( 2^54 ) 
VII. Some Microfcopical Obfer^vations of ^ajl 
Mnmbers of Animalcula feen in Water by 
John Harris, M. A. Ke^or of Winchelfea in 
Suffex, and F. R. S. 
July the 7th, 1694. 
1 Examined a fmall Drop of Rain Water, that had 
ftood in a Gally-pot in my Window for about two 
Months. I took it (with the head of a fmall Pin) from 
the difcoloured Surface of the Water, and in it I obfer- 
ved four forts of Animals. In the clear part of the 
Drop were two Kinds, and both very fmall. Some were 
of the Figure of Ants Eggs ; theft were in continual 
Motion, and that very fwift ; And I find that this kind 
of Oval Figure is the mofl common to the Animalcula 
found in Liquors. The other fort that were in the clear 
part of the Drop; were much more oblong ; about three 
times as long as broad ; thefe were exceeding numerous, 
but their motion was flow, in comparifonof the former. 
2. In the thick part of the Drop (for the Water 
from whence I took it had contrafted a thickifh skum) 
1 round alfo two forts of Animals, as a kind of Eels, 
like thofe in Vinegar ; but much fmaller, and with 
their extreams more fnarp ; thefe would wriggle out in- 
to the clear part, and then fuddenly betake themfelve 
back again, and' hide in the thick and muddy part of th 
Drop, much like common Eels in the Water. I fa 
here alfo an Animal like a large Maggot, which woul 
contraft it felf up into a Spherical Figure, and the 
ftrerch itfelf out again ; the end of its Tail appearec 
with a Forceps, like that of an Ear -wig • and I cculc 
plainly (ee it open and fiiut its Mouth, from whence Ai 
bubble; 
i 
