Of the Polype*^ Head. 3^ 



a Worm exprefles the Moment it is taken 

 hold on by the Polype's Snout, and froni the 

 fudden Death that follows; which, con- 

 fidering the Nature of a Worm, and the Dif- 

 ficulty of killing it by pricking it, or even 

 cutting it in Pieces, would almoft incline one 

 to imagine there muft be fomething poifonous 

 in the Bite ; and that the Polype^ as well as 

 the Viper, does not only bite, but even injed: 

 a Venom into the V/ound it gives, for the 

 more fpeedy Deftruction of its Prey. 



I have fometimes forced a Worm from a 

 Polype^ the Inftant it has been bitten, (at 

 the Expence of breaking off thePi?/)^^'s Arms) 

 and have always obferved it to die very foon 

 afterwards, without one fingle Inftance of a 

 Recovery: wherefore you. Sir, and other 

 curious Gentlemen, who have made the like 

 Obfervations already, or fliall hereafter make 

 them, willj I hope, excufe my Conjectures, 

 as not wholly void of PvCafon, fince in many 

 Cafes we have no way of coming at the in- 

 vifible Caufes of Things, but by arguing from 

 their vifible Effedts, 





m 





D CHAP. 



