ANIMALCULES, Invisible.—Naturalists suppose an-
other species or order of invisible animalcules, viz. such as
escape the cognizance even of the best microscopes, and
give many probable conjectures in relation to them.
Reason and analogy give some support to the existence
of infinite imperceptible animalcules. The naked eye,
say some, takes in from the elephant to the mite; but
there commences a new order reserved only for the mi-
croscope, which comprehends all these from the mite to
those 27 millions of times smaller; and this order can-
not be yet said to be exhausted, if the microscope be not
arrived at its last perfection. See further on this subject
the article MICROSCOPE.