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that conclufion ; fuch as the reflexion of hard bodies, 
which impinge obliquely on the iurface of Water ; which 
fhews, that water is elaftic, and therefore compref* 
fible. It will be objected, that the parts of the hard 
bodies are comprefled, not thofe of the water : but I 
fufpect, if the fame means be ufed to comprefs a 
cryftal ball, a piece of diamond, or hard ftcel, we 
fliall have the fame reafon to conclude them incom- 
preffible alfo ; tho’ I am fure, that they will all rebound 
from water, if they impinge at any angle under fif- 
teen degrees. 
I do not doubt the truth of thefe ingenious ex- 
periments, viz. that they could no treduce water by 
any force, which they ufed, to lefs bulk ; but we have 
fuificient reafon to doubt, that water is an abfolutely 
hard body. To determine by a fair experiment, if 
found could be convey’d under water, I defired an 
acquaintance to ftand on the bank of a river, till X 
div'd about three feet under water ; then to pronounce 
any words he pleafed in a pretty ftrong voice. Thefe 
words I heard difiindlly under water, and repeated 
them, when I raifed my head above the water ; 
whicli proves, that found is convey’d under water, 
and that fiihes may hear, if they have proper organs. 
In molt fiihes, which I have examin’d, there are 
perforations between the eyes and the extremity of the 
upper jaw, not in the middle, but rather nearer the 
eyes. Below thofe holes in the fkin, is a pretty large 
cavity, at the bottom of which is a flefliy fubftance, 
which is richly fupplied with nerves, by a thick me- 
dullary cord, which rifes from the anterior lobes of 
the brain, and paifes through the hinder-part of the 
orbit of the eye, where it divides into feveral branches, 
fome 
