PLANARIA FELINA. 61 



Propagation by spontaneous division into 

 parts, and the subsequent evolution of want- 

 ing organs, are not altogether unexampled. 

 Among creatures which almost elude hu- 

 man research, the Animalcule of infusions, 

 there are certain species that partition 

 asunder, and each of two severed portions 

 quickly becomes a perfect whole. Others 

 separating into more numerous parts, give 

 birth to so many animals resembling them- 

 selves ; and the young of the polypus buds 

 like a scion from its mother's side. But 

 observations on the progress of animalcular 

 generation are embarrassing to the physio- 

 logist. He must resort to the highest mag- 

 nifiers to reach what his simple vision can- 

 not penetrate ; and he will too often feel 

 dissatisfaction instead of confidence from 

 his investigations. The nascent polypus 

 is not independent of its parent ; its suste- 

 nance is thence derived ; its locomotion is 

 the result of will in common ; and its in- 

 corporation is complete, until expanding 

 organs admit of separation. Here, on the 



