26 Of the Polype'^ Body. 



tends, the other muft neceffarily contraft, 

 and vice verfa, I have feen Polypes with 

 Bodies almoft three Inches long, and as thin 

 as the fmallefl Straw, that have been fliort- 

 ned in a Moment to lefs than a quarter of an 

 Inch, with the Thicknefs of a Goofe-Quill. 

 But luch large ones are very rare, and one 

 feldom fees 'em above an Inch, in their ex- 

 tended State. They can flop themfelves at 

 any Degree either of their Extenlion or Con- 

 tradtion. 



When a Polype lengthens out Its Body and 

 Arms, which it feldom does but when empty 

 and hungry, its Form is not very unlike a 

 Whirl or Joynt of the Water-Plant called 

 Equifetum or Horfe-Tail^ (as in the Figure) 

 and it has then pretty , , . .• : / 

 much the Whitenefs . \ \ \ / / / / 

 andClearnefsofawet- \ \ \ i/ / / / 

 ted Bladder^ but when \^\.\Ai / / /" 

 full, or empty and con- 

 trad:ed, it appears of a 

 darkColourandopake. 

 The longer it has faft- 

 ed, the more tranfpa- 

 rent it becomes : but 

 whether full or empty, 

 the Tail- End, for a little Way, always re- 

 tains its Tranfparency; the Stomach appear- 

 ing to terminate at feme Diftance from its 

 Extremity. In the contracted State this Tail- 

 End feems like a (hort Knob or Button, but 



extends 



