The HISTORY iof INSECT 4 
to him, by which the fight of infects could 
be explained. However this matter be, the 
coloured part of the Bee’s eye, though it be 
not an uvea, ferves the ufe of that coat in the 
eyes of larger animals. 
Immediately then under this uvea, as it has 
been called, are feen fo many fibres, as there 
are divifions above in the cornea. ‘Thefe 
dibres very exactly agree with the cavities of 
the fpherical divifions of the cornea: and 
they are likewife hexagonal and broad, but 
thiner in the middle and tharp-pointed undér= 
neath where they terminate. They are all 
neatly of equal length, thicknefs, and breadth. 
But above the margins and extreme finews o 
the eye, thefe fibres are fomewhat bent an 
feem fhorter: they are above, where they are 
joined to the divifions of the cornea, much 
thicker 64 than below 7, where they are 
only united together by their ends: and hence 
they almoft refemble fo many inverted fexan- 
gular pyramids, thick and broad above, and 
thin and acute below. In order to conftitute 
the convexity or arch of the eye, they are 
placed together in the manner of thofe eggs 
of infects which are circularly glued round the 
branches of trees. Thefe fibres ftand erect 
on the bottom of the eye, in the fame man- 
ner as the hairy filaments lie under the leaves 
of an artichoke on its disk or receptacle. I 
thave above defcribed the colour of thefe 
fibres; I thall only obferve further, that this 
paint, with which their larger extremities are 
tinged, is likewife diffufed deeper downward : 
and the other parts of thefe inward fibres are, 
as I have faid before, tinged with a red or 
purplifh colour. Thofe fibres which ftand 
in the middle of the eye are ftraight 54; but 
thofe that are on the fides appear fomewhat 
oblique, and the reft run a little crooked alfo ; 
but all terminate in a fubjacent membrane, 
with which they are naturally united, but 
from which they are eéafily broken off when 
handled. This membrane, therefore, very 
finely exhibits almoft the fame divifions in 
dotted figures, which the omnipotent Creator 
hath been plafed to make on the cornea cd 4, 
with fuch ftupendous and inimitable art. 
Concerning thefe fibres we are further to 
obferve, that if the cornea be feparated from, 
without hurting or breaking them, they very 
beautifully reprefent the hexangular divifions 
of the combs: but when the cornea is pulled 
off in fuch a manner as that fome particles of 
thefe fibres adhere to it, then their figure is 
not fo diftinguifhable. Thefe fibres are very 
eafily broken, when the cornea is feparating 
from them ; for they aré conneéted with the 
cornea, and are received into its cavities: but 
this union is rendered ftronger by means of 
innumerable pulmonary tubes, which afcend 
near thofe fibres towards the cornea, and, as 
I think, conftitute its hexagonal divifions : 
nay, they likewife probably contribute to ex- 
pand the eyes at the time when they are 
cafting their skin, and are very foft and tender, 
‘One of thefe ‘fibres is likewife united 
213 
by force of ‘the air impelled within. Hence 
near the divifions of the eyes, the pulmonary 
tubes will have the fame ufe and fituation as - 
I have before attributed to the fame tubés, in 
regard to the wings of Bees. I would not, 
however, have my opinion in this cafe con- 
fidered farther than as a probable conjecture. 
with 
afiother immediately under the cornea; and 
a little lower fome clufterings and knots are 
obferved among thefe fibres. But where thefe 
fibres are broken off, when the cornea is not 
regularly taken from them, their full purple 
colour, as hath been faid above, is found not 
to terminate there, but defcends deeper. “It is 
indeed very wonderful, in what manner and 
in what numbers thefe pulmonary tubés 
afcend near thefe fibres, and are united toge- 
ther. I muft own that I fhould be very glad 
to examine, of what nature thefe fibres are, 
whether mufcular or nervous; as alfo whether 
or not they have any motion, and of what 
kind of particles they are compofed: but it 
has been abfolutely impoflible for me to ex- 
amine all thefe things, for both my fight and 
inftruments failed me. However, I have again 
feen the Creator confpicuous with human eyes 
in this ftupendous conftitution of the mof 
admirable and unfearehable little parts, which 
exhibit, as it were engraved thereon, the real 
image of his inexhauftible power and wif- 
dom. 
That I may proceed in the order wherein 
I began, I thall now defcribe that part, Tab. 
XX. fig. v. x, towards which all the fibres 
hitherto mentioned converge, as towards a 
common center, and to which they are united, 
as the threads of velvet with their web ; this 
part is white and fibrous, and is fituated within 
the eye: but the pulmonary tubes before de- 
{cribed afcend through and on each fide of 
it towards the fibres. The figure of this mem- 
brane is exactly like the external figure of the ~ 
eye, one fide of it being lunar or like a cre- 
{cent, and the other femicircular. It is white 
in the middle, but in the border it partakes 
fomewhat of the colour of the fuperior or 
_ upper part of the fibres, the impreffions of 
which are feen thereon, 
This membrane, being removed from its 
place by the help of a fine inftrument, there 
appears clofe under it another membrane, 
much more delicate and tender, asalfo clearer : 
and this, by means of pulmonary tubes, is 
connected, though not very ftrongly, with the 
former. 
There is placed under or behind this mem- 
brane, but a little lower or deeper in the eye, 
another or fecond {pecics of fibres, fig. rv. 
nun, and fig. v.99, which being tranfverfely 
applied to the lower furface of the membranes, 
are like fo many beams or tranfoms, which 
fupport the pyramidal fibres laid over them. 
‘Thefe alfo differ from the former pyramidal 
fibres, both becaufe they are fewer in number, 
and by far lefs delicate; though notwithftand- 
Tii 
ing 
