 2 which 



