151 



one : we may even cause several to issue at the same 

 time, each of which hall have their proper functions. 



There is another species of these worms, amongst 

 which the property of becoming again entire is confined 

 in verv remarkable Jjounds. It forms a head or tail in 

 the middle; hut if it be cut into three or four parts, 

 the intermediate ones push forth a tail where a iiead 

 should have been produced : this supernumerary tail, 

 which is in no respect deficient, cannot perform the office 

 of a head, and the unhappy insect is condemned to pe- 

 rish with hunger. 



9. Look into this rivulet, whose bottom is covered 

 with broken pieces of plants : What do you perceive 

 upon them ? spots of inouldiness. Do not mistake ; 

 this mouldiness is not what it appears to be; and you 

 already begin to suspect so : you think that you greatly 

 ennoble them by advancing them to the rank of vegeta- 

 bles ; you conjecture they are plants in miniature, that 

 have their flowers and seeds, and plume yourself on 

 being able to judge of these mouldinesses in a different 

 manner from the vulgar. Take a magnifying glass : 

 what do you discover 1 some very pretty nosegays, all 

 the flowers of which are in lells. Each bell is support- 

 ed by a small stalk, which is implanted in a common 

 one ; you now no longer doubt of the truth of your 

 conjecture, and cannot be persuaded to quit this mi- 

 croscopic parterre: you have not, however, sufficiently 

 observed it. Look stedfasliy on the aperture of one of 

 these bells ; you will there perceive a very rapid mo- 

 tion, which you cannot be weary of contemplating, and 

 which you compare to that of a mill : this motion ex- 

 cites little currents in the water, that convey towards the 

 bell a multitude of corpuscles, which it swallows up. 

 You begin to doubt whether these bells are real flow- 

 ers ; and the motions of ttie stalks, which appear to be 

 spontaneous, increase your suspicions. Continue your 

 observations: nature herself will teach you what you 

 ougiit to think of this singular production, and will fur- 

 H 3 



