284 Oil Animalcules, — particularly on the Polypes. 



That science has received many advantages from the aid of 

 «hffereiit optical instruments is a fact universally established: but 

 I shall now only instance them in what is termed the microscopic 

 vi^orld ; where principles and modes of animal existence have 

 been brought to light, amongst the different tribes of animal- 

 cules, wHicli must have remained unknown but for the aid of the 

 microscope. This circamstance, and the great degree of ob- 

 scurity which still hangs about this branch of natural history, in- 

 duced me to commence an inquiry into it, thinking tiiat the dis- 

 covery of other unknown laws and modes of animal existence 

 might reward the efforts of any one who had patience to pursue 

 the investigation : and during this inquiry several results oc- 

 curred which may not be unworthy of notice, as they may tend 

 to remove a portion of the obscurity to which I have alluded. 



If we attentively examine most of the generally received opi- 

 nions respecting the different tribes of animalcules, we shall hnd 

 them very unsatisfactory, as they lead to inductions which are in- 

 compatible with that simplicity and correctness of design every 

 where discoverable throughout the works of creation. 



The opinions formed respecting the hydras, or fresh-water 

 polypes, are of this character f for it is stated by most writers on 

 natural history, that polypes form a link in the chain of created 

 being's which unites the animal to the vegetable kingdom, an in- 

 ference resting chiefly on the supposed fact that they possess pro- 

 perties of both the animal and vegetable nature. That they possess 

 several of the animal timctions is vejy evident, by their power of 

 moving from one place to another, and of swallowing and di- 

 gesting their food : and that they have strong marks of the ve- 

 getable nature is ecjuallv certain ; for when one of them is cut 

 into several slips or pieces, each piece in a little time becomes 

 a perfect being like the parent or stock from which it was taken, 

 — a result which seems to establish its vegetable character: but if 

 we attend minutely to several other circumstances, we shall find 

 that this reasoning will lead to conclusions at variance with 

 themselves^ and incompatible with the general harmony of Na- 

 ture. 



In the animal frame there is a complete organization that runs 

 tlirough the whole being, with which the will or mind of the 

 animal seems intimately connected ; but if any part is cut off, 

 that part will not possess this completed organization, conse- 

 quently its animal functions will be destroyed. With this general 

 view of the animal character, let us consider the various facts 

 related of this race of beings, which forms the supposed uniting 

 link between the two kingdoms. 



One of the facts in favour of this conclusion is obtained by 

 cutting a polype to pieces in every direction fancy may suggest; 



for 



