The Hiftory of ANIMAL & 
Brachurus corpora ovato. 
The Brachurus , with an oval body . 
This is of the number of the larger Animalcules. It’s figure is that of a hen’s 
egg 5 it’s fkin perfectly fmooth and tranfparent, fo that the lineaments of the intef- 
tines are evidently feen through it. It’s larger end is the head, and always is directed 
forward in it’s progrefiive motions; at the other, or fmaller extremity, there is a tail 
equal to three fourths of the body in length, thicker at it’s infertion, and gradually 
growing fmaller from thence to the extremity, where it terminates in a fingle, not a 
forked, point. The creature often fixes itfelf by the extremity of this tail; and at 
other times it’s motions are but fluggifh. 
It is one of the Animalcules, figured by the microfcopic writers, as the inhabitants 
of pepper-water, and is frequent alfo in many other infufions of vegetable fubftances: 
it has been faid to refemble the tadpole, but improperly. 
Brachurus corpore rotundiore , cauda fimbriata . 
The Brachurus, with a roundijh body , and a fimbriated tail\ 
This is one of the fmaller Animalcules. It is of a roundifh figure, but fo me what 
approaching to an oblong or elliptic; both extremities are of equal bignefs: it is very 
tranfparent, yet it is fcarce poffible to diftinguifh any traces of the inteftines in it* 
At the extremity of the body, oppofite to that which goes forward in the creature’s 
progrefiive motion, and which confequently is the head, there is a fhort and tolerably 
thick tail. It is equal to about half the length of the body, and is all the way of the 
fame thicknefs: it is naturally hollowed at the extremity, and by that means alone is 
capable of being fixed very firmly; but, as if this were not fufficient for it’s fecurity 
.and other purpofes, aferies of filaments, inform of a fringe, are occafionally thruft forth 
from it, which hold the creature with great firmnefs in it’s place. I fcarce remember a 
more pleafing obfervation in the ufe of the microfcope, than has occurred to me, white 
writing this defcription. I had the creature before me under the microfcope, and in 
the fame drop of water one of the lad: fpecies of the former genus. This larger Ani¬ 
malcule was vibrating it’s fringe about the mouth, and drawing into it the leffer crea¬ 
tures that came in his way. This fmaller Animalcule I firft obferved attempting, 
while at fome diftance, to force itfelf out of the reach of the current made in the 
water, by the motion of this fringe; when that was found impracticable, and it was 
drawn nearer the deftroyer, it fixed itfelf down by it’s tail, in it’s ufual naked ftate j 
but when this alfo proved fruitlefs, and the motion of the water removed and brought 
it ftill nearer the place of deftruCtion, it once more fixed itfelf by the tail, and, 
throwing out it’s fringe of filaments, became fo fecurely fattened by their means, that 
no effort of the enemy afterward could move it. 
It is frequent in many of the vegetable infufions, particularly in that made of the 
calamus aromaticus root: it requires a fecond magnifier to fee it’s parts diftinCtly. 
Brachurus corpore fubrotundo 3 pofierius lunato f \ 
The Brachurus 3 with a roundijh body lunated behind. 
This is not one of the very fmallefi; of the Animalcule tribe. It’s body, in the 
whale, fomewhat approaches to a roundifh figure, but it is truncated, as it were, at the 
head, and lunated or formed into the fhape of a crefcent at the oppofite extremity, the 
points or horns of the crefcent pointing downwards; between thefe is placed a fhort 
tail, of a conic figure, forked at the end, and in continual motion. The whole Ani¬ 
malcule is colourlefs, and perfectly tranfparent, refembling nothing more than a 
thin fkin filled with water : it is very quick in it’s motions. 
It is frequent in ditch water, and in rain water that has flood expofed for fome days; 
a third magnifier fhews it very diftinCtly. 
i 
Brachurus 
