-ANIMAL REPRODUCTIONS. 31 
‘Thus do we find ourfelves more difpofed to 
judge a fact fabulous’ than to admit its reality. 
On tracing the origin of this repugnance of this 
incredulity, it is eafy to difcover that it is fup- 
ported by analogy only. Habituated from in- 
fancy to fee certain animals amidft which we 
live, as quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, amphibia and 
infects, from particular ideas of thefe, we form ge- 
-neral ideas of the whole mafs of animals. There- 
fore when the head is fevered from a dog, a pi- 
geon, a ferpent, frog, or fly, inftead of being re- 
' generated, we fee the animals die, and we fuppofe 
the fame muft happen to a {nail and every other 
animated being. ‘Thus do the multitude judge, 
and thofe of the literati who think no deeper 
than the multitude. But it is not fo with the 
real philofopher and naturalift; with him who 
has feen how much has been obferved by able 
inveftigators in the unlimited kingdom of ani- 
mals, who beholds innumerable anomalies and 
exceptions, and confequently learns how fallaci- 
‘ous analogical argument muft be: the recital 
of this phenomenon will excite his furprife, as we 
cannot but wonder at any unexpected novelty ; 
yet he will not deny the poflibility of the faét,, 
from the numerous other faéts apparently no lefs 
revolting, than that of regenerating fnails, which 
are neverthelefs moft true. Such are the prodi- 
gies of polypi, earth worms, frefh water worms, 
aphides, 
