157

The Cheese-mite, though small and insig

i,iflcant to the naked eye, is a curious object

in the microscope. When the parts are mag
nified, it appears that the body is thickly beset
with bristles, that are bli bed on each side with
sharp-pointed spikes, like an car of bariey.
Mites are hatched from very small, white, oval,
eggs, and undergo no oilier transformation
but changing their skin, by whkh a fourth
pair of legs is develeped, that before was not
perceptible. Lcwcnhoek relates, that lie glued
one of these little creatures to a pin, which he
placed before his microscope, for the purpose
of observation; and it lived in that situation,
without food or motion, eleven weeks, though,
when at liberty, it is voracious, feeding greedily
on whatever comes in its way, whether of an
animal or vegetable nature. It seems as if
tenacity of life, increased in proportion to the
low scale of organization and intellect; so that
the more noble the creature, the easier it is
destroyed. The acuteness of feeling probably
diminishes in the same ratio; a sentiment con
soling to humanity, as the smaller and weaker
animals, such as fishes, reptiles, and insects,
are often treated with a degree of contempt
iind cruelty, that is suited only to creatures
devoid of sensation; proceeding, in many in
stances