ANIMALS. 367 



parts, each part still retains its vivacious quality, 

 and each shortly becomes a distinct and complete 

 polypus : whether cut lengthways or crossways, 

 it is all the same; this extraordinary creature 

 seems a gainer by our endeavours, and multiplies 

 by apparent destruction. The experiment has 

 been tried, times without number, and still at- 

 tended with the same success. Here, therefore, 

 naturalists, who have been blamed for the cruelty 

 of their experiments upon living animals, may 

 now boast of their increasing animal life, instead 

 of destroying it. The production of the polypus 

 is a kind of philosophical generation. The famous 

 Sir Thomas Brown expected to be able to produce 

 children by the same method as trees are produc- 

 ed: the polypus is multiplied in this manner; 

 and every philosopher may thus, if he pleases, 

 boast of a very numerous, though, I should sup- 

 pose, a very useless progeny. 



This method of generation, from cuttings, may 

 be considered as the most simple kind, and is a 

 strong instance of the little pains nature takes in 

 the formation of her lower and humbler produc- 

 tions. As the removal of these from inanimate 

 into animal existence is but small, there are but 

 few preparations made for their journey. No 

 organs of generation seem provided, no womb to 

 receive, no shell to protect them in their state of 

 transition. The little reptile is quickly fitted for 

 all the offices of its humble sphere, and, in a very 

 short time, arrives at the height of its contemp- 

 tible perfection. 



