4m 
PART Hi. NATURAL HISTORY. 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
Article I. — Observations on Animalcufes. By Mr. John 
Smithurst, of Lea. 
Gentlemen, 
The smallest animated body which the unassisted human 
e}'e IS considered capable of survepng, is the mite. The vastly 
magnifying power of the microscope has, however, discovered to os 
nmnberless minute organized living creatm-es, which are totally inTisi- 
ble to the naked eye. These curious little beings, which are, by 
naturalists, termed Animalcules, are found to exist in water, and 
other fluids. There is not the least doubt but they exist in the air, 
and also upon the surface of the earth, as well as in water ,- but there 
is a difficulty in ascei-taining this with accuracy, because they cannot 
be brought under the examination of glasses with that facility of which 
water admits. Water being transparent, and confining the creatures 
in it, a drop can be applied to the glass of a microscope, and all that 
it contains, to a certain degree of smallness, discovered. 
Some of these animalcules seem natural inhabitants of water, 
others appear only to be passing the first stage of their existence in 
it, and ultimately (after having undergone a transformation,) become 
inhabitants of the air. 
The most singular of all the animalcules are the V^orticellse, or 
Wheel Animals, found in rain water that has stood in leaden gutters. 
They are furnished with a pair of instruments on the anterior part of 
the body, A\'hich in figure and motion somewhat resemble wheels. 
These wheels are projected from tubular cases, into which the animal 
can withdraw them at pleasure. When in search of food it protrudes 
its wheels, and by the motion of these rotary organs, causes an eddy 
in the water, sufficient to attract into its vortex such animalcules of a 
smaller species as happen to swim near; these the little creature 
seizes by suddenly contracting its tentacula, and enclosing them in the 
midst. All its actions indicate great sagacity and quickness of 
sensation. 
Clear and pure water will, after standing some time in the open 
air, contain animalcules ; but they are not so numerous as when vege- 
table bodies have been steeped in it, for perhaps no creatures, however 
