Martin Folkes, B/q-^ 1 1 



to my good and worthy Friend Dr. James 

 Parsons, F. R. S. who, together with an 

 unbounded Curiofity, a fincere Love of 

 Knowledge, and a penetrating found Judg- 

 ment, is peculiarly happy in being capable of 

 giving his Ideas a Reality by the Excellence 

 of his Pencil. 



As aDivifion into ChaptersrwiW renderwhat 

 follows more ufeful than it would be other- 

 wife, I fliall make no Apology for fo doing. 



CHAP. I. 



The General Appearances and Motiom of the 

 Polype. 



\T7H E N we examine any living Animal, 

 ^^ the firfl thing that naturally prefents 

 itfelf to our Obfervation, • is its Form or 

 Shape: but this wonderful little Creature 

 fhifts its Pofture fo often, that it is difficult 

 to afcertain its real Form, and would be al- 

 moft endlefs to defcribe the feveral Changes 

 thereof The moft frequent is that of ex- 

 tending and contrad:ing its Body and Horns, 

 or rather Arms* j which it can perform, to 

 fuch a Degree, as to render itfelf ten or twelve 

 Times longer at one time than another. It 

 ufually fallens by the Tail, either to the Bot- 



* As thefe Parts ferve the Purpofes of Arms rather thaa 

 Horns ; I (hall chufe all along to call them by that Name. 



torn 



