f 445 3 
I muft not conceal, however, that, by way of Ex- 
periment, I have put under his Glafs, at different 
times, Water, Bread, Fruits, drc. but I never found 
them in the leaf): diminifhed or touched by him. 
Thefe Trials too were always made at many Months 
afunder, and 1 am pre-tty certain, there has been at 
leaft a Year together, during fome Part of the afore- 
faid Time, wherein nothing has been offered him 
cither to eat or drink. 
The Queftion will then be. How this Creature has 
been wonderfully kept alive for Two Years and an 
half, without taking any vifible Food?^ — And, Sir, 
your Suppofition, that it finds its Nourifhment in the 
Air, carries with it the higheft Probability : Since, as 
you was pleafed to obferve, there are Particles in the 
Air which evidently fupply a Growth to Plants of 
fome particular Kinds, fuch as the Sempervivej Or- 
pine^ Houfe-leek, &c. And the fame or fome other 
Particles therein contained may poffibly be likewifc 
able to afford a Nourifhment to Animals of fome 
certain Kinds. There is a farther Reafon alfo to 
believe, that fomething like this muft be for, in the 
amazing Plan of Nature, the AnimaU Vegetabki and 
iW/»^r^/Kingdoms are not feparated each from other 
by wideDiftances, or broken off by hidden Starts, but 
differ from each other (near their Boundaries) by fuch 
minute and infenfible Degrees, that it is impoflible 
to find out certainly where the one begins, or where 
the other ends.— —As the Air, therefore, yields 
Nourifhment to fome Kinds of Plants, it may pro- 
bably do the fame to fome Kinds of Animals j for other- 
wife a Link would feem wanting in the mighty Chain 
of Beings,— And that Chameleons f Lizards ^ Snakes^ 
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