( 40^5 ) 
tur. Others have thought them to have their birth from weeds 
hanging down from the banks into pouds and J^ivers^ Others 
from Locufts and Gralhoppers ( ex Bruchis > ) which laft though 
it be near the matter^ yet it is rejeded by Aldrovandus hicnfelf , 
as the'moft unlikely^ 
They have been found in a cold and goodfpringj and elfe- 
where, (which is a wonder, faith Aldrovandus 5 ) upon aleafe in a 
Garden. And this, which was there found, was 5 or 6 fingers- 
breadth longj the thicknefs of a brittle Horfe- hair^ with a dusk- 
iih backj and a white belly 3 and the tail on every fide white. 
1 faw ( faith Aldrovandus) a black one thicker than the whiV 
tiftione. Other Authors otherwife defcribe them^as i^^f/r«^^W^ 
Albmus,6c^ Some affirming them to have been a cubit long ^ 
otherSjtwo cubitSj others, 9 inches long at the leaft ; that they 
are white ofcolour^and fo hard as fcarce to be cruflied with ones 
foot : to be every where of the fame thicknefs that they move 
not as wormes move^ h^M fna^-hkf^ and knit themfelves up into 
knots : that their skin is one continued thing without Incifures* 
and therefore fome would exclude them from the infeft- kind : 
that they have no head^ but fwim both v/aies,and therefore may 
be called amphi(hma aquatica: that they are poyfon^drunk dowa 
into the ftomackj bcrt not venom to the touch. 
And thus much out of Aldrovandus concerning the name of 
tliis InfecSt, the place of its birth and original , the place where 
they are to be found^ its d efcription 5 different fpecies 5 nature , 
poyfon &:c. 
Our obfervation is this, AfriU 2. there was thrown up out 
of the ground of my Garden^in digging amongft other things of 
this nature , a certain cole- black Beetle of a midle fize, and flat 
fliapej and which I have obferved elfewhere common enough*. 
Thefe Beetles T differed upon the account of fome cariofity ^ 
wherein I had a mind to fatisfy my felf. But I was furprifed to fitid 
in their fwollen bellies of thefe Hair^wormes^ in fome three, in 
others but one only. Thefe particulars ws carefully noted:i. 
That upon the incifion they crawl'd forth of themfelves. 2. That 
putting them into water^they lived in itmany daies.and didfeem 
to endeavour to efcape by lifting up their heads out of the wa- 
ter 5 and faftning them to the fide of the vefTels ^ very plainly 
drawing the reft of their body forward. 3. That they cannot be 
S s s s laid 
