COMPENDIUM. 2.07 



that germs of the new elements are universally dispersed throughout the 

 animated being enjoying such distinguished privileges, ever prepared for 

 evolution if opportunity be granted ? 



Few intelligible examples are afforded to the physiologist. If a group 

 of nourishing Tubularise is bisected, new hydra; soon crown the stumps. 

 If the stumps be again bisected, the like will be repeated, and new hydrae 

 will crown the remaining portions. This may be even repeated for the 

 third time, or more, without exhausting the vital elements, regenerating 

 perfect animals. At length it fails, nor does farther reproduction ensue. 



Are all these renovations from new elements secreted and deposited 

 in consequence of the successive mutilations exciting the energy of the 

 parts ; or are the new hydrae successively developed from the dispersion of 

 pre-existing germs ? 



No known or definite principles guide us to the arrival of maturity 

 in zoophytes, to the period when multiplication commences, when their 

 increment ceases ; or to the duration of their life. 



Pregnant reasons inculcate belief of a longer existence being assigned 

 tt> the tenants of the waters, than observers are generally disposed to 

 concede. 



But, how few of the inhabitants of the universe are reserved to die 

 from age, — to cease to live, because the vital organs fail in decay to per- 

 form their office. How infinite are the means of destruction ! Disease 

 and accident are never idle : they are the grand destroyers of life : and so 

 incessant is their operation, so constantly their activity before our eyes, 

 that we become doubtful whether any special term of existence is assigned 

 to animated beings. 



Whatever precautions be taken in the order of things for preserving 

 the race, and these are certainly great, it is obviously the will of Nature,' 

 that the former generation shall be overwhelmed and annihilated by the 

 later, where increment is indispensably effected by the superposition of the 

 puccessive strata of zoophytes. Thence does the last generation only en- 

 joy that existence which it has thus obtained, and of which the course of 

 time will bereave it. 



vol. if. 2 p 



