Of the Proteus . 26 r 
. getables have been infufed, or Animals pre- 
ierved, has flood quietly, for fome Days or 
Weeks, in any Glafs, or other Veffel, a 
ilimy Subfiance will be collected about the 
Sides; fome whereof being taken up with 
the Point of a Penknife, placed on a Slip 
of Glafs, in a Drop of Water, and looked 
at through the Microfcope, will be found 
to harbour feveral Kinds of little Animals 
that are feldom feen fwimming about at 
large. The Xnfedt we are treating of is one 
of thefe j and was difcovered in fuch Slime¬ 
like Matter, taken from the Side of a Glafs 
Jar, in which fmall Fifhes, Water-fnails, 
and other Creatures had been kept alive 
two or three Months, by giving them frefh 
Water frequently; though the Sides of 
the Jar had feldom or never been wiped or 
cleaned. 
Having one Evening been examining a 
little of this Slime, which I found plenti¬ 
fully flocked with feveral Kinds and Sizes 
of Animalcules that were to me no Stran¬ 
gers, fuch as Bell-Animals, Wheel-Animals, 
Funnel-Animals, and others whereto as 
yet no Names are given; I was diverted 
with the fudden Appearance of a little Crea¬ 
ture whofe Figure was intirely new to me, 
moving about with great Agility, and hav¬ 
ing fo much feeming Intention in all its 
Motions, that my Eyes were immediately 
fixed upon it with Admiration. Its Body 
s 3 - in 
