ANIMALS. 365 



The earth-worm, the millepedes, the sea-worm, 

 and many marine insects, may be multiplied by 

 being cut in pieces ; but the polypus is noted for 

 its amazing fertility ; and from hence it will be 

 proper to take the description. The structure 

 of the polypus may be compared to the finger of 

 a glove, open at one end, and closed at the other. 

 The closed end represents the tail of the polypus, 

 with which it serves to fix itself to any substance 

 it happens to be upon; the open end may be 

 compared to the mouth ; and, if we conceive six 

 or eight small strings issuing from this end, we 

 shall have a proper idea of its arms, which it can 

 erect, lengthen, .and contract at pleasure, like 

 the horns of a snail. This creature is very vora- 

 cious, and makes use of its arms as a fisherman 

 does of his net, to catch and entangle such little 

 animals as happen to come within its reach. It 

 lengthens these arms several inches, keeps them 

 separated from each other, and thus occupies 

 a large space in the water, in which it resides. 

 These arms, when extended, are as fine as threads 

 of silk, and have a most exquisite degree of feel- 

 ing. If a small worm happens to get within tlie 

 sphere of their activity, it is quickly entangled 

 by one of these arms, and soon after the other 

 arms come to its aid j these all together shorten- 

 ing, the worm is drawn into the animal's mouth, 

 and quickly devoured, colouring the body as it is 

 swallowed. Thus much is necessary to be observ- 

 ed of this animal's method of living, to show that 

 it is not of the vegetable tribe, but a real animal, 

 performing the functions which other animals are 



