[ 6 53 1 
the Tolypi upon them multiply, in the fame manner 
as thofe of the other fpecies which I am acquainted 
with. 
As I relate fails that are new, and as I am alfo, 
if I may fo fpeak, under the neceffity of mentioning 
new relations and analogies, I find my felf under 
great difficulties, to find proper terms to exprefs thofe 
relations and analogies. 
I (hall not here enlarge upon the analogies which 
may be found, between the origin of the minute 
animals I have been fpeaking of, the origin of plants, 
and the produdion of thofe other animals we have 
been hitherto more acquainted with. W e fhall better 
be able to judge of thofe analogies, and to compare 
them together, when we fhall come to know more both 
of plants and of animals, and when we fhall have 
made obfervations upon greater numbers of them. 
The new and the furprizing fads, which the 
ftudy of natural hiftory lays before us more and more 
every day, are fully fufficient to convince us, that 
the nature both of plants and animals is as yet but 
very imperfedly known to us, and indeed much 
more imperfedly than many have been apt to ima- 
gine. All we do know is but very little, in compa- 
parifon of what yet remains to be known : and this 
confideration fhould prompt us, ftill more affidu- 
oufly and more diligently, to enquire after truth } 
as it fhould at the fame time alfo make us exceed- 
ingly circumfped, and very cautious how we venture 
to make judgments upon the nature of things, or 
how we form to our felves general rules, from fo 
few principles as we are at prefent matters of. 
Explanation 
