on Polypes cut afunder* 95 



I have fometimes divided a Polype^ and 

 waited till the Parts v^ere again perfefted, 

 then have cut them in the fame Manner I 

 did the firfl: ; and as foon as each Divifion was 

 reftorcd anew, have repeated the like Ope- 

 ration on thofe alfo : and thus have proceed- 

 ed, repeating my Divifions and Subdivifions, 

 as fail as the Parts wanting were re-produ- 

 ced, for four or five Succeffions: and I do 

 not know that ojie of them ever failed *. 



'Tis indeed furprizing, to fee Creatures 

 multiplyed by fuch Means as one would ex- 

 ped: fhould certainly deftroy them : and 

 what is ftill more extraordinary. Polypes pro- 

 duced in this Manner grow much larger, 

 and are far more prolific, in the Way of their 

 natural Increafe, than thofe that were never 

 cut. It is very common, when a Polype is 

 divided tranfverfly, to fee a young One pufh 

 out from one or other of the Parts, and fome- 

 times from both of them, in a very few 

 Hours after the Operation has been per- 

 formed: and, particularly from the Tail- 

 Part, two or three are frequently protruded, in 

 different Places, and at different Times, Ions 



* It has been obferved by Mr. Tremble-y, by fome 

 curious Gentlemen to whom I have given thefe Infeds, and 

 by myfelf, that their Bodies fometimes break or fall afun- 

 der of their own Accord, reproduce what each Part wants, 

 and make two Pol)ps of one. 



before 



