DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68888#0260
M1CROGRAPH1A.
former, the Area of the wing begins to dip behind, and in that posture
teems it to be mov’d to the upper limit back again, and thence back
again in the first posture,the former part of the Area dipping again,as it is
moved downwards by means of the quicker motion of the main stem
which terminates or edges the forepart of the wing. And these vibrati-
ons or motions to and fro between the two limits seem so swift, that ’tis
very probable (srom the sound it affords, if it be compar’d with the vi-
bration of a musical siring, tun d unilbn to it) it makes many hundreds,
if not some thousands of vibrations in a second minute of time. And, if
we may be allow’d to ghels by the sound, the wing of a Bee is yet more
swift, for the tone is much more acute, and that, in all likelihood, pro-
ceeds from the exceeding swift beating of the air by the small wing.
Anditsecras the more likely too, because the wing of a Bee is lessin pro-
portion to its body,then the other wing to the body of a Fly 5 so that for
ought I know, it may be one of the quickest vibrating spontaneous moti-
ons of any in the world s and though perhaps there may be many Flies in
other places that afford a yet more thrill noise with their wings, yet ’tis
molt probable that the quickest \\hrMmgfpontaneous motion is to be
found in the wing of some creature. Now, if we consider the exceeding
quickness ofthefe Animal spirits that must caufe thefe motions, we cannot
chufe but admire the exceeding vividnels of the governing faculty or
Anima of the Infed-, which is able to dilpofe and regulate so the the mo-
tive faculties, as to caufe every peculiar organ, not onely to move or ad:
so quick, but to do it also so regularly.
Whil’st I was examining and considering the curious Mechanijm of the
wings, I obferv’d that under the wings of most kind of Flies, Bees, &c.
there were plac’d certain pendulums or extended drops (as I may so call
them from their refembling motion and figure) for they much reserable d
a long hanging drop of some tranlparent vifcous liquor 5 and I obferved
them constantly to move just before the wings of the Fly began to move,
so that at the first sight I could not but ghels, that there was some excel-
lent ufe, as to the regulation of the motion of the wing, and did phancy,
that it might be something like the handle of a Cock, which by vibra-
ting to and fro,might,as ’twere.open and shut the Cock,and thereby give
a passage to the determinate inssuences into the Muscles 5 afterwards,up-
on some other trials,! soppos’d that they might be for some ufe in respira-
tion, which for many reasons I suppose thofe Animals to ufe, and, me
thought, it was not very improbable, but that they might have conve-
nient passages under the wings for the emitting, atleast,of the air, if not
admitting, as in the gills of Fisties is most evident 5 or, perhaps, this Pen-
dulum might be somewhat like the staff to a Pump, whereby thefe crea-
tures might exercife their Analogus lungs, and not only draw in, but force
out,the air they'live by: but these were but conjedures,and upon further
examination seem’d lels probable.
The fabrick of the wing,as it appears through a moderately magnify-
ing Jldicrofcepe^e^ms to be a body conlisting of two parts,as is visible in the
^.Figure of the s^.^cA^^and by the z.Figwe of the 26<Scheme’-) the one is
a quilly
former, the Area of the wing begins to dip behind, and in that posture
teems it to be mov’d to the upper limit back again, and thence back
again in the first posture,the former part of the Area dipping again,as it is
moved downwards by means of the quicker motion of the main stem
which terminates or edges the forepart of the wing. And these vibrati-
ons or motions to and fro between the two limits seem so swift, that ’tis
very probable (srom the sound it affords, if it be compar’d with the vi-
bration of a musical siring, tun d unilbn to it) it makes many hundreds,
if not some thousands of vibrations in a second minute of time. And, if
we may be allow’d to ghels by the sound, the wing of a Bee is yet more
swift, for the tone is much more acute, and that, in all likelihood, pro-
ceeds from the exceeding swift beating of the air by the small wing.
Anditsecras the more likely too, because the wing of a Bee is lessin pro-
portion to its body,then the other wing to the body of a Fly 5 so that for
ought I know, it may be one of the quickest vibrating spontaneous moti-
ons of any in the world s and though perhaps there may be many Flies in
other places that afford a yet more thrill noise with their wings, yet ’tis
molt probable that the quickest \\hrMmgfpontaneous motion is to be
found in the wing of some creature. Now, if we consider the exceeding
quickness ofthefe Animal spirits that must caufe thefe motions, we cannot
chufe but admire the exceeding vividnels of the governing faculty or
Anima of the Infed-, which is able to dilpofe and regulate so the the mo-
tive faculties, as to caufe every peculiar organ, not onely to move or ad:
so quick, but to do it also so regularly.
Whil’st I was examining and considering the curious Mechanijm of the
wings, I obferv’d that under the wings of most kind of Flies, Bees, &c.
there were plac’d certain pendulums or extended drops (as I may so call
them from their refembling motion and figure) for they much reserable d
a long hanging drop of some tranlparent vifcous liquor 5 and I obferved
them constantly to move just before the wings of the Fly began to move,
so that at the first sight I could not but ghels, that there was some excel-
lent ufe, as to the regulation of the motion of the wing, and did phancy,
that it might be something like the handle of a Cock, which by vibra-
ting to and fro,might,as ’twere.open and shut the Cock,and thereby give
a passage to the determinate inssuences into the Muscles 5 afterwards,up-
on some other trials,! soppos’d that they might be for some ufe in respira-
tion, which for many reasons I suppose thofe Animals to ufe, and, me
thought, it was not very improbable, but that they might have conve-
nient passages under the wings for the emitting, atleast,of the air, if not
admitting, as in the gills of Fisties is most evident 5 or, perhaps, this Pen-
dulum might be somewhat like the staff to a Pump, whereby thefe crea-
tures might exercife their Analogus lungs, and not only draw in, but force
out,the air they'live by: but these were but conjedures,and upon further
examination seem’d lels probable.
The fabrick of the wing,as it appears through a moderately magnify-
ing Jldicrofcepe^e^ms to be a body conlisting of two parts,as is visible in the
^.Figure of the s^.^cA^^and by the z.Figwe of the 26<Scheme’-) the one is
a quilly