TV. AND REVIVED: 189 
the tibia in a man(1). It is thus that the dif. 
covery of the polypus, which at firft feemed to 
revolt againft rules efteemed general, has extend- 
ed to fo many links in the animal chain. But 
has this fuccefs fo great, this advance fo rapid, 
exhaufted the fubje& of reproduétion ? No, affu- 
redly : it will appear but lite known, if we con- 
fider how limited the number of animals on 
which our experiments have been made, compar- 
ed with thofe on which we may make them. The 
element water is moft favourable to reproduc- 
tions. How many infects, worms, reptiles, zoo- 
phytes inhabit the briny waters of the ocean, the 
frefh water of rivers, pools, marfhes, and ditches, 
which were never fubjected to experiment, and: 
which, from their great fimilarity, whether in the 
modes of life and propagation, or in fhape and in- 
ternal configuration with reproducing animals, 
are doubtlefs calculated to reproduce their parts # 
Hermaphrodifm, until the beginning of this 
age, has been confidered more chimerical than 
true. _ Nature feemed to declare againft it. Yet 
in how many hundred animals has it not been. 
found by the diligence of modern. naturalifts ? 
This admirable property pafles by degrees from 
one fpecies-to another. The polypus is a perfed: 
hermaphrodite: 
(1) The celebrated Bernard Mofcati, furgeon in-Milan, 
who was an eye witnels, told me this fac, 
