30 
characterized by 1, 2, 3, are reprefented to the 
life. This has appeared to.me the proper 
method of proceeding in this affair, for two 
reafons; firft, left the order of the number 
fhould be broke by increafing or diminifhing 
the figure ; fecondly, becaufe fome of thefe 
infects are fo large of themfelves, that there is 
no need of a microfcope to delineate them. 
To follow nature as near as we could, we 
have put the white animalcules, or little ani- 
mals of our four claffes on a black ground, 
which we have not done with refpeét to the 
other coloured ones. This appeared the more 
neceflary, as Goedaert reprefented a briftly Ca- 
terpillar, the figure whereof we have in one 
TO THE MOST 
Mire Fy ore 
Formerly embaflador from the 
republick of 
Most ILLUsTRIOUS SIR, 
ape omnipotent finger of God is pre- 
{ented to you in the following fheets, in 
the anatomy of a vulgar and loathed infect, the 
Loufe; wherein you will indeed find miracles 
heaped on miracles, and will be amazed at the 
wifdom of God, moft clearly manifefted in a 
minute point. Let the world admire the maf- 
terly ftrokes of Apelles: here you will find the 
complete fabrick of the vifcera of all the ani- 
mals in the world, formed with the moft ex- 
quifite workmanfhip, and abridged, as it were, 
in a particle of a line in meafure. What mor- 
tal, illuftrious fir, can attain to this by reafon? 
what other hand, but that of God, can inveftigate 
and frame fuch things? The fpirit and grace of 
God, which he beftowed on mankind, has ren- 
dered fome capable of fearching into fuch fub- 
The 
EFORE I exhibit the internal parts 
vifible in this {mall and defpifed animal, 
I thall defcribe its external parts, and fhall thew 
every thing remarkable in the head, thorax and 
abdomen. 
The fhape of the fore part of the head is fome- 
what oblong, that of the hind part fomewhat 
round; the fkin is hard, and being ftretched, is 
tran{parent like parchment, and has hereand there 
briftly hairs. At the extremity of the fore 
part is the probofcis, or fucker, Tab. I. fig. 1v.a. 
feldom vifible, fince it is always drawn to the 
infide; I fhall therefore defcribe it when I 
come to the throat and ftomach. On each fide 
of the head are the antenne or horns 44, which 
are alfo covered with a {kin like parchment. 
EX TERN 
Th BOOK of N.A TUR E; or, 
of our tables, without any hair at all, which 
error was probably owing to his not laying it 
on a black ground, whence its white hairs were 
not difcernible. . 
To make the rule of our four claffes the 
ftronger, we have alfo been careful to {eleét 
animalcules that are fo well known, that there 
is no neceflity to illuminate them with colours, 
And we are confident, that our figures are fo 
accurately executed, that it would be unpar- 
donable to daub them with paint. We come 
now to treat of the Lonfe, which I now in- 
tend to do, comprehending the whole doétrine 
concerning it in the form of a letter. 
ILLUSTRIOUS 
sie Hew sR @ see ts 
king of FRANCE to the 
GENOA. 
lime miracles and fecrets, and to lay them open 
to the view of others. Though the Agyptian 
Magi could imitate the other miracles which 
God performed by Mofes, they were not able 
to produce thefe animalcules by their magick 
art, as the facred writings teftify. * “‘ Aaron 
** ftretched out his hand with his rod, and 
“ fmote the duft of the earth, and it became 
*« lice in man and in beaft; the magicians did 
** fo with their inchantments to bring forth 
** lice, but they could not; then the magicians 
‘< faid to Pharoah, this is the finger of God.” 
I cannot fo properly, illuftrious fir, offer thefe 
obfervations to any other as to you, fince I know 
no other that fets a due value on fuch things, 
according to their dignity. 
Ao eRe Ava dea, 
Each of thefe is divided into five joints, ele~ 
gantly covered with briftly hair, and feveral 
white veffels are feen through thefe horns. Be- 
hind thefe are the eyes cc, which feem to want 
thofe hexagonal divifions obfervable in other - 
infects, and they appear to be incompaffed with 
fome few hairs. 
The neck is very fhort, the breaft is divided, 
as it were, into three parts; in the middle of 
which, on the back fide, appears, as it were, a 
{mall fhield. On each fide are placed fix legs dd, 
each of which confifts of fix joints, fome larger 
than others: they are very delicately adorned 
with briftly hairs, and many whitith veffels are 
feen through them. The ends of their legs 
are armed witha fmaller and larger ruddy and 
* Exod. viii. 17, 18 
pellucid 
