( !87l ) 
In the faid Figure, between H and O, you may 6b« 
ferve 8 Screw-like parts^ and of this Configuration are all 
the Seed Veffels, 
Let us fuppofe now that when the Seed is ripe, and re- 
ceives no lurthtT Nourifliment,it,2nd particularly its Shell 
or Veire!, which for the moft part is compofed of a thin 
Membrane, {brinks in, by realon that its moifture in dry 
weather is all exhal d 5 now this flirinking in is greater in 
the 8 Screw like parts, that are defcribed between Hand 
O, thaa in any other part of the Seed Vellel, becaufe 
that the Screw-line parts are there of more than an or* 
dinary thicknefs, in comparifon of the other parts of the 
Seed Veflei 5 by which extraordinary (hrinking the 
Seed Veflels are fore d open , and the inclofed Seed 
thrown out. 
I have met witK fome of the faid Fern Leaves, in which 
the Seed Veflels had not been yet open'd, and confe- 
quently had ilied none of their Seeds. 
1 have opened fevers! of thefe Seed Veflels, and view- 
ed the Seeds with a Microfcope, it being impoflible for 
me to fee them with my naked Eye, or even with com- 
nK)n Speftacles : I have counted above 50 Seeds in one 
of thofe Seed Vefleh, the which Seeds appeared thro the 
Microfcope like thefe 3, which I have caufed to be drawn 
Fig, 3. R Q. R. 
I placed fome of thofe Seeds before a Microfcope, that 
was more magnifying than the laft , and charged the 
Painter to draw it juft as big as it appeared to him 
thro the fame Glafs, as you may fee in Fig. 4» S T. and 
forafmuch as the fame Seed feem*d much greater to 
my Eye, I caufed it to be fo drawn, or rather fmaller . 
than it really appeared to me, as in Fig, 5. V W. 
And tho the Seeds did appear as fluall as in Fig. 3. yet 
one might perceive the Spotted Particles wherewdth the 
Seeds were adorned. 
Kkkkkkkkkkk 
NoW 
