151 



former tail. The upper polypus is connected with the 

 other only by its lower extremity. By a motion it gives 

 itself, it is at last detached from the other ; and floats 

 awy in order to fix elsewhere. The inferior polypus re- 

 rnauis fastened to the place where the funnel was before 

 the division. 



11. Net-polypuses likewise derive their name from 

 tine exterior form of their bodies ; they pretty nearly 

 resemble that of a fishing-net. They assemble in groups, 

 m-d fasten on all the bodies they meet with in fresh 

 \vuter. They are very transparent. In the inside of the 

 polypus there is formed an oblong and whitish body, 

 as soon as it is formed, it descends by degrees, shews it- 

 self on the outside, and remains fixed perpendicularly 

 on the polypus. It produces new ones every day ; and 

 the group they compose on the exterior part of the po- 

 lypus, increases in growth. If these minute bodies he 

 eggs, they are of a singular species; they are absolutely 

 without any covering, and are neither membraneous or 



.crustaceous. We cannot a&irm of these eggs, that 

 young are hatched from them, but are under a necessity 

 of acknowledging, that these little oviform bodies un- 

 fold themselves. This developement is accomplished in 

 a fevt minutes, and the polypus becomes the same as its 

 mother : imagine to yourself a bird that should issue 

 from its mother's belly, entirely naked, rolled together 

 like a ball, whose members should afterwards display 

 themselves, and you will have a representation of the 

 production of net-polypuses. 



12. Cluster-polypuses propagate by dividing in the 

 middle : arm polypuses do not multiply in this manner. 

 They bring forth their yo:mg almost as a tree shoots 

 forth its branches. A little bud appears on the side of 

 the polypus. Do not suppose that this bud contains a 

 polypus, as the vegetable bud comprizes a branch : it is 

 itself the polypus in its growth. It increases in size 

 and length, and at last separates from its mother. 

 \Vhilst it is united to her, they both compose one body* 



