parcels, from feven to forty in number, and ranged in a variety
■ of forms, fometimes in a ftrait line, as in Fig. 14, then forming
the concave Figure 13, at others moving in a zig-zag direciion,
as in Fig. 15 ; when at reft, they are generally in a quadrangular
form, and found in great plenty with the ulva latifftma.
As this animalculum feems to 'have fome affinity with the hair-
lfke anima o f Mr. Baker, I think the reader will be better pleafed
to fee his defcription o f it introduced in this place, than to have it
raifed into a new and diftinci fpecies.
This little animal is extremely {lender, and not uncommonly
one hundred and fifty times longer than broad. It’s refemblance
to an hair induced Mr. Baker to call it the hair-like infect. The
body, or middle part, which is nearly ftrait, appears in fome
compofed of fuch parallel rings as the windpipe o f land animals
confifts of, but feems in others fealed, or rather made up o f rings
that obliquely crofs each other. It’s two ends are bent, or
hooked, pretty nearly in the fame degree, but in a direciion contrary
each to the other; and as no eyes can be difcerned, it is
difficult to judge which is the head or tail,
It’s progreffive motion differs from that o f all animals hitherto
deferibed, for notwithftanding the body is compofed' o f many
rings and joints, it feems unable to bend them, or move direflly
forwards ; but when it is inclinable to change it’s quarters, it can
move from right to left, or left to right, and proceed at the fame
time backwards or forwards obliquely; and this it performs by
turning upon one end as a center, and deferibing with the other
the quarter o f a circle, then it does the fame with the other end,
and
and fo alternately, whereby it’s progreffion is in a diagonal line,
or from corner to corner ; as whoever will take the trouble to
fhift the points of a pair o f compafles in that manner, may immediately
be fatisfied.
All it s motions are extremely flow, and require much patience
and attention in the obferver. It has neither feet, nor fins, nor
hairs, but appears perfeftly fmooth and tranfparent, with the
head bending one way, and the tail another, fo as to be like a
long Italic S ; nor is any internal motion, or particularly opake
part, to be perceived, which may determine one to fuppofe it the
ftomach, or other o f the inteftines.
Thefe creatures are fo fmall, that millions of millions might be
contained in an inch fquare. When viewed fingly, or feparated
from one another, they are exceedingly tranfparent, and o f a
lovely green; but, like all other tranfparent bodies, when numbers
of them are brought together they become opake, and lofe
their green colour- in proportion as the quantity increafes, till at
taft they appear entirely black.
Notwithftanding the extreme minutenefs o f thefe animalcula,
they feem to be fond o f fociety; for on viewing for fome time
a parcel o f them taken up at random, they will be feen to difperfe
themfelves in a kind of regular order. If a multitude o f them are
put into a jar of water, they will form themfelves into a regular
body, and afcend flowly to the top. where, after they have remained
fome time expofed to the air, their green colour changes
to a beautiful fky-blue. When they are weary o f this lunation.
vsj O^ thev