(1499 y 
In my obfervation of thefe Stalks, I often faw adhering 
to them Tand fometimes feparate in the Water ) many pretty 
branches, composM of redangulaf oblongsand exadt fquares, 
which were joyrid togcther^as you may fee in Fig. VII which 
i drew as exaftly as I could from one of thenri» There are 
often twenty or more of thefe Figures in one branch, which 
generally adheres at one end to the Stalk'kof the Plant, and 
I think it remarkable that thefe reftangular parallelograms 
are all of the fame fize, the longeft fide not exceeds^ of 
an hairs breadth, ^nd that the length is juft double the 
breadth, the fquares being vifibly made up of two paralle- 
lograms joyn'd longwife. They feem very thin, and the 
texture of every one is nearly thefame. To a very large Mag- 
nifier they appear as in Fig. Vlll. I took thefe branches at 
firft for Salts, but finding them always of the (amellze,and 
th^lt there was no fenfible encreafe of their bulk while they 
continued in the Water, that after they had lain a day or 
two dry on a Glafs Plate they altered not their Figure, and 
upon the addition of new Water (warm or cold J they had 
ftill the fame appearance and cohefion, and that their ad* 
herence (tho touching only in the angular points) was fo 
firm and rigid, that all mov'd together, and kept thefiimc 
pofition in refpe£t of one another , however, agita- 
ted by the Water 5 thefe confiderations, I fay, perfwade 
me, that they may be rather Plants than Salts, but they 
being fo verv minute that no judgment can be made of 
'em but by the Eye, I (hall not determine any thing pofi. 
lively- 
In fome Water which I took out of a Pit, I found a fmall 
Water Nevvte, notan inch long, v/htch I fuppofe was of thi« 
years hatch, and the Legs being fo fmall as not readily to 
bedifcero'd at firft view, and the body very clear, I took it 
at firft fight for a Fi(ht This I kept by me (^in lieu of Tad- 
poles) to Ihew the circ^ulation of the. Bipod in its TayL 
But that wa3 not the only oitertaihmei^ it gave^ for/I 
found the coarfe of the Slood in every part of Its Bod/, 
Xxxxxxxx 2 and 
