upper part of the body, and on the fides. The 
opening of the mouth lies forward near the head 
Fig. vitt./, and over it isa little body refembling 
in figure and conftruction one of the beards that 
are to be feen in fome fithes. 
What has been faid, is {ufficient to give the 
reader fome notion of this infects conftruGtion on 
its upper part or back, Fig. x1v. where it ap- 
pears as if entirely compofed of an affemblage of 
downy hairs and briftles, the furface of this part 
alfo is rounder, and more convex, and the warts 
growing on it are fhorier and flenderer than tho’ 
_ already fpoken of, as lying upon the parts, to 
which the name of feet has been given. 
On opening the back of this creature, I found 
the fkin in that part lay quite free and loofe overthe 
adjacent flefh. I likewite difcovered in this place 
on each fide of the body, a prodigious number 
of holes Fig. xv. @@aaaa, which by running a 
probe into them, I found to extend under and 
between the briftly tubercles, furrounding each 
fide of the body, with openings on the outfide, 
thro’ which the creature by an alternate dilatation 
and contraction of its upper skin, takes in the 
water requifite to moiften its gills 644, which 
are all the other parts to be feen within this hol- 
low of the skin, and are conftruéted like the 
{cales on the lower part of the bellies of Serpents. 
As to their texture it is membranaceous, witha 
fmooth furface; and they are difpofed in the moft 
beautiful order, forthe upper ones, tho’ moving 
freely over the lower, always cover fome part of 
them. 
If we duly confider this conftruction of the 
body, we cannot be at a lofs to account for the 
manner in which the Phyfalus, is able to {well 
and bloat itfelf up with air, and afterwards burft, 
or as Ithink I may more properly exprefs my‘felf, 
collapfe into its former fize and figure; to do all 
this, it need only firft dilate the upper portion of 
its skin, that, on its floating to the furface, as it 
muft neceflarily do when its bulk is thus increafed, 
the air may get into the cavity fo formed, and 
then contract the fame part, fo as to make it ex- 
The Hots F ORY 
Sf NATE IS. rek 
pell the air contained therein ; it then falls flat 
again{t the lower part fo fuddenly, as to imitate 
the noife as well as appearance of a real burfting. 
Hence we may allo fee why the Phyfalus, during 
this laft operation fhould appear quite tran{parent, 
as the fubtile air impelled at this time under thé 
skin, cannot but open an eafy paflagé thro’ it, 
for the rays of light. ne 
As to the vifcera of this créature, there 
are many and remarkable fingularities. in 
them; but as I have yet beftowed little notice 
and few defigns on them, I cannot fay much 
of them at prefent. I only remember to have 
obferved that the parts about the mouth of the 
Phyfalus are moveable in the manner of thofe 
of the Snails, and are of a pyramidical form, 
and of a very wonderful contrivance ; its heart 
alfo, and blood-vefiels fhew themfelves in a very 
beautiful manner. In the middle of the body I 
found a part which feemed in its upper portion 
to anfwer the purpofe of a ftomach, and towards 
the tailthat of inteftines. This veflel was divided 
into agreat many ramifications, which wereunit- 
ed, as it were, by mutual anaftomis’sor inofcula- 
tions, ‘Tab. X. Fig.xvi.¢, and were full of, and 
turgid with, excrementsof akind of earthy clayey 
colour, divided into little lumps. 
As I never faw this creature alive, and even 
dead, only after it had been tofled about by 
the waves from one part of the fhore to ano- 
ther, I can propofe but few things of it as cer- 
tain. I don’t know whether it is to be ac« 
counted venomous, as Rondolet feenis to 
entertain that opinion; neither can I take 
upon me to determine among what fpecles of 
animals it is to be clafléd; tho’ it feems to de- 
ferve a place amongft Echini, or Sea-Urchins. 
Rondolet reckons it among hisSea-Caterpillars ; 
but I cannot difcover in it the leaft refemblence - 
to thefe creatures. I fhall therefore, for the 
prefent, conclude this hiftory ; but thall endea~ 
vour to complete it, if an opportunity offers; 
at fome other time, when I may have leifuré 
fufficient to beftow on’fo interefting a fubjedt: 
The end of the Hiftory of the Phyfalus; 
An epiftolary differtation on the Felixe Mas, or Male Fern of Dodonens: 
SiR, 
Y° U_ do me no more than juftice in attri- 
buting to me the firft difcovery of Fern ; 
for which reafon I fhall now lay before you a 
very curious obfervation on this fubject, with 
drawings to illuftrate it. Were this a proper 
feafon to obtain one of thefe vegetables frefh 
and in good order, I fhould endeavour to fend 
you more particulars worthy of your attention; 
what I now offer being only the refult of a fur- 
vey taken of it in a dead and dry condition: 
I may fay, however, that it is now feveral years 
fince, on examining by chance the tubercles 
'. growing on the under-furface of the Fern- 
leaves, I difcovered in them certain littlecapfules, 
containing the true feed of this plarit ; tho’ many 
celebrated writers had denied that it had any, 
whilft others, who believed the contrary, knew 
not how to convince the former of their miftake: 
The Male Fern of Dodoneus is a plant too 
common and well knownto require adefcription 
fo that Ithallonly give a drawing of it, Tab. LHI. 
Fig. 1. 2a, and the tubercles 64, which grow 
uponits leaves. Thefe tubercles, which theigno- 
rance and negligence of writers had confidered 
\as little collections of fine duft and dirt; when 
carefully viewed; exhibit the moft wonderfut 
conftruction that the mind of man can ima- 
gine, and fo eminently difplay the contrivance; 
; order; 
