The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq., epitomiz'd by Richard Boulton ... ; illustrated with copper plates.

TITLE XIX. Of the Phaenomena suggested by Winged Insects in our Vacum.

EXPERIMENT I.

* 1.1FLesh-Flies whose head were cut off, being in∣cluded in a Portable Receiver; furnished with a large Pipe and a Bubble at the end of it; When the Air was drawn out, they lost their Mo∣tion; two hours after, Fire not being able to excite Motion in them, I let in the Air, and then they began to move; and were observed to move the next Morning.

EXPERIMENT II.

SEveral Ordinary Flies and a Bee or Wasp, lay as if dead in the exhausted Receiver, ex∣cept some, which for a few Minutes were Con∣vulsive; after 48 hours, they neither Recovered when exposed to the open Air, nor the Meridi∣an Sun.

EXPERIMENT III.

A great Flesh Flye being put into a Portable Receiver was very brisk and lively till the Air was drawn off, but then was taken with Con∣vulsions; the Air being let in again she Recover∣ed, but it being a second time exhausted, she lay

as dead till the Glass was stirred, and then she moved a little; the next Night after neither heat nor any thing else would recover her of a long time; but at the last, when she was well, being shut up again 48 hours and placed in a Warm place, she grew so ill as to be past Recovery.

EXPERIMENT IV.

A Grass-hopper whose Body was an Inch long, being shut up in an oval receiver large enough to hold a Pint; when the Pump was first Plyed he was very uneasie, and several Liquid drops came from his Abdomen to the quantity of a quarter of a Spoonful; when the Receiver was pretty well exhausted he fell on his back and lay as dead. But the Receiver being plac'd in the Sun-shine he moved a little, and soon after lay as dead 3 hours. But the Receiver being open'd and placed, after he seem'd dead half an hour, some time in the Sun beams, in a short time he reco∣vered.

EXPERIMENT V.

A Rose-Flie being shut up in a receiver, strugled much whilst the Receiver was exhausting, but in 6 hours time seem'd dead; the Receiver being opened Four hours after, the Beetle was lively enough. The Receiver being a Second time exhausted, the Animal in the mean time seemed much disquieted.

EXPERIMENT VI.

SEveral Butterflies being Shut up in Vacuo, were not able to flye in so thin a Medium,

but when the Receiver was inverted, would fall from one end to another rudely enough.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Winged In∣sects in Va∣cuo.