I 
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after fome little time exhibited Numbers of fperma : 
tic Animals, in every refpect like to thofe hitherto ob- 
ferv’d by other Naturalifts, animated, and moving 
fpontaneoufly. Thus was Mr. de Bufforis Conjecture 
Verify’d in every Particular. 
§ 24. About this Time, I think fome few Days 
after, Mr. de Bujfon in my Prefence examin’d fe- 
deral Sorts of male Semen 5 and then it was that, 
for the firft time, we fairly faw the fpermatic Ani- 
mals enafeent. Thofe Kinds which fatisfy’d us in 
this particular were extremely vifeid, and contain’d 
in a certain Quantity in the Chryftal of a Watch. 
Thefe Precautions are not unneceffary 5 for if a vifeid 
Kind be not chofen, and that in a good Quantity 
together, fuch as that of Stags, &c. or any Seed of 
the lead exalted Sort, if I may fo term it, as we 
found fome to be more lo than others 5 it will alter 
in the Atmofphere by an Evaporation of its volatile 
Parts, which ferve to hold it though but gently 
together, after which it will liquefy, vegetate, ra- 
mify into Pilaments, and thefe Filaments again break 
into moving Globules, efpecially if the Weather 
be hot, before a fmall Portion can be adjufted to 
the Microfcope : whereby an Obferver may eafily 
be impofed upon, and think the fpermatic Ani- 
, mals original and pre-exiftent, becaufe he could not 
difeern that Action which produc’d them. This 
Deception takes Place in all Semen of the more 
exalted Kinds, fuch as particularly the Milt of Fifh, 
when it is in a State of immediate Impregnation, 
and many others : For it is to be obferved, that the 
Semen of Animals is not at all times in an equal 
State of Exaltation 5 and consequently that fome Sorts, 
or 
