190 HISTORY OF 



that it cannot be easily perceived ; but when, 

 with any of its long arms, it has seized upon its 

 prey, it then opens the mouth distinctly enough, 

 and this opening is always in proportion to the 

 size of the animal which it would swallow ; the 

 lips dilate insensibly by small degrees, and adjust 

 themselves precisely to the figure of their prey. 

 Mr Trembley, who took a pleasure in feeding 

 this useless brood, found that they could devour 

 aliments of every kind, fish and flesh, as well as 

 insects ; but he owns they did not thrive so well 

 upon beef and veal, as upon the little worms of 

 their own providing. When he gave one of these 

 famished reptiles any substance which was impro- 

 per to serve for aliment, at first it seized the prey 

 with avidity, but after keeping it some time en- 

 tangled near the mouth, it dropped it again with 

 distinguishing nicety. 



When several polypi happen to fall upon the 

 same worm, they dispute their common prey with 

 each other. Two of them are often seen seizing 

 the same worm at different ends, and dragging it 

 at opposite directions with great force. It often 

 happens, that while one is swallowing its respec- 

 tive end, the other is also employed in the same 

 manner, and thus they continue swallowing each 

 his part until their mouths meet together ; they 

 then rest, each for some time in this situation, till 

 the worm breaks between them, and each goes 

 off with his share. But it often happens that a 

 seemingly more dangerous combat ensues when 

 the mouths of both are thus joined upon one com- 

 mon prey together; the largest polypus then gapes 



