Note ee — BOOK IV.

The Crystalline Humour, when dry’d, doth manifestly enough appear to be made up of many very thin spherical Laminæ, or Scales lying one upon another. Mr. Lewenhock reckons there may be 2000 of them in one Crystalline, from the outermost to the Center. Every one of these Scales, he saith, he hath discovered to be made up of one single Fibre, or finest Thread wound, in a most stupendous Manner, this way, and that way, so as to run several Courses, and meet in as many Centers, and yet not to interfere, or cross one another, in any one Place. In Oxen, Sheep, Hogs, Dogs and Cats, the Thread spreads into three several Courses, and makes as many Centers: In Whales five; but in Hares and Rabbets only two. In the whole Surface of an Ox’s Crystalline, he reckons there are more than 12000 Fibres juxtaposited. For the right and clear Understanding of the Manner of which admirable Piece of Mechanism, I shall refer to his Cuts and Descriptions in Philos. Trans. Nᵒ. 165. and 293. The Truth hereof I have heard some ingenious Men question; but it is what I my self have seen, and can shew to any Body, with the Help of a good Microscope.