PLATE III. FIG. 3.
Hair of an Indian Deer
F Exhibits the Middle Part of the Hair of an Indian Deer, and G the Top or
Extremity of the same Hair, both magnified by the same Glass ; whereby is
shewn how extremely tapering these Hairs are formed, which indeed was observable
by the naked Eye ; for though in the Middle it was thicker than an Hog's Bristle, it
was slenderer at the End than the Hair of any other Animal. The whole Belly of it
was two or three Inches long, and appeared to the Eye like a Thread of coarse Can-
vas that has newly been unravelled, being all bent or waved to and fro, in the Manner
of such a Thread : But seen through the Microscope, it seemed all perforated from Side
to Side, and spongy ; and resembled a small Kind of spongy Coral, found frequently on
the Coasts of England. When cut transversely, no Pores could be discerned running
the long Way of the Hair.
The Hairs of different Animals are curious Objects for the Microscope. In some
transverse, in other spinal Lines, somewhat of a darker Colour, run from Bottom to Top,
in a very pretty Manner. A Mouse's Hairs are of this Sort : They appear as it were in
Joints like the Back-Bone, are not smooth, but jagged on the Sides, and terminate in
the sharpest Point imaginable. Hairs taken from a Mouse's Belly are least opake, and
fittest for Examination Microscope made easy, p. 245. |
Hairs taken from the Head, the Eye-Brows, the Nostrils, the Beard, the Hand, and
other Parts of the Body, appear unlike, as well in the Roots as in the Hair themselves,
and vary as Plants do of the same Genus, but of different Species. They all become
lengthened by Propulsion, and are thicker towards the Middle than at either End.
PLATE III. FIG. 4.
A pretty minute Shell found amongst Sand
THIS Shell appeared to the naked Eye like a white Spot, no bigger than the
Point of a Pin ; A minute Shell found amongst Sand. | but when viewed by the Microscope, it was found in every
Particular to resemble the flat spiral Shell of a Water Snail, and had twelve Wreath-
ings, a, b, c, d, e, &cc. all diminishing gradually towards the Middle or Center, where
there was a very small, round, white Spot. 'Twas not easy to discover whether it was
hollow or not, but it rather seemed to be filled with somewhat, and probably might
be petrified, as larger Shells are often.
The Object under Observation informs us of another Genus, where the Almighty
Hand of the Maker is amazingly exemplified in the Minuteness and Elegance of the
Work : For we find hereby that the same Power which contrived such minute Infects
as Mites, such minute Fishes as the Eels in Vinegar, and such minute Vegetables as
Moss and Mouldiness, has likewise formed a Tribe of such minute Shells as this be-
fore us ; the Beauty of which could never have been discovered without the Micro-
scope's Assistance. It was found, accidentally, amongst some White-sand that was
looked at with no other Design than to try the Goodness of some Glasses : But many
valuable Discoveries have been owing to lucky Accident.
| | Image Size: 240x320 480x640 960x1280 1440x1920 1920x2560
|