PLANARIA FELINA. 53 



disjoined is condemned to absolute quies- 

 cence. The life, habits, and motion of the 

 former, are unimpaired ; whereas nothing, 

 unless a painful sensation, can stimulate 

 the latter to a mere change of position. 

 Its animation is as if suspended, until the 

 defective organs be renewed. When in- 

 specting one of these animals on a summer 

 evening, I saw the head separate from the 

 body, without any apparent struggle, and 

 crawl away. And at another time, when 

 exhibiting to a friend the remarkable mode 

 in which the creature feeds, a portion of 

 the tail was detached, while in the act of 

 simple extension. The remainder did not 

 seem in the least affected ; and the suste- 

 nance provided was readily received. It 

 must be admitted, however, that more ri- 

 gid observation might discern some obscure 

 anticipation of division, though such has 

 not fallen under my notice. 



Notwithstanding the absolute quiescence 

 of the severed fragment, an essential pro- 

 cess is going on. From the moment of se- 



