i 17^1 ) 
into their H-^nds, and viewing it one after the other thro 
a Microfcope, they faw the Animalcula after the (pace 
of about half an hour beginning to open and extend 
their Bodies, and getting clear of the Glafs, to fwim 
about the Water/ excepting only two of the largeft of 
thern, that (tay'd longc^r on the (ides of the Glafs, before 
they ftretcht out their Bodies, and fwam away. 
When I was by my felf, I viewM thefe Animalcula 
with a Microfcope^ after I had pour'd the Water fiora 
'em, in order to fee how they brought their Bodies into 
that Orbicular form as is mentioned above and having 
fixt my Eye upon two of the biggeftof them, 1 obferved 
that they did ftretch out their Bodies in the fpace of a 
minute feveral times to an extraordinary length, and 
thrice open'd the hinder part of their Bodies, and dif- 
chargd fome Excrements, which, in the little Water 
that remain d about them, were diflblv'd into fmall Pel- 
lets, before they alTum'd their round figure , and for- 
afmuch as I imagin d that the Female Animalcula endea- 
vour'd to difcharge themfelves alfo of the Burden of 
their Young, my Obfervations had lafied longer, but 
my Eyes being tir'd, ladjourn'd em to another time. 
in the month of O&ob. of the laft year> before tl^ 
Dirt and Tilth of my Leaden Gutter was quite dry d up, 
I took a handful of it, and laid it on a glafed Earthen 
Di(h, in order to preferve it s for I don t fufFer fuch foul 
' fluff to lye long in my Gutter, but twice a year caufe 
the Lead to be fcower *d fo clean that it looks jufl: like 
Mew. 
This foul fluff being dry is as hard as Clay ^ fo that 
the Mites can t come at the Animalcula, that are thus 
doubly fliut up ^ and now we fhallfee whether they will 
livelorjger than 21 months. 
A few days ago I took fome of this fame dry fluff, 
and infus'd it both in cold Water that had been boyl'd, 
and in Rain Water newly fallen 3 whereupon the Ani. 
malcula 
