[34] 



CHAP. V. 



Of the Polype'^ Arms. 



TH E Polype's Arms are of fo curious and 

 amazing a Contexture, that 'tis impof- 

 fible to defcribe the Pleafure arifing from 

 viewing them before the Microfcope ; with- 

 out which no tolerable Conception can be 

 obtained of their Beauty, Form, and Contri- 

 vance. 



The Colour of them is white. They are 

 difpofed in the moft regular Order round the 

 anterior End of the Polype^ which I have 

 called its Head, and when fully extended, 

 command a Circle of feveral Inches in Di- 

 ameter; into which if any Worm or fm all 

 Infedl ventures, it runs the fame Danger that 

 a Fly docs, when within the Circumference 

 of a Spider's Web. 



The Number of Arms, in Polypes come 

 to their full Growth, feems not fixt or cer- 

 tain, even in the fame Species ; and is very 

 different as the Species differ. Thofe from 

 Abroad have generally 8 or lo, fome ii, 

 12, 13, and even 14. The Englifi Ones 

 4, 6, or 8, and fometimes, tho' but feldom, 

 10. I never faw a Polype feparated from its 

 Parent with lefs than 4 Arms. But what- 

 ever their Number be,they are placed at equal 

 Diftances in a Circle round the Head. They 



are 



