My Dear Friend,
I have rec’d your obliging Letter about the Seeds of Fungi being
animated. By your letter, you seem to think, that the Seeds of the Fungi are
animated, or have animal[a] life, and move about; my Experiments convince my of
the contrary. I must first let you know, that I am convinc’d that in almost all standing,
or even river, water, there are the eggs, and often the perfect animals, of those you call
animalcula infusoria. As soon as these meet with their proper
pabulum, they grow and increase in numbers, equal to the Musca
vomitoria. I often have[b] examind river water and pond water, and scarce
ever found it without some species of these animalcula, especially in summer
and autumn: besides the same animalcula that attack, eat, and move about
the farina, or Seeds of the Fungi, do the same with other vegetables,
as I have lately been convinc’d of by a fair experiment. I have tried at your request my
Experi[ment]s over again, and shewd them to D[aniel] C[harles] Solander. I will keep
these infusions according to your desire 14 days, and examine the particulars you
desire of the animalcula fixing themselves, first one, then many more, to the
bottom of the glass; and will endeavour to find out what you mean by their “growing
up into Fungi.” If you mean that animalia infusoria, when they are
dead, are a proper pabulum for Mucor I agree with you; for I have
many animal Substances that are coverd with Mucor,[c] even between
the Muscovy Talcs (or Glacies Mariae) used on purpose[d] for
microscopic animals, in the microscope. But what appears to be most difficult to
comprehend is, for instance, I have now a Lycoperdon Bovista, which I
receiv’d from our good friend P[eter] Collinson 4 days ago. I put part of it into river
water, and in two days time I[e] perceived the seeds or farina of it moving
about distinctly. The 4 day I[f] perceivd the figure of the animalcula that
movd them. Are these Seeds, or these animalcula (for they are evidently
distinct bodies), to turn into Fungi, Mucores, or Lycoperda?
This is what I do not comprehend in this new discovery. If the animalcula, that
mov’d the seeds of the Lycoperdon, it would be amazing; and again, it would
be as surprising that[g] the seeds of one Genus should produce another; for
instance, that the seeds of Lycoperda should produce Mucores.
However, I have determin’d to go through these experiments with precision, and to call
in witnesses of the several appearances.
I have not yet got any of the Ustilago. If you will be so good as to send me
a Spike of Corn infected with it, proper for trial, you may depend on me in carefully
going through the experiments properly.
I have made some observations lately on a small kind of Lumbricus, which
serves as food for the Hydra, or fresh Water polype of Trembley. I cut these
small worms into 3 or 4 pieces, and they all have grown into perfect animals. D[octo]r
Solander (who is obligd to you for your kind inquiry after his health) has examin’d
them, at my Chambers to day, in the Microscope, and was surpriz’d at their Structure.
They differ quite from the Lumbricus terrestris, and approach near to the
Taenia. I have wrote to James Gordon for some seeds of the Ellisia in
their Capsules. As soon as I get them, will send them to you.
I hope you have got the Actinia radicans, and the things I sent you by
Capt[ain] Robenius. I long to have your thoughts on this Actinia; it differs very
little from the Sertularia.
I find by your last Edition of the Syst[ema] Animale that you look on the
Stem of the Gorgonias to be vegetable. I differ in opinion, and intend to write a Letter
particularly on that Subject, as I have had[h] many opportunities, from seeing
Different specimens, together with Chemical & microscopical enquiries, to prove them
as different almost[i] as the Dendrites, or the Crystallization of[j] Sal
Ammoniac, from Vegetables. Pray let your Young Gentlemen examine the vesicles, or
Ovaries (as Pallas would have them), of the Antipathes; for to me they
approach nearer to the Gorgonia, as you have placed them, than to the
Sertularia; and what I have seen is no more than some extraneous bodies,
which have adhered to them, being partly coverd with their spiny skin, and have
formed little irregular turbinated cups, here and there, on the branches, not in that
regular shape and manner that the Sertulariae have their vesicles.
You may[k] depend upon it I shall always attend to your commands, and shall
not make light of these enquiries. You shall always find me your most affectionate
friend, and that I shall always acknowledge myself indebted to you, for the many
useful observations, that you have seen so kind to communicate to me, by your
Letters as well as your writings. My best wishes attend you.
I am, with Great Respect,
Your most Obed[ient] Serv[ant]
John
Ellis
I wish you would send your son next Spring to England. I will do him all
the Service in my power.
London Oct[ober] 30. 1767.
{div-address}To
The Right Honorable
Sir Charles Linné
at
Upsal
Sweden
Post P[ai]d
TEXTUAL NOTES
a. MS. 1 animal [added above the line]
b. MS. 1 have [added above the line]
c. MS. 1 with Mucor [added above the line]
d. MS. 1 purpose [added above the line]
e. MS. 1 I [added above the line]
f. MS. 1 I [added above the line]
g. MS. 1 that [added above the line]
h. MS. 1 had [added above the line]
i. MS. 1 almost [added above the line]
j. MS. 1 of [added above the line]
k. MS. 1 may [added above the line]