Essays on the Microscope: Containing a Practical Description of the Most Improved Microscopes, a General History of Insects, etc., etc.Adams, George
Science
Essays on the Microscope: Containing a Practical Description of the Most Improved Microscopes, a General History of Insects, etc., etc.
Adams, George
Insects -- Early works to 1800; Microscopy -- Early works to 1800
Fig. 5. Plate XVI. represents a small portion of the cornea of a
lobster; here each of the eyes are small squares, not hexagons; a
conformation which admits a smaller number in the same surface; so great
a number was not necessary in this instance, as the eyes of the lobster
are moveable. Fig. 6. the same of its natural size.
OF THE EYES OF THE MONOCULUS POLYPHEMUS.
The monoculus polyphemus, or king crab, has four eyes, two large and two
small ones; the large eyes are formed of a great number of transparent
amber-like cones, the small ones of a single cone,
“The internal surface of the large eyes, examined with the microscope,
is found to be thick set with a great number of small transparent cones,
of an amber colour, the bases of which stand downward, and their points
upward next the eye of the observer. The cones in general have an
oblique direction, except some in the middle of the cornea, about thirty
in number, the direction of which is perpendicular. The center of every
cone being the most transparent part, and that through which the light
passes, on that account the perpendicular or central cones always appear
beautifully illuminated at their points. In a word, they are all so
disposed, as that a certain number of them receive the light from
whatever point it may issue, and transmit it to the immediate organ of
sight, which we may reasonably suppose is placed underneath them. The
cones are not all of the same length; those on the edges of the cornea
are the longest, from whence they gradually diminish as they approach
the center, where they are not above half the length of those on the
edges.
“The structure of the small eyes being less elaborate, their internal
appearance, when placed in the microscope, will be described in a few
words. They consist of an oval transparent horny plate, of an amber
colour, in the center of which stands a single cone, through which and
the oval plate the light passes.”[55]
[55] See Mr. André’s paper with a plate, in the Phil. Trans. for 1782,
page 440.
OF THE EYES OF A SPIDER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account