Of the Beard of a wild Out . 
a 11 
Of fponge. 
T H E microfcope hath fhewn us, that fponge is com- 
pofed of an infinite number of fmall and (hort 
fibres, curioufly joined together in the form of a net, as 
appears by fig. 547. which reprefents a piece of fponge as 
it appeared before the microfcope, wherein may be feen 
the joints w'hich for the moft part are where only three 
fibres meet together, the length of each between the joints 
is very irregular, the diftance between fome two joints 
being ten or twelve times more than between others. 
The mafiies likewife of this reticulated body are alfo 
various, fome bilateral, others trilateral, and quadrila¬ 
teral figures, &c. 
Of the beard of a wild oat. 
f 
T H E beard of a wfild oat is a body of a very curious 
ftrudture j it grows out of the fide of the inner 
hulk that covers the grain of a wild oat. Its whole 
length when extended does not exceed an inch and a half. 
O 
When the grain is ripe and very dry, which is ufually in 
the months of July and Auguft, the beard is bent aim oft 
to a right angle, and its under part is wreathed and very 
brittle. 
If you take one of thefe grains and wet the beard in 
water, the fmall bended top will prefently turn and move 
round, and by degrees, if it be continued wet enough, 
the joint or knee will ftreighten itfelf, and if it be fuf- 
fered to dry again, it will gradually bend into its former 
pofture. Its appearance in the microfcope is reprefented 
by fig. 548. which (hews part of the beard at the knee or 
X 4 bend. 
