The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-02-21
INSECTS.

There is no part of this classification
so Interesting 10 the naturalist as that OF
insects. OF all the substances 10 mhich
they are discernibie, the infusion of hay
produces the greatest variety, and by
tar the most curious. Put some hay in
to tea-cup. and cnUnr If NTH ..,l..e..,
In lew days scum will appear on the
surface; take out single drop, and it
viii be found to contain extremely mi
mute animalcules; in a day or two they
obtain their full growth. Among the
variety tina, may be discovered 10 this
infusion, are the following; the most
numerous are in the shape of an egg,
with an extremely swift motion, stop
ing short at times, and turning round on
their axis. With a high power, num-
Der Of small feet may be discovered,
and at the head number of foril.
which are continually in rapid motion,
creating vortex in the water, which
brings their prey towards them, and
which may be discerned many hundred
times less than themselves. They use
their legs 10 running as we'll as in swim
ming, as will be seen if human hair be
placed across the drop of water.
In viewing these Minute creatures, we
have decided advantage in a great
magnfylng power-the wonderful or
gaGIzaIion OF their parts, and the 6bril-
lac, are distinctly seen in motion. When
we consider that we are looking at a
drop of water, that takes up no more
space than the head of small pin, vet
that there are hundCeds of different
living creatures in il, invisible to the
eyes, and perfect iu their form, il Can
not but create both wonder and delight.
Those who are DESTROYS to be fur
nished with curious living object for
the microscope, should be provided
with the cells in paste. In order 10
procure them, boil tea.cup full OF
-four and waller 10 the conssteDce of
common paste put into 1t few drops
only of vinegar, and stir the mixture !;
lei it stand for few days, tilI it becomes
sour, then taking from the surface, with
a point, the smallest particle, and putting
in q single drop OF water, it will be found
to contain numbers of minute eeIs,
swimming about the wafer with con-
tinual regular motion. Wheo you wish
10 examine them, take Them from the
side of the vessel you are least liable
TO take out any of the paste; they may
be kept for months, by keeping the
paste in "A moist state, with a supply OF
fresh wateC.-These insects are yivlpnr-
Gus ). and curious experiment may be
performed by cutting one Of the larger
sort in half, with lancet or tne knife !;
a tribe of young ones will issue from
the parts, coiled up in fine mt mbrane,
which they soon break, uncoil them
selves, and swim away; the writer has
seen as many rs a hundred from one eel,
which may account for their great in
crease. BY their producing their young
perfect. we must cooclude they are no.
generated, in the frs instance, in the
paste, by the eggs of flies, as has been
generally supposed. The question is,
by what means do they get into paste |?
for if they were in the -four, The opera
lion Of boiling il would certainly DIES
troy them. But, though most ex.raor-
binary, it is a fact, that they will live ia
a heat of lao degrees, and in paste too
hot to bear the hnger in