Micrographia Restaurata, & c

An EXPLANATION of the THIRTEENTH PLATE

This and the Three following Plates present to us the Pictures of different Seed, as they appear when enlarged by the Microscope.

Seeds of the Corn-Violet

THOSE under our Inspection, at present, belong to the Corn-Violet, or Venus- Looking-Glass ;

Seeds of the Corn-Violet.

whose Seed is small, black and shining ; and when seen by the naked Eye, resembles a little Flea ; but magnified by Glasses, appears in the Form before us, covered with a thick, tough and shining Skin, shrunk or pitted, as it were, irregularly, insomuch that no two of them can be found alike exactly.

The Seeds of Plants (even those whose Shape and Structure, by reason of their Smal- ness the Eye is unable to distinguish) are adorned with such a Variety of Carvings and Ornaments, that much Pleasure arises from the Examination of them. Their Surfaces are some curiously wrought, others smooth and polished ; some are covered with Hairs, some with a kind of Shell, and some with both. Their mere outward Form renders them delightful Objects ; but if we proceed farther, and by Dissection gain a Knowledge of their internal Structure, we shall find ourselves lost in a new World of Wonders. Dr. JAMES PARSONS, Fellow of the Royal Society, is at present engaged in these Discoveries, which he proposes to lay before the Public ; and as his Pencil is well qualified to delineate whatever his Eye observes, there is great Reason to expect from him an honest and judi- clous Description of whatever is most remarkable therein.

An EXPLANATION of the FOURTEENTH PLATE

Seeds of Thyme

NINE of the minute Seeds of Thyme are shewn here, as they were magnified, and in different Positions both to the Eye and the Light.

Thyme- Seeds.

There appeared a great Va- riety in their Bulk and Figure ; but every one of them nearly resembled a Lemon or Orange dried, and that as well in Colour as Shape. Some were a little rounder, and more like an Orange, as A, B, each whereof has a remarkable Part whereto their Stalks were joined ; and on A a little Piece of Stalk is still remaining. The opposite End of these Seeds has a Knob or Prominence, such as Lemons usually have, which is shewn by D, E, and F.

They all seemed a little wrinkled or shrivell'd, but the Seed H was most remarkably so.

The Seed G had an irregular Ridge or Rising, expressed by the white Lines thereon.

I represents a Seed nearly of an oval Shape.