THE POLYPUS. 191 



and swallows his antagonist ; but what is very 

 wonderful, the animal thus swallowed seems to 

 be rather a gainer by the misfortune. After it 

 has lain in the conqueror's body for about an 

 hour, it issues unhurt, and often in possession 

 of the prey which had been the original cause of 

 contention : How happy would it be for men, if 

 they had as little to fear from each other ! 



These reptiles continue eating the whole year, 

 except when the cold approaches to congelation ; 

 and then, like most others of the insect tribe, they 

 feel the general torpor of nature, and all their 

 faculties are for two or three months suspended ; 

 but if they abstain at one time, they are equally 

 voracious at another, and like snakes, ants, and 

 other animals that are torpid in winter, the meal 

 of one day suffices them for several months toge- 

 ther. In general, however, they devour more 

 largely in proportion to their size, and their growth 

 is quick exactly as they are fed ; such as are the 

 best supplied soonest acquire the largest size, but 

 they diminish also in their growth with the same 

 facility, if their food be taken away. 



Such are the more obvious properties of these 

 little animals ; but the most wonderful still remain 

 behind their manner of propagation, or rather 

 multiplication, has for some years been the asto- 

 nishment of all the learned of Europe. They are 

 produced in as great a variety of manners as every 

 species of vegetable. Some polypi are propagat- 

 ed from eggs, as plants are from their seed ; some 

 are produced by buds issuing from their bodies, 

 as plants are produced by inoculation ; while all 



47 



