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Hooke, Robert, 1635-1703

"Micrographia Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses with Observations and Inquiries Thereupon"

And these vibrations or motions to and fro between
the two limits seem so swift, that 'tis very probable (from the sound it
affords, if it be compar'd with the vibration of a musical string, tun'd
unison to it) it makes many hundreds, if not some thousands of vibrations
in a second minute of time. And, if we may be allow'd to ghess by the
sound, the wing of a Bee is yet more swift, for the tone is much more
acute, and that, in all likelihood, proceeds from the exceeding swift
beating of the air by the small wing. And it seems the more likely too,
because the wing of a Bee is less in proportion to its body, then the other
wing to the body of a Fly; so that for ought I know, it may be one of the
quickest vibrating _spontaneous_ motions of any in the world; and though
perhaps there may be many Flies in other places that afford a yet more
shrill note with their wings, yet 'tis most probable that the quickest
vibrating _spontaneous_ motion is to be found in the wing of some creature.
Now, if we consider the exceeding quickness of these Animal spirits that
must cause these motions, we cannot chuse but admire the exceeding
vividness of the governing faculty or _Anima_ of the Insect, which is able
to dispose and regulate so the the motive faculties, as to cause every
peculiar organ, not onely to move or act so quick, but to do it also so
regularly.


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