Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 033.djvu/172

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Beatings began again; this made me conjecture, that they might be about the Chair, and that my ſtanding upon it might prevent them. Upon inclining my Head down toward the Chair, I found I was ſtill nearer and nearer to the Sound, and, at laſt, placing my Ear cloſe to the Sedge Bottom of the Chair, I diſcover'd that it was ſtill further towards the Ground: Upon that, I turn'd the Chair's Bottom upwards, but heard no Beatings for a conſiderable time after; at length, they began again, and, as I caſt a diligent Eye over the Bottom of the Chair, I happen'd, at laſt, to hit luckily upon the Place where the Inſect was beating; ſo that it diſcover'd itſelf to me by its own Pulſations. I was very much pleas'd with the Diſcovery, and not only ſtood viewing it beat for ſome time, but alſo afterwards call'd up others to ſee it beat, which they did, and that, not without Admiration. The Manner of its Beating was thus.

It lifted up itſelf upon its hinder Legs, and ſomewhat extending, or rather inclining its Neck, beat down its Face upon the Sedge, with great Force and Agility; the Sedge, upon which I found it, was bared of its outward Coat, for about the Length of half an Inch; the Inſect ſtood upon the inward bulbous Part, and beat upon the outward Coat; as if it had been working it off as it went; the Impreſſions of its Strokes were very viſible, the Coat of the Sedge being depreſs'd, where it had beaten, for about the Compaſs of a ſilver Penny; whether it beat for Exerciſe, or Food ſake, I cannot certainly ſay; but very probably it might be for the latter; and I am rather inclin'd to think ſo, becauſe there were more than one ſuch Places upon the Sedge, where it had been at work, and where, 'tis likely, it might have been a Sojourner for ſome Days.

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