Of a Gnat. 
they are a kind of red worms about half an inch long, 
but of the fhape of fig. 12.8. 
It has a very large head, in proportion to its body, 
which is all coyered with a fhell; feveral tufts of hair on 
Several parts, two horns, a large mouth, See. The form 
of the whole creature will be better perceived by a de¬ 
scription of fig. 128. the hinder part or belly confifts of 
eight feveral joints. From the midft of each of which, 
on either fide, iffue out three or four fmall briftles. The 
tail was divided into two parts, very different in make ; 
one of them A, had feveral tufts of hair or briftles, with 
which it could fteer itfelf as it pleafed, and was enabled 
to fwim about by curvations and flapping its body Side¬ 
ways, this way and that, and keep itfelf near the Surface 
of the water: the other part B appeared to be the ninth 
divifion of its body, and on each fide had many Angle 
hairs. From the part C to the head, appeared a darkifh 
coloured gut, through which the periftaltic motion was 
very difcernable. The cheft D E of this creature was 
thick and fhort, and fo transparent, that its white heart 
could be Seen to beat: its cheft was ftuck with Several 
tufts or briftles, and the head was alfo adorned with 
the Same5 it had two black eyes, and two Small horns 
F G. 
Both the motion and reft of this creature are Surprizing 
and pleafant. The tail Seems much lighter than the reft 
of its body; and being a little lighter than the water in 
which it floats, buoys it up to the top thereof, where it 
hangs fufpended with its head downwards j they lift theft- 
heads Sometimes into the air, at other times plunge them 
into the water, their tails all the while Aiding along its 
Surface, 
After having lived in this manner the time which 
proyidence has allotted them, a ftranger change fucceds 3 
they 
