189 



Being cut into little bits, either transversely or lengt h- 

 wise, the polypuses grow up again from the ruins, and 

 become as many complete ones as they were pieces. 

 The very skin, or even the least fragment of them is ca- 

 pable of affording one or several polypuses. 



11. The generation of vegetables is not constantly re- 

 gular : the laws by which ttjey operate are sometimes 

 infringed : from them arise various species of monsters : 

 sometimes they are compounded leaves, whose smaller 

 ones are more or less numerous, or more irregularly 

 shaped, or distributed with less symmetry than usual. 

 Sometimes there are flowers which have neither stamina 

 nor pistils* and whose petals being greatly multiplied, 

 seem to have absorbed these essential parts. Sometimes 

 two fruits cleave together by a natural graft, or are en- 

 closed in each other. Sometimes there are flowers or 

 fruits whose form differs widely from that which is pe- 

 culiar to the species. Lastly, There are productions 

 which do not properly belong to any particular species, 

 because they derive their original from seeds that have 

 been fecundated by dust of a different species. 



The generation of animals is not constantly regular t 

 the laws by which it is governed are sometiities disturb- 

 ed ; whence are produced the different species of mon- 

 sters. Sometimes there are hands and feet, whose 

 fingers or toes are fewer or more in number, or formed 

 in an irregular manner, or otherwise disposed than usual. 

 Sometimes there are fetuses, in which the parts of genera- 

 ti&n are obliterated. Sometimes there are two eggs or 

 two fetuses that cleave to each other by a natural co- 

 hesion, or that are contained in one another. Some- 

 times there are eggs or fetuses whose form is greatly 

 different from that which is peculiar to the species. 

 Lastly, there are productions that partake of two species, 

 because they are produced from such females as are fe- 

 cundated by males of different species. 



12. The laws respecting the nutrition and growth of 

 vegetables are liable to greater disorders than those of 



